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How to Borrow

Bring your library card to any of our 39 Library Branches, browse our stacks or use the catalogue to find materials, and sign them out at the circulation desk or at our self check out stations.

Most materials may be returned to any branch, with book drops available for after-hours returns.

How long can I borrow materials?

Standard loan period – 3 weeks (21 days)
CDs – 3 weeks (21 days)
DVDs – 1 week (7 days)
Book Club Sets – 6 weeks (42 days)
Express Reads – 1 week (7 days)
eBook/audiobook collections – 3 weeks (21 days)
Magazines – 3 weeks (21 days) with no renewals
Special loan periods are provided for Homebound customers and registered audiobook print-disabled customers. See our Accessible Resources page for details.
Special loan periods are also provided for customers who qualify for Books by Mail Service.

Please let us know if you are leaving our service area. You can disable your account by contacting any of our branches.

Renewing Items

Renewing items is easy. Here’s how:

On the Internet:

Connect to My VIRL through the catalogue.

Self Checkout

Self checkout stations are available at most branches, and you can use Self Checkout to renew items.

In Person

Just bring in the items and our staff will be happy to renew them for you

Over the Phone

Call our renewal line at 1.888.988.VIRL.

Email Notifications

You can register for three types of email notifications:

1. Hold Notifications
You will receive an email when your request becomes available,including the last day it will be held for you.

2. Due Date (Courtesy) Notices
Courtesy Notice emails are sent three days before your item is due. Please note: not receiving a Courtesy Notice does not exempt fines from being applied to your account.

3. Overdue Notices
Overdue notices are sent 3, 7, 21, and 35 days after the item was due.

Email messages are sent from: donotreply@virl.bc.ca

Use My VIRL to keep your email address up to date.

Questions about your holds or overdue items should be directed to your local branch.

Telephone Notifications

You can receive telephone notifications if your number is listed in our service area.

Customers registered for this method of notification are called when:

1. Requests are available for pickup

2. An item is overdue: 3, 7, 21, 35 days after the item was due.

If you register, the telephone notification and renewal system phone number that you will see on your call display is 250-591-6156.

To renew items, call: 1-888-988-8475 (VIRL)

Contact info@virl.bc.ca with questions about telephone notifications.

Questions about your holds or overdue items should be directed to your local branch.

Overdue Items

Late charges are assessed if you return your materials after the due date. There is a maximum fine per item.

Late charges are not levied against Children’s materials, Talking Book users, Books by Mail users, employees, institutions, Homebound customers or Home Delivery Volunteers.

Late charges on Adult and Young Adult materials – $0.30/day

Reference, Interlibrary Loans, Express Reads, Kits, Book Club Sets – $1.50/day

Maximum late charge: $10.00/item (Your balance must be less than this amount to borrow library materials).

Lost and damaged charges

You will be assessed charges ranging from $1.00 to the full replacement cost of lost or damaged materials.
All lost items are subject to a processing fee of $8.00

Replacement library cards

Adults $2.00
Children $1.00

Payment Plan

If the amounts are such that you are prevented from borrowing, then, in consultation and with the approval of the Library Manager or designate, a payment plan may be offered. Borrowing limits may be applied during the course of the payment plan.

For a complete list of fees and charges, including non-resident rates, visit our Fees and Charges Policy.

Catalogue Privacy Statement

VIRL customers have a right to privacy and confidentiality regarding the collection of personal information and the use they make of our collections, facilities, and websites. The release of such information would contravene the BCFreedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

When using VIRL‘s new catalogue, there are instances where customers can interact with third party vendors. These third party vendors use a process of authentication that does not include the release of customer personal information to authenticate.

If you have questions about the protection of your privacy, or to request access to your personal information, please see VIRL‘s Privacy Policy. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact VIRL‘s Privacy Officer.

Please note that if you actively subscribe to an account with a third-party vendor, such as OverDrive or Ebsco, to access library materials, your records may be subject to the policies of that vendor. We encourage you to become familiar with the privacy policies of the websites you visit and the digital services you use, including those of our third party vendors: