Audience

Ancestry Library Edition

Genealogy collection including census, vital, church, court, and immigration records from the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom. This database is available in-branch only, at a public workstation or when connected to VIRL WiFi.
Access: In branch only

BC Historical Newspapers

Great for students, researchers, and genealogists, Proquest BC Historical Newspapers includes:
The Vancouver Sun (1912–2010)
The Times–Colonist (1884–2010)
The Province (1894–2010)
Access: Available to anyone in BC and Yukon, no library card required

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.

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

Clicklaw

Clicklaw provides legal information, education and help for British Columbians. Clicklaw is operated by Courthouse Libraries BC.
Access: Available to anyone anywhere

Creativebug

Creativebug is an art and craft education resource. There are thousands of online video classes taught by leading instructors. Categories include:

Access online or via mobile app. Have a look at this introductory video by Creativebug to learn more.

Please note that access to Creativebug 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 Creativebug’s Privacy Policy here.
Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere

Kanopy

Kanopy is a video streaming platform for libraries with one of the largest and most unique collections in the world. It features more than 26,000 movies, documentaries, and indie and foreign films from hundreds of producers, including The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Kino Lorber, PBS and thousands of independent filmmakers. Browse by subjects to explore and expand your interests.
Kanopy is not compatible with Android OS 7.1.0 or older.

Cap:

Each library member receives ten checkouts (play credits) and two Great Courses per month. Kanopy Kids requires no play credits. VIRL also offers four PLUS Packs that do not use monthly credits: British Cinema and TV, Episodic Content, Favourites, Documentaries
Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere

Tip: 

You can also stream direct to your Smart TV. Sign up through the library first and then follow these instructions.

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

Knowledge Network

Knowledge Network, is a Canadian publicly funded educational cable television network serving the province of British Columbia. The station supports lifelong learning for children and adults by providing quality, commercial-free programming through its broadcast channel, websites and apps. Knowledge Network also invests in documentaries and children’s programs produced by independent filmmakers with more than 40% of their programming budget supporting original stories told by BC and Canadian filmmakers. Download their app and stream their content for free!
Access: Available to anyone anywhere

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform featuring video courses and tutorials. LinkedIn Learning offers courses with a focus on skills for business, creative industries, education, information technology, software, and web development. The tutorials are high quality and led by industry experts.

Our LinkedIn Learning ID is: virl
Our invite URL (needed to log in to app) is: https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/virl

LinkedIn Learning includes topics, software skills, and learning paths for the following subject areas:

• 3D +Animation
• Audio + Music
• Business
• CAD
• Design
• Developer
• Education
• Information Technology
• Marketing
• Photography
• Video
• Web

Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere

Naxos Music Library

Naxos Music Library is the world’s largest online classical music library. To login to Naxos mobile apps, create an account on the web platform (sign-up under the Playlist tab) and use your credentials to login on the mobile app. Major categories include:

• Orchestral Works
• Concertos
• Chamber Music
• Vocal & Choral Works
• Opera & Operetta
• Ballet Music
• Film Music

Access: VIRL 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

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. It also includes over 4000 magazines. 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

Points to the Past

Points to the Past is your gateway to a world-class collection of primary sources, made up of nearly 200 million pages of digitized historical content – maps, photos, newspapers, manuscripts, pamphlets, portraits, and much more. Includes historical newspaper collections from 17th & 18th centuries; archives for the Economist, Punch, the Times of London, the Times Literary Supplement, and more; collections from Associated Press, the British Library, and the Smithsonian.

For a complete list of available collections, please review the Points to the Past One-Page Flyer.
Available to anyone anywhere in BC

PressReader

The world’s largest online newspaper and magazine kiosk, where you can browse and read hundreds of full-content premium newspapers and magazines from around the globe. Access is for 30 days after library sign-in. You will need to follow the steps to sign in as a library member after that 30 day period, to re-start another 30 days of access.

Access to the Globe & Mail is in-branch only. Canadian Newsstream provides access to the Globe & Mail from home.

Access: VIRL cardholders from anywhere (except Globe and Mail); non-cardholders in-branch only