"at your library" in the north island eagle: great things are happening at your libraries

Great Things Are Happening At Your Libraries

Our North Island branches of the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) are back to our full pre-covid hours, and back to normal – or better.

Port Hardy new hours and programs

Have you heard the good news? The Port Hardy Library is now has longer – and better – open hours. 

The new hours mean:

– continuous hours – no more closures for lunch or dinner,

– open two nights each week, instead of one – but no late opening on those days,

– open all day on Friday, and

– a simplified schedule that should be easier to keep track of.

These are all things that you, our customers, have asked for. 

With the new open hours and increased staff hours, we’re now offering a storytime every day. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers can come to the library any day (Tue-Sat) at 10:00 and participate in a storytime. 

Some of the sessions will be led by library staff, and some by “Mother Goose”, thanks to the Mt. Waddington Family Literacy Society. Storytimes are one of the best ways to build literacy, so I hope you will join us. 

We’ll also be offering programming for adults every Wednesday night. There will be a game night, a movie night, a book club, and one Wednesday called “something different”. That might be an author visit, a talk or presentation, a craft night, adult Lego night, to name just a few ideas. 

I’ll be leading a book club on the last Wednesday of every month, so if that appeals to you, get in touch!

For all these programs, social distancing will be in effect, and continued mask use is greatly appreciated.

Port Alice refurbishment

If you use the library in Port Alice, you’re in for a treat. Work is about to begin on a branch refurbishment. The library will be getting a long-awaited facelift – new flooring, new paint, a new information desk, beautiful new mobile shelving, and some fun new seating in the children’s area. We hope to host a Customer Appreciation Day to celebrate the new look.

The brand-new Woss

Have you checked out the beautiful new Woss branch yet? It’s a knockout. There’s a lounge area for reading and relaxing, a dedicated children’s space, and a meeting room that members of the community can book free of charge. 

A library customer has generously donated their time and resources to planting a garden that will beautify the library exterior for years to come. 

Next time you’re driving down island, stop by! Sayward also has a new branch; staff there would be happy to show you around. 

Port McNeill and Sointula

Changes at our Sointula and Port McNeill branches are less dramatic, but still very beneficial for those communities. A Mother Goose from the Mt. Waddington Family Literacy Society will be leading storytimes in both communities; check with your branch for details. 

Sointula will be getting a new exterior sign and an interior paint job. Port McNeill has beautiful new cabinets created by a local craftsperson, and some important behind-the-scenes improvements. Both branches are now open for public computer use, too.

We’d love to hear from you

If you have ideas for your library, we’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s a program idea, a book club theme you’d like to see, a research project you want to start, or you need some tech help, we’re here to help.

[Sidebar with new Port Hardy Library hours, an increase of more than 40%!]