90th Anniversary Passport Program
May 29, 2026
VIRL 90th Anniversary Passport Program Explore. Collect. Celebrate. For 90 years, Vancouver Island Regional Library has connected communities across Vancouver …
News and Stories
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, …
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 …
A Summer of Reading for All Ages!
June 23, 2025
Summer of Reading at Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) Get ready to colour your summer with reading! Our summer reading …
Family-friendly crafts from Creativebug!
March 6, 2025
Whether you are celebrating spring, Easter – or both – Creativebug has crafts that appeal to all ages. We’ve put …
One eRead Canada launches April 1
March 5, 2025
Mark your calendars! From April 1-30, Canadians can come together for a country-wide reading experience with One eRead Canada. One …
Free period products at the library
February 26, 2025
Libraries don’t just offer books. Some offer period products too! A number of Vancouver Island Regional Library branches offer free …
Get free Valentine’s Day cards and more!
February 6, 2025
Valentine’s Day and Library Lovers’ Day is just around the corner and to celebrate we’ve pulled together resources we think …
New book club explores human rights
February 5, 2025
Explore human rights through storytelling and discussion in our new virtual adult book club. Beginning January 27, we are starting …
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)
