When was the last time you visited the public library?

On a sunny afternoon in mid-October, I bump into a young man walking his dog downtown. His name is David. We are standing outside the Harbourfront Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, and I ask him what the library means to him.

David confesses that he doesn’t go to the library much anymore. But then he remembers: once upon a time, it gave him a place to go.

“Being a kid and not having anything to do,” he recalls, “I used to go read comic books and use the computers.”

So what changed?

For David, the appeal of the library faded as he got older. As someone who chose a path outside university, he says he doesn’t need to visit or study there.

He wishes the library had more resources for those who work in the trades. Then he pauses, pensive.

“They might, actually,” he says. “I haven’t really looked.”

Like David, I too paid many a visit to the library when I was younger; I remember wandering the shelves in search of titles that would catch my eye, and the thrill of getting to try something new every week.

And like David, I find I visit less these days. As a kid, a trip to the library was an exciting day out, an opportunity to experience the wider world. As an adult, it feels like there are no surprises left for me.

But perhaps I need to rekindle my curiosity. I don’t really know what the library has to offer or what I may be missing.

Furthermore, is there room for people like David—people outside the world of academia—at the public library?

Let’s find out.

Established in 1936, the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) is one of only three regional library systems in British Columbia. It’s composed of a whopping 39 branches across an area of over 42,000 square kilometres.

With locations that range from multi-storey buildings to little nooks within shopping centres, VIRL serves communities throughout Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and coastal BC. Its locations span urban, rural, and remote settings.

In fact, providing library access to remote communities was one of the primary reasons the system was created.

Unlike a municipal library, a regional library is a cooperative network that allows for multiple libraries to function as a single entity under the same administration. That means funding can be drawn from across the region into a pooled budget, and resources can be sourced, shared, and distributed at lower cost and with greater efficiency.

As a result, we bypass isolation—and smaller rural libraries get the support they need.

After all, we’re stronger when we work together; libraries are no different.

One of the most effective applications of this interconnectedness is the VIRL’s “floating collection” of books, movies, and video games.

What does it mean for a catalogue to float?

Simply put, it means that every single title in the VIRL can be shipped to any branch—so the entire catalogue is available to you regardless of location. There’s no need to drive hours to reach a distant library; with this system, the item you’re looking for will come to you.

The VIRL’s scope is impressive—it allows more people than ever to access the benefits of a library, no matter where they live.

In 2025, over 1.8 million people visited a VIRL branch in person. That year also saw over 2.8 million physical item loans and 2.3 million digital loans.

But it’s not just about the books.

You might be familiar with DVD loans, but did you know the VIRL also offers video games? The service first launched in 2019, and the game collection keeps growing. Current offerings include Xbox One X, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch games.

You can also borrow audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines digitally using the Libby app. There’s no cost; you just need a library card.

Access to a service like Libby not only expands accessibility for those who can’t get to the library often; it also, as VIU student Taryn Pinder enthusiastically shares, makes life easier for busy students.

“I first found Libby near the start of my university studies, and it was a game changer for me. As an English major, my course load was book-heavy, and it was getting hard to keep up with readings. By borrowing free audiobooks from Libby that I already physically owned, I could listen to the audiobook while cleaning or going for walks, and then pick up the physical when reading on the couch.”

With such a diverse range of media in its catalogue and an abundance of ways to access it, the VIRL has already proven itself more than capable of keeping up with the times. However, some of its most notable benefits don’t involve the catalogue at all.

For many, the library offers a safe “third place”—somewhere other than home and other than work—to spend time.

In an increasingly expensive world in which so many places are off-limits until you pay, the value of a freely accessible space cannot be overstated.

Local student Lucas Horton, for example, shares that he comes to study in the library all the time, even though he doesn’t have a library card. For Horton, it’s less about borrowing books and more about the reliable, quiet space.

“You can meet people, you can get away from your usual routine, and they are just another community place to go to,” he explains.

The community element is huge. For those with young kids, the library can be a source of fun and socialization for both children and guardians.

Two patrons, Sarah and Melissa, bring their young daughters to the library for various activities like colouring and scavenger hunts. The kids get to play, and the parents get opportunities to connect.

“We love the community aspect of it,” Sarah says. “We had a few people rent a room, and a bunch of moms got together so I can meet people. It’s something nice to do with that infant stage—when you’re kind of trapped at home and alone or isolated, the community events to get out with the babies are awesome.”

“I just love libraries,” Melissa adds. “When I was a kid I used to go every weekend, so I’m just keeping the tradition alive.”

In other cases, the library facilities are the main appeal. Edward Carpenter, a licensed practical nurse and former VIU student, shares that he’s currently writing a book, and he comes to the library to use the Wi-Fi and the printer. Of course, the peaceful environment is a bonus.

“It’s well-maintained, and it’s quiet, it’s peaceful, it’s a sanctuary outside of the chaos,” Carpenter says. But he adds that it goes beyond that.

“It’s not just the environment—it’s the foundation of our knowledge. It’s our culture—how we’ve been able to communicate in a way that lets us explore ourselves and our imagination … It really allows us to follow our passions.”

How much can the library truly help us explore? To answer that question, we’ll be returning to the site of my chance meeting with David: the Harbourfront Branch of the VIRL.

Located, as the name suggests, near the downtown Nanaimo harbour, this two-level building not only boasts a vast in-house collection of titles—it also features a dedicated space on its second floor for various public services.

This space is the Creativity Commons, and it’s a game changer.

There are few bookshelves to be seen here. Instead, the bright and open second floor is home to toys, computers, workspaces, specialty equipment, and more—all available for the public to use.

The best part? With a couple (quite reasonable) exceptions, everything is free.

Here you’ll find, for example, the Creativity Commons’ Seed Library. Patrons can take home up to three packets of seeds at a time—and once they’ve grown and harvested their crop, they are encouraged to save some seeds.

Then, in true library fashion, you can return what you “borrowed,” donating your saved seeds to refill the library’s stock. It’s a remarkably elegant system, perfect for encouraging local food growth.

That’s just the beginning. Have you ever struggled to find a space to work on a group project, do a presentation, or host your D&D game? The Creativity Commons has you covered with three meeting rooms, available for any VIRL cardholder to book.

To use these spaces, for-profit organizations pay $30 per hour; for the rest of the public, it’s entirely free of charge. The rooms are designated Small, Medium, and Large—and the latter even includes a podium, a TV, a projector, and a little kitchen.

Next door to the Small Meeting Room is the library’s recording studio. Equipped with a computer, microphones, lights, and a greenscreen, it provides a private space to record both video and audio.

Although it’s not quite a sound studio—having some soundproofing, but the building still allows a bit of sound to travel—it’s a fantastic resource for folks looking to test ideas, practice, or make proof-of-concept recordings.

In the main space of the Creativity Commons, you’ll find more technology, such as digitization stations. These provide equipment for people to convert physical media, like DVDs and VHS tapes, into a digital format. Whether you’re looking to digitize an old home movie, film strips, slides, or documents, the VIRL lets you get it done.

Location doesn’t have to be an obstacle to this service, either. Like with their floating collection of books and DVDs, the VIRL uses a mail system to provide digitization to all its branches. A patron can drop off their VHS tape at their local branch, and it will be mailed to the Nanaimo Harbourfront, digitized, and sent back.

More equipment in the Creativity Commons includes a cutting station, where patrons can use the computer to create custom designs that will then be cut into their desired material—anything from paper and cardboard to balsa wood.

Then there’s the Espresso Book Machine, or EBM, which lets you print your own books at $0.05 per page plus a $6.00 binding fee.

This in particular blows my mind. My love of writing began when I was a child—I remember filling notebooks and creating rudimentary books out of household stationery and school supplies. There’s something about the feel of a self-made book in your hands that exhilarates.

The EBM is a step up from folded paper and staples, however. In roughly eight minutes, it can produce a fully bound and trimmed paperback book, complete with a full-colour cover and up to 800 pages.

I can only imagine what a dream this is for local authors and book enthusiasts. When people don’t have access to their own means of production, it becomes much harder to get their ideas off the ground. With just one machine, the VIRL has removed that barrier and given creatives an empowering alternative to traditional publishing.

And it doesn’t stop there. The VIRL also offers 3D printing services. You can submit requests online, and the library will provide a price quote before printing begins. If you’re lucky enough to live near the Harbourfront Branch, you can visit to watch the process in action—but if not, there’s no need to worry. 3D printed objects can be mailed to any VIRL branch for pickup, so the service is accessible to everyone.

Of course, this space isn’t all about work. The Creativity Commons has plenty of entertainment, as well.

Behind the information desk sits an impressive collection of board games. These games can be played anywhere in the library, including—if you’re inclined to book in advance—in one of the aforementioned meeting rooms.

For the younger crowd, there’s an area full of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) toys. Kids can browse the shelves, pick out whatever they like, and engage in educational play in a safe, friendly environment.

Then there’s the Game Zone. Reserved for individuals 19 and under, it includes a large TV and a Nintendo Switch. Games are preloaded, so you don’t have to worry about those dreaded arguments over what to play. Up to four kids can play at a time, and a one-hour rule ensures no one waits too long for a turn.

The Game Zone also features four computers where youth can play web games and learn anything from Microsoft Office basics to 3D printing.

With the variety of specialty services and equipment available at the Harbourfront Branch, and the organizational efforts to make these services as accessible as possible, the VIRL promotes not only traditional literacy, but digital literacy as well.

From gardening to coding, from creation to play, there is so much more than I imagined here. But one question remains: are there resources for the trades?

It turns out, there are. A Vancouver Island Regional Library card gives you access to a variety of databases—many focused on practical and professional skills. Chilton Library, for example, offers reliable vehicle maintenance and repair information.

You can also find links in the VIRL database collection to the official sets of BC codes and BC laws, both of which can be helpful references.

The library has something to offer everyone—whether you need help with a project, want to connect with others, or are simply looking for a quiet place to spend an afternoon.

So if, like David and me, you haven’t been in a while, perhaps it’s time to head down to your local branch. I promise it’ll be worth the trip.

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