Kids

*NEW! Blackstone Unlimited

Tired of waiting for your eAudiobook holds? Try Blackstone Unlimited!

Blackstone Unlimited offers 6500 unlimited-use electronic audiobook titles for all ages, no holds and no waits!

Customers can download up to 10 titles at a time to the mobile app, or stream in their web browser.

Please note that access to Blackstone Unlimited requires library customers to provide first and last name and email address to authenticate use. For more information, contact info@virl.bc.ca or review Blackstone Unlimited’s Privacy Policy here.

Click here to create an account.

Bibliothèque numérique de la Colombie-Britannique (Cantook Station)

Bibliothèque Numérique is a province-wide French eBook collection. This collection includes French Language eBooks and Audiobooks in a variety of genres for all age groups.

Please note that customers are required to provide an email address for notifications the first time a book is checked out.

VIRL recognizes the financial support of the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Agreement on French-language Services.
VIRL reconnait le soutien financier de la province de la Colombie-Britannique et du gouvernement du Canada par le biais de l’Entente Canada-Colombie-Britannique relative aux services en francais.
We are grateful to VPL for donating their sizable French language collection.

CELA

CELA is the Centre for Equitable Library Access, which provides access to a collection of over 700,000 books, magazines, newspapers in a choice of accessible formats for people with a print disability. Print disabilities include learning, physical and visual disabilities.

• Enjoy a full range of subjects, genres, classics and award winners
• Stay up to date with 50 newspapers and 150 magazines
• Choose your preferred format: audio, e-text or braille.
• Download books or receive home delivery by mail

Sign up for CELA service with your public library card, or contact your VIRL branch for assistance.
Access: Resident cardholders with print disabilities

KnowBC

KnowBC is the online portal for Harbour Publishing, an independent publisher based on the Sunshine Coast that focuses on British Columbian coastal history and culture. KnowBC features the Encyclopedia of British Columbia, along with essential publications and natural history field guides for the Pacific Northwest Coast, including

• The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names
• Far West: The Story of British Columbia, a provincial history for younger readers
• A Field Guide to Birds of the Pacific Northwest
• A Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants of Canada
• A Field Guide to Shells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest
• Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Encyclopedia of Invertebrates, Seaweeds and Selected Fishes
• Raincoast Chronicles 20: Lilies and Fireweed: Frontier Women of British Columbia

Access: VIRL resident cardholders from anywhere; non-cardholders in branch only

Libby (OverDrive)

Note: For over 6500 audiobooks with no holds or waits, please see our Blackstone Unlimited service. VIRL no longer offers the Blackstone unlimited use package in OverDrive/Libby.

The Libby App by OverDrive is the easiest way to access our OverDrive eBook and Audiobook Collection.
Access in your web browser or on your iOS or Android mobile device.
Libby is compatible with Android 7.1.1+ and iOS 10+

Cap:
Each library member receives 10 check outs and 10 holds at any one time.
Access: VIRL resident cardholders from anywhere

NNELS

NNELS is the National Network for Equitable Library Service, an online public library of downloadable ebooks and audiobooks for people with print disabilities. Print disabilities include vision, mobility, and comprehension impairments that prevent someone from being able to read a traditional book.

VIRL membership required. After registering at the library, eligible users or friends and family members can access the NNELS catalogue and download material directly, or request assistance from library staff.
Access: VIRL cardholders with print disabilities

NoveList

Discover your next favorite book! Finish a great book and looking for more? NoveList’s librarian-created read-alike suggestions and appeal mixer can help. Search from home. Link to the library’s catalogue. Then borrow and read.
Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere; non-cardholders in branch only

OverDrive and Libby

Note: For over 6500 audiobooks with no holds or waits, please see our Blackstone Unlimited service. VIRL no longer offers the Blackstone unlimited use package in OverDrive/Libby.

OverDrive is our most popular eBook and eAudiobook platform. All you need to get started is your library card and an internet connection. Download the Libby App for a simple and easy experience downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks for free. Libby App is available for Android 7.1.1+ and iOS 10+
OverDrive is not compatible with Android 7.1.0 or older.

Cap:

Each library member receives 10 check outs and 10 holds at any one time.

• Try the online Libby app at libbyapp.com

Access: VIRL resident cardholders from anywhere

Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg offers over 54,000 free eBooks: Choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online. You will find the world’s great literature here, especially older works for which copyright has expired. Project Gutenberg digitizes and diligently proofreads them with the help of thousands of volunteers.
Available to anyone anywhere

TumbleBookLibrary

Update: TumbleBooks is providing free access, no card required. Click on the Launch button to open.

An online collection of animated picture books, audiobooks, graphic novels, children’s classics, early reader chapter books, and National Geographic videos. A great resource to teach kids the joy of reading in a format they’ll love!
Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere, use in schools is prohibited