Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 4th August 2026
VIRL - Beatrix
Under the Sea: 2026 Summer Reading Club
Summer Reading Club is in full swing until August 22. We are very excited to partner with Cortes Kayaks to offer a paddling trip for 2 as our Grand Prize!! Kids, teens, and adults are all eligible for the grand prize draw. Come by the branch each week and enter a slip into the draw. The more slips you enter, the greater your chance of winning.
Kids (0-11) Weekly prizes for participating! Drop into the library to collect trading cards, do a scavenger hunt, or make one of our five ocean creature crafts.
Teen Summer Challenge (12-18) Sea of Monsters: Do challenges to unlock prizes (Instax camera, hammock, earbuds, and more!). Sign up on beanstack. Teens without access to computers/internet can come to the library to use ours :) Register for the Sea of Monsters Challenge.
Adults (19-125) Play and read to win prizes. Get your game pack from the branch, print your own at home, or do it all online. Register and download your package.
All 39 VIRL branches participate in this region wide program, so no matter where you travel around Vancouver Island this summer, you can stop in at the library and see what’s happening under the sea.
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Summer Crafts with Matthew
Matthew James joins us from the Quadra Island branch once a month to support our library and run fun programs. He’ll be at the Cortes branch again on Friday, August 28 from 1:30-2:30 pm to lead the kiddos in a craft. Supplies are provided!
—
Zollipop Zingers
Recite a verse, sing a song, or share a zinger of a new word or a startling fact to the person working at the desk and earn yourself a zollipop! All ages are welcome to participate. One zollipop per person per visit! No repeats, we need to hear fresh material every time ;)
For anyone curious about zollipops (we are not sponsored by Zolli candy, it’s just a pretty neat story): Zolli Candy is tooth-friendly, delicious, allergy-free, sugar free, vegan, KETO, diabetic-friendly, non-GMO, gluten free, dairy free, made with natural fruit flavors, no artificial colors, and kosher, dreamed up by Kid-preneur Alina Morse when she was seven years old!
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VIRL 90th Anniversary Passport Program
Ongoing until October 31, visit library branches, collect unique branch stamps, and discover the diverse communities that make VIRL one of British Columbia’s largest and most geographically unique public library systems. Visit any five VIRL branches and collect five stamps to qualify for the Main Prize Draw. FAQs and Info.
—
Did you know…
• Your library card gives you access to libraries across the province through the BC OneCard program. Wherever you’re travelling in the province, you can visit the library and ask at the front desk to set up a BC OneCard. You’ll need to show your ID and your VIRL library card. Keep your reading stash replenished even while on the road.
• Visiting Cortes and need some reading material? You can borrow our books, movies, and magazines and return them to any VIRL location, or to your home library (if you are using your BC OneCard) and they will find their way back to us.
• We have a small collection of puzzles you can take with you. No need to return them.
• Play chess at the branch. We have a branch chessboard. Annoyed with your summer guests? Beat them at chess and you’ll probably feel much better!
—
Stay Cool at the library
Cool off at the library! We are surrounded by a peaceful, shading bamboo forest, and we keep the branch at around 20C with the help of our trusty HVAC. There’s potable water in the bathrooms so you can fill water bottles. We have comfortable seating so you can rest, and we have a whole lot of books to keep you company while you wait out the heat during our open hours. Helpful info and links.
—
Come for a visit! The Cortes branch is on the bottom floor of the Linnaea Farm Education Centre (1255 Seaford Rd). We have free WiFi, two public computers, and black and white printing for $0.25/page. We also have a scanner, copier, and shredder that staff can assist you with.
Open: Tues, Friday, Sat: 10 am – 2:30 pm / Wed-Thurs: 2:30 pm – 7 pm
Closed: Sundays, Mondays, statutory holidays, and occasionally due to weather/power outages.
Get in touch: ci1virl.bc.ca / 250-935-6566
Summer Reading Club is in full swing until August 22. We are very excited to partner with Cortes Kayaks to offer a paddling trip for 2 as our Grand Prize!! Kids, teens, and adults are all eligible for the grand prize draw. Come by the branch each week and enter a slip into the draw. The more slips you enter, the greater your chance of winning.
Kids (0-11) Weekly prizes for participating! Drop into the library to collect trading cards, do a scavenger hunt, or make one of our five ocean creature crafts.
Teen Summer Challenge (12-18) Sea of Monsters: Do challenges to unlock prizes (Instax camera, hammock, earbuds, and more!). Sign up on beanstack. Teens without access to computers/internet can come to the library to use ours :) Register for the Sea of Monsters Challenge.
Adults (19-125) Play and read to win prizes. Get your game pack from the branch, print your own at home, or do it all online. Register and download your package.
All 39 VIRL branches participate in this region wide program, so no matter where you travel around Vancouver Island this summer, you can stop in at the library and see what’s happening under the sea.
—
Summer Crafts with Matthew
Matthew James joins us from the Quadra Island branch once a month to support our library and run fun programs. He’ll be at the Cortes branch again on Friday, August 28 from 1:30-2:30 pm to lead the kiddos in a craft. Supplies are provided!
—
Zollipop Zingers
Recite a verse, sing a song, or share a zinger of a new word or a startling fact to the person working at the desk and earn yourself a zollipop! All ages are welcome to participate. One zollipop per person per visit! No repeats, we need to hear fresh material every time ;)
For anyone curious about zollipops (we are not sponsored by Zolli candy, it’s just a pretty neat story): Zolli Candy is tooth-friendly, delicious, allergy-free, sugar free, vegan, KETO, diabetic-friendly, non-GMO, gluten free, dairy free, made with natural fruit flavors, no artificial colors, and kosher, dreamed up by Kid-preneur Alina Morse when she was seven years old!
—
VIRL 90th Anniversary Passport Program
Ongoing until October 31, visit library branches, collect unique branch stamps, and discover the diverse communities that make VIRL one of British Columbia’s largest and most geographically unique public library systems. Visit any five VIRL branches and collect five stamps to qualify for the Main Prize Draw. FAQs and Info.
—
Did you know…
• Your library card gives you access to libraries across the province through the BC OneCard program. Wherever you’re travelling in the province, you can visit the library and ask at the front desk to set up a BC OneCard. You’ll need to show your ID and your VIRL library card. Keep your reading stash replenished even while on the road.
• Visiting Cortes and need some reading material? You can borrow our books, movies, and magazines and return them to any VIRL location, or to your home library (if you are using your BC OneCard) and they will find their way back to us.
• We have a small collection of puzzles you can take with you. No need to return them.
• Play chess at the branch. We have a branch chessboard. Annoyed with your summer guests? Beat them at chess and you’ll probably feel much better!
—
Stay Cool at the library
Cool off at the library! We are surrounded by a peaceful, shading bamboo forest, and we keep the branch at around 20C with the help of our trusty HVAC. There’s potable water in the bathrooms so you can fill water bottles. We have comfortable seating so you can rest, and we have a whole lot of books to keep you company while you wait out the heat during our open hours. Helpful info and links.
—
Come for a visit! The Cortes branch is on the bottom floor of the Linnaea Farm Education Centre (1255 Seaford Rd). We have free WiFi, two public computers, and black and white printing for $0.25/page. We also have a scanner, copier, and shredder that staff can assist you with.
Open: Tues, Friday, Sat: 10 am – 2:30 pm / Wed-Thurs: 2:30 pm – 7 pm
Closed: Sundays, Mondays, statutory holidays, and occasionally due to weather/power outages.
Get in touch: ci1virl.bc.ca / 250-935-6566