News and Stories

Exciting news! Our catalogue upgrade is going to make exploring VIRL’s vast collection of books, audiobooks, eBooks, and more easier than ever!

With a user-friendly design, smarter search, and seamless access to all formats, finding what you need will be a breeze. Plus, manage your account and create personalized lists—a cat-a-log purrfectly designed for your next reading adventure!

We promised something big was on the horizon—and it’s here! Get ready for the future of library browsing.

Features of the upgrade

• Accessible to All
  The upgraded catalogue is designed with accessibility in mind, so whether you’re using a screen reader or other assistive technology, you can browse with ease. We’ve ensured the catalogue meets accessibility guidelines, making it available to everyone.

• User-Friendly Design
  Enjoy an intuitive, clean layout. The design is intentionally simple, so finding what you need is a breeze. Related materials, people, and topics will automatically appear with your search results—no more endless scrolling!

• Streamlined Search
  Searching for your next read? The upgraded catalogue makes it easy to find exactly what you need. Results will show if, where, and in what formats an item is available. Refine your search with ease, borrow materials, and enjoy extra features for deep exploration.

• Grouped Formats for Convenience
  All formats—print, large print, audiobook, eBook, and eAudiobook—are grouped together for easy access. Whether you’re a traditional book lover or an audiobook aficionado, you’ll be able to select the perfect format for you right from the search results.

• Manage Your Account
  The upgraded catalogue lets you stay on top of your library activity. Sign in to view your account, check due dates, renew materials online, and manage both physical and digital holds, all in one place.

• Create Personalized Lists
  Keep track of what you’ve read, what you want to read, and even what you plan to share. The upgraded catalogue allows you to save your reading history, bookmark items, and curate personalized lists of your favorites for future reference.

Not keen on change?

That’s okay, we get that. That’s why we’ll have both catalogue versions available to you until you can get comfortable with the new features. That said, we think you’re going to really like the upgraded version!

Important note about the Old Catalogue: Beginning September 3, please do not create lists or add items to your lists (or customize any preferences) in the Old Catalogue as these will no longer automatically transfer once the catalogue has been upgraded.
The Old Catalogue will be available until September 30 to help folks navigate these new features and changes.

When did the upgrades happen?

Beginning September 3, we updated the current catalogue (http://search.virl.bc.ca) with new, upgraded features.

What do I need to do?

Nothing much! All of your lists, holds, and reading history are now available and ready for you in the upgraded catalogue. Beginning September 3, please create and edit your lists in the upgraded catalogue only (http://search.virl.bc.ca) to ensure your changes are always saved.

What if I have questions?

Check back here as we update these FAQs, or email us at info@virl.bc.ca. We’ll be here to help every step of the way!