E&N Railway Land Grant Exhibit Opens In Nanaimo
June 1, 2026
New travelling exhibit about E&N Railway land grant opens in Nanaimo FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nanaimo — The Great Vancouver Island …
News and Stories
Vancouver Island Regional Library Celebrates 90 Years of Service in Coastal and Island Communities
May 30, 2026
Nanaimo, BC (May 30, 2026) – today, Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) celebrates 90 years of service to communities across …
Library Elects Executive Committee
February 23, 2026
Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) Board elects Chair, Vice Chair, and Executive Committee FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nanaimo, BC – On Saturday, …
TRC57 Speaker Series 2026
February 17, 2026
TRC57 Speaker Series 2026 calls on Public Institutions to Engage with Reconciliation as Ongoing Practice FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Trusted, province-wide …
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 …
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 …
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) …
Official Opening of the New Masset Library
August 21, 2025
Vancouver Island Regional Library and X̱aad Kíl Née Celebrates the Official Opening of the New Masset Library and Haida Language …
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)
