As a regional system, Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) covers a vast geographic area, from Sooke and Sidney in the south to Port Hardy, Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast. Our system, the fifth largest in British Columbia, totals more than 42,000 square kilometres and includes a mix of urban, rural, and remote communities that work together to ensure exemplary library services for all our members. Each of our member jurisdictions contributes to a pooled budgeting system, as mandated by the Library Act. With this model, VIRL is able to leverage economies of scale, discounted prices on library materials, and a robust eLibrary with the very latest in ebooks, audiobooks, streaming and downloadable music, movies and TV, and online learning opportunities. VIRL uses a floating collection, which means that no matter where someone lives, they can request any title in our collection and have it delivered to their branch. This model ensures equity of access for all VIRL cardholders and means they can take advantage of the entirety of our collection. We focus on providing the highest quality titles, both in print and digital formats, for all of our cardholders. Our branches reflect how people are changing the way they interact with their libraries. 21st Century libraries must balance the traditional services we have always provided with the flexible spaces, new technologies, digital resources, and exciting programming that people expect today.
