View source for Vancouver Island Regional Library

{{Short description|Public library system in British Columbia}}
{{Primary sources|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox library
| library_name = Vancouver Island Regional Library
| name_en =
| library_logo =
| image =
| caption =
| country = Canada
| type = Regional [[Public library]]
| scope =
| established = 1936
| ref_legal_mandate =
| location =
| coordinates = {{coord|49|9|57|N|123|56|11|W|display=inline,title}}
| branch_of =
| num_branches = 39
| items_collected = books, DVDs, e-books, music, CDs, periodicals, maps, genealogical archives, business directories, local history
| collection_size = 1.1M (2011)
| criteria =
| legal_deposit =
| req_to_access =
| annual_circulation = 4,997,285 (2018)
| pop_served = 427,236 (2018)
| members =
| budget = $23,967,910 (2018)
| director = Ben Hyman
| num_employees =
| website = {{URL|https://virl.bc.ca/}}
| phone_num = (250) 758-4697
| references = https://virl.bc.ca/about/reports-and-plans/2018-annual-report/
}}
The '''Vancouver Island Regional Library'''(VIRL) is the fourth-largest library system in [[British Columbia]]. It serves more than 430,000 people on [[Vancouver Island]], [[Haida Gwaii]] (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands) and the Central Coast (Bella Coola) through 39 branch libraries and a books-by-mail service.  Administrative offices are located in [[Nanaimo]]. Vancouver Island Regional Library opened its doors in 1936 as the Vancouver Island Union Library; it was the second regional library in North America.
==Services==
Vancouver Island Regional Library offers a books-by-mail service.<ref>
[http://virl.bc.ca/services/branches VIRL Locations & Hours]</ref> VIRL has a searchable online catalogue.<ref>[http://virl.bibliocommons.com/dashboard/index VIRL online catalogue]</ref>
*Information and reference services
*Access to full text databases
*Community information
*Internet access
*Reader's advisory services
*Programs for children, youth and adults
*Delivery to homebound individuals
*Interlibrary loan
*Free downloadable audiobooks
==Branches==
With Central Services on Hammond Bay Road in north Nanaimo, VIRL has branches in [[Bella Coola, British Columbia|Bella Coola]], [[Bowser, British Columbia|Bowser]], [[Campbell River, British Columbia|Campbell River]], [[Chemainus, British Columbia|Chemainus]], [[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]], [[Cortes Island]], [[Courtenay, British Columbia|Courtenay]], [[Duncan, British Columbia|Cowichan]], [[Lake Cowichan, British Columbia|Cowichan Lake]], [[Cumberland, British Columbia|Cumberland]], [[Daajing Giids, British Columbia|Daajing Giids]], [[Gabriola Island]], [[Gold River, British Columbia|Gold River]], [[Hornby Island]], [[Ladysmith, British Columbia|Ladysmith]], [[Masset, British Columbia|Masset]], [[Nanaimo|Nanaimo Harbourfront]], [[Nanaimo|Nanaimo North]], [[Nanaimo|Nanaimo Wellington]], [[Parksville, British Columbia|Parksville]], [[Port Alberni]], [[Port Alice, British Columbia|Port Alice]], [[Port Clements, British Columbia|Port Clements]], [[Port Hardy, British Columbia|Port Hardy]], [[Port McNeill, British Columbia|Port McNeill]], [[Port Renfrew, British Columbia|Port Renfrew]], [[Quadra Island]], [[Qualicum Beach, British Columbia|Qualicum Beach]], [[Sandspit, British Columbia|Sandspit]], [[Sayward, British Columbia|Sayward]], [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]]/[[North Saanich, British Columbia|North Saanich]], [[Sointula, British Columbia|Sointula]], [[Sooke, British Columbia|Sooke]], [[Mill Bay, British Columbia|South Cowichan]], [[Tahsis, British Columbia|Tahsis]], [[Tofino, British Columbia|Tofino]], [[Ucluelet]], [[Union Bay, British Columbia|Union Bay]] and [[Woss, British Columbia|Woss]].
==References==
<references />
== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://virl.bc.ca/}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Public libraries in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Libraries established in 1936]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in Canada]]
{{Library-stub}}