January 2023 - Happy New Year! 

Top 10 most popular books of 2022 

We’ve rounded up the titles our library users checked out the most in 2022, from adult print to young adult, children's books, eBooks and audiobooks.

See what book lovers borrowed the most this past year and find inspiration for your next read.

Get the results!

New content on Kanopy!

BBC and unlimited content is now available on our free video-streaming service.

Kanopy features 26,000 movies, documentaries, indie and foreign films and now, British TV. Kanopy Plus also features more than 1,000 unlimited use titles that you can watch without dipping into your 10 monthly play credits (or check outs.

Sign up for Kanopy with your library card and watch films and TV on your computer, device or Smart TV (where the Kanopy app is available).

Get started

Winter Reading Club is happening now 

The Adult Winter Reading Club has just launched!

Read over the months of January and February for the chance to win great prizes.

To get started, pick up a Winter Reading Club package at your local branch, print your own at home, or try our Beanstack online reading challenge platform.

Tell me more!

Seeking new immigrants

We’ve partnered with NewToBC to bring the Library Champions Project to our communities.

The three-month volunteer program allows for new immigrants to learn and share information about library and settlement programs, while making friends, practicing English and connecting to the community.

Learn more with an online information session from 6-7 pm on January 19.

Register now

VIRL is officially fine free!

Vancouver Island Regional Library is officially fine free.

As of January 1, VIRL has permanently removed late fees on all adult materials, after previously waiving fines on young adult and children’s items.

We will continue to send reminders to borrowers to return their items on time, in the lead up and after the due date. After 120 days, we will change a replacement cost.

Learn more

Family Literacy Week coming up!

Family Literacy Week kicks off across Canada January 22-29, celebrating adults and children reading and learning together. Check out our website for book recommendations, local events and activities and don't forget to stop by your local branch to stock up on books for your family. 

Get inspired!

Taurus biblioscope

Hey Book Lover! What's Your Sign? 

Every month we search for the perfect pairing for each zodiac sign. This October, it's all about you Capricorn. We've looked for books that'll be sure to float your goat, especially in the spirit of this year's prediction of big changes and great luck with finance. 

Biblioscope

Legit Librarian Hack

ProQuest Central 

We’re ringing in the New Year with a new eResource that's perfect for researchers. ProQuest Central allows users to search 47 ProQuest databases in a single easy-to-use platform. Our existing ProQuest eResources, such as Canadian Newsstream and BC Historical Newspapers, will also be available through this platform.

ProQuest Central is a robust collection of databases, including 20 academic databases, four business databases, six health databases, four news databases, and more.

Interested in learning more? Click on the link below. 

Tell me more

Indigenous Collection

Be a Good Ancestor, by Gabrielle Prince and Leona Prince, May 2022

Description from Orca Book Publishers:

Rooted in Indigenous teachings, this stunning picture book encourages readers of all ages to consider the ways in which they live in connection to the world around them and to think deeply about their behaviors.

Addressing environmental issues, animal welfare, self-esteem and self-respect, and the importance of community, the authors deliver a poignant and universal message in an accessible way: Be a good ancestor to the world around you. 

Place a hold now

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