A young boy browses book shelves in the children's section of Nanaimo North LIbrary.

October 2024

NEWS

October is Library Month!

In a time when rising prices seem to touch every corner of our lives, one thing hasn't changed -your library is still free!

This Library Month, find out how you can lean on your library with free resources for families, streaming movies and British TV, streaming music and meeting room space. Also, find out what new library partnership will save you money on insurance by clicking the link below. 

 Benefits of your library card
A side profile of a woman at a computer. Her baby is standing next to her in an adjacent play station.
Two hands work decorate the branch of a paper tree.

Top 10 fun fall crafts 

Cozy up and craft with fall projects from Creativebug, a free, online craft tutorial service with thousands of crafts for all ages. 

One of our creative librarians has found 10 of the best crafts for fall, from sassy paper witches to velvet pumpkins, a lace leaf scarf and crochet Halloween appliques you can use on projects like treat bags, cards and garlands. What are you waiting for? Let's get crafting. 

Top 10 fun fall crafts
A hand holds Sea and Cedar Magazine.

Sneak peek of the new issue of Sea & Cedar

The fall issue of Sea & Cedar Magazine will hit digital shelves October 10 and you're the first to see its cover.

Sea & Cedar Magazine is biannual print and digital publication that showcases exemplary new writing and art by both emerging and established contributors in our service area.This year's featured artist is Gabriola Island's Antoinette Hérive.Read an online copy, or borrow a print edition from your local library branch (available soon!). 

See past issues of Sea & Cedar

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS
A person kneels in the dirt and plants seeds in a trench.

Last Virtual Gardening Series events of 2024

Don't miss the last events of the wildly popular Virtual Gardening Series. Learn from Master Gardeners how to prepare roots for transplanting (October 7) and how to put your garden to bed for the winter (November 4). Both events are free and take place on Zoom, from 6:30-8 pm. Participants must register to receive the Zoom link. 

Virtual gardening sign up
Darby, a librarian in Nanaimo, holds up an iPad with an image of Sea and Cedar Magazine.

Get featured in Sea & Cedar Magazine

We are looking for art and poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction to feature in the next issue of Sea & Cedar Magazine. The magazine features work from our vibrant art and writing community here in the West Coast area and is published by us here at Vancouver Island Regional Library. Submissions are due November 3. 

Submit to Sea & Cedar

Apples hang off a leafy tree.

Free food forum in Cowichan 

Join the Cowichan Library for a free food skills workshop series on October 16 and 17 and learn from local farmers, food producers, wild food foragers and others. There will be a seed swap and sessions on topics like beekeeping, cooking with mushrooms and falafel making. Events take place from 10 am - 4 pm. 

Free food forum 

Want to find events near you? Check out our events calendar anytime.

Events calendar

LEGIT LIBRARY HACK
Julie, a former circulation supervisor, holds a cell phone close to the camera. It shows a Freegal music list.

Five apps you need on your phone

When it comes to great apps that save you money, the library has you covered! Looking to listen to electronic audiobooks? You can get Libby and Blackstone Unlimited. Love listening to music? Try Freegal, with more than 17 million songs by popular artists in all genres. We've created a list of five apps you need on your phone - and a few extra for your other devices. All of the apps are all free with your library card. 

Tell me more about five top apps

FIND YOUR HALLOWEEN READ - ADULTS
Cover of the book In Charm's Way by Lana Harper
The book cover of Bad Cree by Jessica Johns.
The book cover of A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand.


More book recommendations

Vancouver Island Regional Library | 90 Commercial St. Nanaimo BC | communications@virl.bc.ca