You Spoke, We Listened
February 16, 2026
We’re excited to share another improvement to your upgraded catalogue experience. As of February 3, a brand-new Account Portal …
News and Stories
Library Launches New Scientist-In-Residence Program
February 5, 2026
Sidney / North Saanich Library Launches New Scientist-In-Residence Program FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sidney, BC —The Sidney/North Saanich Branch of …
Family Literacy Week
January 20, 2026
2026 Family Literacy Week January 25 – February 1 This month, Vancouver Island Regional Library is once again joining families, …
Top Titles of 2025
December 22, 2025
The Results are in! Top 10 Most Borrowed Titles of 2025 at Vancouver Island Regional Library Released FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE …
2026 Statutory Holiday Hours
December 14, 2025
2026 statutory holidays in British Columbia Please note that all VIRL branches are closed on the following Statutory holidays. We …
Big Library Read Returns!
November 18, 2025
Join the Global Reading Event at VIRL! From November 18 to December 2, the Big Library Read book club is …
Island Voices Return
November 13, 2025
Island Voices return: Vancouver Island Regional Library excited to partner with CBC to bring live broadcast to Cowichan FOR IMMEDIATE …
Library Announces Appointment of Executive Director
November 3, 2025
Vancouver Island Regional Library Announces Appointment of Executive Director Eileen Gillette Nanaimo, BC – The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) …
Canada Post Strike
October 23, 2025
Library users may experience delays during the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) work stoppage. This includes delays to the …
Fast Facts about Vancouver Island Regional Library
- Vancouver Island Regional Library is the fifth largest library system in British Columbia.
- Holdings at Vancouver Island Regional Library number almost one million and include books, magazines, CD’s and DVD’s. Card holders can borrow materials from any of our 39 locations.
- In 2012 there were 2.6 million visits to our branches and our customers borrowed 4.6 million items.
- Vancouver Island Regional Library opened its doors in 1936 as the Vancouver Island Union Library. We were the second regional library in North America.
- With 39 branch libraries across the island, Vancouver Island Regional Library serves over 430,000 people on Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast (Bella Coola)
