Virtual Author Talk with Lynda Gray June 11
May 20, 2025
Virtual Author Talk with Lynda Gray In Honor of Indigenous People’s Day Join us for a special event featuring acclaimed author …
News and Stories
Nanaimo Harbourfront HVAC Upgrade
February 14, 2025
Work continues on the Nanaimo Harbourfront branch heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. As a result, access to the …
Weather Update: Branch Delays and Closures
February 5, 2025
Updated February 5, 2025 at 8:30am Please be advised that all VIRL branches are open today, February 5, except for: …
Welcome to Encore!
December 9, 2024
A big welcome to all of our Vancouver Island Regional Library cardholders making the switch from the Bibliocommons catalogue to …
Inclement Weather Branch Update: November 21, 2024
November 21, 2024
Update: November 21, 2024 (11:00 am) Due to power outages, some VIRL branches remain closed today. Please check back here …
Catalogue Scheduled Update Oct. 8 (Catalogue Unavailable)
October 1, 2024
We are pleased to announce that the VIRL catalogue will be undergoing upgrades on Tuesday, October 8 between 10pm and …
Unlimited audiobooks are here! And there are ZERO holds!
June 26, 2024
Introducing Blackstone Tired of waiting for your next great audiobook? The wait is over! Blackstone Unlimited offers 6,500 unlimited-use electronic …
Downtown Nanaimo Prepares for Filming
May 9, 2024
Downtown Nanaimo Prepares for Major Filming Production with Some Closures Between April 22 & May 31 Update: The Harbourfront library …
BC Seniors Advocate Coming to Cowichan
February 16, 2024
BC Office of the Seniors Advocate Presentation Coming to Cowichan CALLING ALL SENIORS! It’s not every day that the government …
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)
