Research

BC Laws

BC Laws provides free public access to the current laws of British Columbia. This consolidation of BC Statutes and Regulations is updated continually as new and amended laws come into force. (Note: BC Laws now contains content that used to be in QP [Queen’s Printer] Legaleze)
Access: Available to anyone anywhere

BC Stats

Statistics and reports on BC’s population, labour market, economy, business and more.
Access: Available to anyone anywhere

Grant Connect (In-branch only)

Grant Connect is available in-branch only, at a public workstation or when connected to VIRL WiFi. This database is a grant funding information database, with Grant Connect, you have access to:

• Over 11,000 Canadian foundations, 560 corporate giving programs, 370 government grant programs, 120 American foundations, and 200 other kinds of grant opportunities.
• Funder profiles that offer insights on specific grant programs, application preferences, financial summaries, and key decision-makers.
• Data on billions of dollars in past donations.

Residents of VIRL’s service area, in-branch only

Kanopy

Kanopy is a video streaming platform for libraries with one of the largest and most unique collections in the world. It features more than 26,000 movies, documentaries, and indie and foreign films from hundreds of producers, including The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Kino Lorber, PBS and thousands of independent filmmakers. Browse by subjects to explore and expand your interests.
Kanopy is not compatible with Android OS 7.1.0 or older.

Cap:

Each library member receives ten checkouts (play credits) and two Great Courses per month. Kanopy Kids requires no play credits. VIRL also offers four PLUS Packs that do not use monthly credits: British Cinema and TV, Episodic Content, Favourites, Documentaries

Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere

Tip: 

You can also stream directly to your Smart TV. Sign up through the library first and then download and sign in to the Kanopy App on your TV.

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform featuring video courses and tutorials. LinkedIn Learning offers courses with a focus on skills for business, creative industries, education, information technology, software, and web development. The tutorials are high quality and led by industry experts.

Our LinkedIn Learning ID is: virl
Our invite URL (needed to log in to app) is: https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/virl

LinkedIn Learning includes topics, software skills, and learning paths for the following subject areas:

• 3D +Animation
• Audio + Music
• Business
• CAD
• Design
• Developer
• Education
• Information Technology
• Marketing
• Photography
• Video
• Web

Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere

PressReader

The world’s largest online newspaper and magazine kiosk, where you can browse and read hundreds of full-content premium newspapers and magazines from around the globe. Access is for 30 days after library sign-in. You will need to follow the steps to sign in as a library member after that 30 day period, to re-start another 30 days of access.

Access to the Globe & Mail is in-branch only. Canadian Newsstream provides access to the Globe & Mail from home.

Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere (except Globe and Mail); non-cardholders in-branch only

ProQuest Central

ProQuest Central is a comprehensive research resource for academic, business, health, and news articles. It includes 47 databases in a single platform. Users can search all databases or select individual databases under the Change Databases tab.

ProQuest Central collection highlights:

• Popular news publications including New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, and Washington Post
• Business Databases including ABI/INFORM and Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA)
• Academic research resources focusing on Science and Technology, Social Sciences, Health, The Arts, and more