National reading club launches 

A cross-country reading experience is now open to Vancouver Island Regional Library fans. 

VIRL fans can join readers from more than 1,000 libraries across Canada for One eRead Canada, a national, bilingual, digital book club that begins today (April 1). 

The book club, which happens once every year, allows for library cardholders to simultaneously download an eBook or eAudiobook with no waitlists or holds and discuss with fellow readers in a virtual book club. This year's book, The Break by Katherena Vermette, is about a multigenerational Métis–Anishinaabe family dealing with the fallout of a shocking crime in Winnipeg’s North End.

Our Take A Break adult virtual book club is also reading The Break this month. Join the Facebook group to discuss the book with local readers and library staff. 

Join the club

It's Poetry Month! 

Canada is celebrating poetry and poets all month long. We've pulled together great poems for all ages, as well as a few titles to help you create your own poetry. 

Check it out

New Sea & Cedar issue released

The latest issue of Sea & Cedar Magazine is now out.

Sea & Cedar Magazine, a biannual publication by Vancouver Island Regional Library, recently launched its second issue online and, for the first time, also published limited print copies. Customers can now find Sea & Cedar in the catalogue. 

The magazine showcases exemplary writing by emerging and established writers from across Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Bella Coola and Haida Gwaii, as well as work from visual artists. 

"We know you will enjoy perusing these pages as much as we have enjoyed putting them together, and we hope that you find some connection and delight as you discover what these writers and artists have graciously shared with all of us," said April Ripley, Managing Editor and VIRL Librarian. 

Start reading

Explore the new Sooke library online!

Explore the new Sooke library with our first-ever 3D walkthrough experience. 

The state-of-the-art Sooke library is now open. Explore what makes this branch so special by taking a virtual tour from the comfort of your home.

Start exploring

In Your Own Voice 

In Our Own Teen Voice contest is back!

Vancouver Island teens can submit creative fiction (including poetry) for the chance to win cash prizes. Finalists will also be published in a book anthology.

This year's theme is teen issues. The deadline to submit work is April 30.

Learn more

Visit our Virtual Art Exhibition 

Don't miss our Virtual Art Exhibition featuring talented local artists. 

VIRL has partnered with artists from across Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Bella Coola and Haida Gwaii for the second Sea & Cedar Virtual Art Exhibition. It's on unitl April 30. 

Visit the exhibition

Curious about eBooks? 

Learn how to read on the go. 

If you haven’t used the free Libby app yet to borrow digital titles from the library, join us at 10 am on April 6 to learn the basics. At 10:45 am, we'll share our favourite tips and tricks. 

Register now

Big Library Read 

Explore recent American history through a musical lens during Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club.

Borrow the eBook or eAudiobook of Music Is History by Questlove without any waitlists or holds on the Libby App or through OverDrive from April 4-18. Big Library Read is an initiative of OverDrive.

Find it here

Hey Book Lover! What's Your Sign? 

This month is all about you Aries. Be the first to dive into great titles picked to meet match your thirst for adventure, a fiery love life and care for your emotional well being. 

Biblioscope

Great new features added to Libby 

One of the most popular ways for our customers to access OverDrive eBook and Audiobook collections is through the easy-to-use Libby app.

Available for Android (version 5+), iOS (version 10+), and through your web browser at libbyapp.com, the developers of Libby add new features all the time. We've put together a list of the most recent updates, such as wish lists, the ability to highlight and Open Dyslexic Font.

Tell me more

Indigenous Collection

Indigenous Rights, by Virginia Loh-Hagan, August 2021

This 32-page nonfiction book for children is part of the Stand UP, Speak OUT series.

From the publisher, 45th Parallel Press:

Learn all about Indigenous rights activism, from reclaiming names to saving cultural lands. Get a global look at the history of the movement, meet the activists involved, and celebrate some of the legal victories! Each chapter ends with a call to action, so kids can feel inspired to get involved in their own communities. This high-interest book is written at a lower reading level for struggling readers. Considerate text and engaging art and photographs are sure to grab even the most reluctant readers.

Place a hold now