Celebrate spring break at the library

Spring break is almost here and we are excited to help celebrate with free fun at the library. 

From March 10 to April 10, families can join the VIRL Island Treasures Contest for the chance to win one of three prize packs. Stop by your local branch for an entry form or print one from our website.  

We'll also have spring break reading lists to help you find your family's next great read, and don't forget to check out our events calendar for more spring break fun. 

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Top 10 spring crafts from CreativeBug

Looking for great activities to do with kids this spring break? We've put together a list of the top 10 crafts from CreativeBug. 

CreativeBug is a library eResource with video courses on all types of crafts for different age and skill levels.This month, find tutorials for galaxy slime, soft Easter chicks, bubble prints and more. All you need is your library card to get started.

Start crafting

Virtual Teen Book Club

Did you know we have a virtual book club for teens? Every month, teens in our On the Same Page book club pick a new book theme, read and then meet to discuss books.

It's a great way for local book-loving teens to connect and hear what others are reading.

The theme for March is science fiction and the meeting will be held on Friday, March 10. Visit our website for all the details and find out how your teen can join.

Join the club!

Submit your work to Sea & Cedar Magazine 

It's time to poish up your writing and art for consideration in the next issue of Sea & Cedar Magazine! 

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. The deadline for submissions has been extended to Sunday, March 12 at 11:59 pm.

Learn more about how to send your submission by clicking the link below! 

Send your submission

Book Club Pick of the Month 

Every month we share a new eBook pick that you can borrow without any holds or waits. 

This month, the featured eBook (and eAudiobook) is The Second Mrs Astor by Shana Abe. This historical fiction takes you inside the scandalous courtship and catastrophic honeymoon aboard the Titanic of the most famous couple of their time - John Jacob Astor and Madeleine Force.

Borrow it now

Virtual Art Exhibition 

A new virtual art exhibition featuring local talent is now on display. 

Sea & Cedar Magazine received so many artists it couldn't feature them all, so the editorial team decided to put on a Virtual Art Exhibition. It went live on February 1 and will continue until April 30. 

See art and learn a little about our local artists. 

View it here

Speaker series runs until June

The Learning with Syeyutsus Speaker Series is on now until June 21.

The free speaker series, a partnership between VIRL, UBC Press and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, features renowned authors at the forefront of Indigenous topics relating to truth and reconciliation. The next speaker is Helen Raptis presenting What We Learned: Two Generations Reflect on Tsimshian Education and the Day Schools. The event is on March 29, from 12-1 pm. 

Learn more

Hey Book Lover! What's Your Sign? 

Every month we search for the perfect pairing for each zodiac sign. This March, it's all about you Pisces! Find some calm water and nibble these delectable treats for your eyes and mind. We know you’ll be hooked.

Biblioscope

Freegal is now Freegal+

In this tough economy many of us are thinking of cutting back on our streaming subscriptions to save money. Luckily, the library offers many great streaming options for free with your library card, including Kanopy for movies, Libby for eBooks and audiobooks, and our better-than-ever music streaming platform, Freegal+.

Freegal has recently undergone significant upgrades to its design and features, but still offers popular music in all genres, including new releases and the entire Sony music catalogue.

Learn more about the new features and give Freegal+ a try by clicking the link below! 

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Indigenous Collection 

Bad Cree, by Jessica Johns, Jan 2023.

Description from HarperCollins Canada:

Mackenzie, a Cree millennial, wakes up in her one-bedroom Vancouver apartment clutching a pine bough she had been holding in her dream just moments earlier. When she blinks, it disappears. But she can still smell the sharp pine scent in the air, the nearest pine tree a thousand kilometres away in the far reaches of Treaty 8.

Mackenzie continues to accidentally bring back items from her dreams, dreams that are eerily similar to real memories of her older sister and Kokum before their untimely deaths. As Mackenzie's life spirals into a living nightmare—crows are following her around and she's getting texts from her dead sister on the other side—it becomes clear that these dreams have terrifying, real-life consequences.

Haunting, fierce, an ode to female relations and the strength found in kinship, Bad Cree is a gripping, arresting debut by an unforgettable voice.

Place a hold now