Celebrating 90 years—and lighting the way forward

October is Library Month: a time to celebrate the role libraries play in helping people and communities read, learn, connect, discover and grow.

This year is especially meaningful for Vancouver Island Regional Library. We’re marking 90 years of service across Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast—and looking ahead to the next 90 through VIRL Lights the Way, our new advocacy framework for sharing why public libraries matter today and into the future.

90 years of community connection

Since May, communities across our region have helped us celebrate VIRL’s 90th anniversary through branch events, programs, displays, outreach activities and shared stories.

Our anniversary was never intended to be a single event. It was designed as a system-wide celebration of VIRL’s history, the communities we serve and the people who have shaped our library system over nine decades.

Thank you to everyone who visited a branch, took part in a program, shared a memory or joined the celebration. You made this milestone meaningful.

Learn more about our 90th Anniversary

Complete your 90th Anniversary Passport

There’s still time to participate in VIRL’s 90th Anniversary Passport Program, which continues until October 31.

Visit branches, collect stamps and discover more of the communities, spaces and services that make VIRL unique. Whether you visit a neighbouring branch or plan a library road trip, every stop is an opportunity to experience a different part of our regional library system.

Learn more about the Passport Program

Share your library story

Throughout our anniversary year, community members have filled our guest books with memories, reflections and stories about what VIRL has meant in their lives.

These messages show the impact of public libraries in ways that numbers alone cannot: a welcoming place, a lifelong love of reading, help during a difficult time, a connection to community or the freedom to explore something new.

Together, these stories will become a lasting record of VIRL’s 90th anniversary and the communities that have shaped our history.

Share your story here

The next chapter: VIRL Lights the Way

Our 90th anniversary celebrates where we’ve been. VIRL Lights the Way looks toward where we’re going.

Public libraries are more than collections and buildings. They open doors to learning and opportunity, connect people with technology and trusted information, strengthen communities and create welcoming spaces where everyone belongs.

VIRL Lights the Way gives us a shared way to tell that larger story—and to advocate for strong, sustainable public library service for generations to come.

As we close our anniversary year, we’re carrying its spirit forward: honouring 90 years of service while continuing to evolve alongside the communities we serve.

Celebrate with us this October

During October Library Month, you can:

• Visit your local branch or discover a new one.
• Complete your 90th Anniversary Passport.
• Take part in a library program or event.
• Share what your library means to you.
• Explore the many ways VIRL supports people and communities.

For 90 years, VIRL has helped people find their way—to stories, ideas, information, opportunities and one another.

As we look to the next 90, one thing remains constant:

Libraries light the way.