Gabriola Island BC
V0R 1X5
Fax: (250) 247-7892
GabriolaIsland [at] virl [dot] bc [dot] ca
Library service existed in two modes before 1999: one bookmobile parked at the south end of the island and open a few hours each week, and the Books by Mail service, which was very popular with Gabriola residents.
In 1999, VIRL opened a “real” branch on Gabriola Island, in the Gabriola Folklife Village where most of the commercial activity takes place. The library moved in where a dentist clinic previously existed, and had to adapt to a somewhat strange space configuration. A few years later, the library expanded slightly by taking over a portion of the adjacent clothing store. In 2012, the branch expanded once again, this time getting a complete makeover in the process.
Gabriola has a very high readership per capita, and is similar to some of the other island library communities in that sense. The demand for new materials is fierce and requests for programs and events are steady. A frequent comment from new residents moving to the island from large cities across Canada is, “I thought I’d really miss my big library but your little library has the best service I’ve ever seen”. As most of us suspect, it’s the service that really counts in a library.
Professional Staff Information
Library Manager - Abbas Saffari
Customer Services Librarian - Jason Kuffler
Map and Hours
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | 10-5 |
| Wed | 10-8 |
| Thu | 10-8 |
| Fri | 10-5 |
| Sat | 10-5 |
| Sun | Closed |
Features
Our Community
History
- Gabriola Museum
- Hansard - B.C. Legislature can be searched for topics touching on Gabriola since 1970
- Jenni Gehlbach has a number of articles online about various aspects of Gabriola's past.
- SHALE Journal of the Gabriola Historical & Museum Society The site lists and describes the contents of SHALE issues; for the complete articles one has to consult the journal itself.
General
- Gabriola Island entry in Wikipedia
- Island Time: The Media Logic and Ritual of Ferry Commuting on Gabriola Island, BC
- Statistics Canada presents a snapshot of Electoral Area B's population, ethnicity, work, education and many other aspects based on the 2006 census.
- Snuneymuxw First Nation
- Voices of the Snuneymuxw First Nation
Art
- Gabriola Art Works
- Gabriola Arts Council
- Jupiter Ranch Art Studio
- Fibre / Leather
- Glasswork / Mosaics / Metalwork
- Jewelry
-
Painting / Illustrations
- alice parmelee rich
- Art Through Perera
- Claire Watsonand Chalk It Up - Custom Art Signs,Illustration and Design also by Claire Watson
- Cobalt Blue Sharen Ellen Jensen
- dianna bonder
- Feedlot Studios
- Gerrit Verstraete and Masterpeace Gallery plus Back to School at 65 also by Verstraete
- Glowing Woods Gallery
- Harold Allanson
- Hazel Broadley
- Jeff Molloy - gallery 401
- Jill Briscoe
- Julie Olson
- Judith Madsen Studio - Gallery
- Karen Cain, Stones-Throw Studio and Gallery
- Karen Curry
- Kevan Heughan, Gabriola Graphics
- Mary Gay Brooks
- Mary Jane Jessen
- Mindy Joseph
- Moon Fire Studio (Paul Grignon)
- NaturalEYES
- Our House Art Studio - Melinda Wilde
- Pat Hart Acrylic Paintings
- Robert Sears
- Rohana Laing
- Sheila Norgate See also her blog under personal sites and postings
- Stones-Throw (Karen Cain)
- Tony Grove
- Vikki Vettese
-
Photography
- Allison Rose Photography
- alpenglowpro
- Carolyn Davey Photography
- doane gregory
- Eyes Wide Open Photography
- Gabriola Daily Photo by Victor Anthony
- jeremymaude photography
- John Poirier Photography
- Lana Smith Photography
- Lisarey photography
- Liz McKnight
- Matthew Payne - In the Round Studios
- Mickey Udal
- Penny White Consulting
- Peter Llewellyn
- The Loupe Gallery - Iain Scott
- Vanessa Heantjens Dekker
- Pottery / Ceramics
- Sculpture / Woodworking
Gabriola Authors
- Doug & Morri Travel writers Doug Long and Morri Mostow
- George Szanto
- Hilary Peach
- Iain Lawrence.See also his Random House site
- James Hawkins
- Jenni Gehlbach
- Joëlle Anthony
- Katherine Gordon
- Naomi Beth Wakan
- Nick Doe
- Roy Innes
- Sandy Frances Duncan
From a directory by Bob Deksen
Photos
