GVPL

The Greater Victoria Public Library axes late fines, clears backlog owed as of Jan. 10. (Black Press Media file photo)

Longest overdue book returned to Greater Victoria library 82 years late

GVPL nixes fines starting Jan. 10 in a bid to make libraries more accessible

 

Andrew Appleton, chair of the GVPL board peruses titles at the pop-up branch at the Monterey Recreation Centre in 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)

Library ditches fines, expunges accounts for Greater Victoria readers

Rise of digital materials that don’t accrue fines, means decline in revenue

 

Members of staff place the copies of the book by Prince Harry called Spare at a book store in London, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Prince Harry to Matthew Perry, celebrity memoirs top Greater Victoria reads

BookTok popularizes a new genre – romantasy – a mash-up of romance and fantasy

 

Rainbees and Honeybows: A Vancouver Island Fairy Tale is among the titles in the Greater Victoria Public Library 2023 Emerging Authors Collection. (Courtesy Wendy Picken)

Sidney author-illustrator turns 4,000-word poem into family favourite book

Greater Victoria Public Library now accepting applications for 2024 Emerging Authors Collection

Rainbees and Honeybows: A Vancouver Island Fairy Tale is among the titles in the Greater Victoria Public Library 2023 Emerging Authors Collection. (Courtesy Wendy Picken)
Print books from the Greater Victoria Public Library’s 2023 Emerging Local Authors Collection are currently displayed at the Central Branch. (Courtesy GVPL)

Greater Victoria libraries loaded with events for library month

Learn about emerging authors and more

  • Oct 6, 2023
Print books from the Greater Victoria Public Library’s 2023 Emerging Local Authors Collection are currently displayed at the Central Branch. (Courtesy GVPL)
The Greater Victoria Public Library hosts the annual BC Summer Reading Club to keep kids busy with books, activities until fall. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria library club helps kids battle ‘summer slide’ in literacy

Free BC Summer Reading Club runs now through Sept. 5 for kids 12 and younger

The Greater Victoria Public Library hosts the annual BC Summer Reading Club to keep kids busy with books, activities until fall. (Black Press Media file photo)
Andrew Appleton, GVPL board chair, and vice-chair Shahira Khair cycle nearly 70 kilometres to visit all 12 library branches on a rainy Saturday. (Courtesy GVPL)

Board members hit all 12 libraries in Greater Victoria by bike

Bookin’ It! GVPL Branch Bike Tour 2023 started in Central Saanich, finished in Oak Bay

Andrew Appleton, GVPL board chair, and vice-chair Shahira Khair cycle nearly 70 kilometres to visit all 12 library branches on a rainy Saturday. (Courtesy GVPL)
Sever Bronny, known for his captivating fantasy novels for young adults, is featured in all eight Greater Victoria Public Library Emerging Authors Collections. (Courtesy GVPL)

Greater Victoria library launches collection with more than 170 ‘emerging authors’

Many of the authors have self-published their books

Sever Bronny, known for his captivating fantasy novels for young adults, is featured in all eight Greater Victoria Public Library Emerging Authors Collections. (Courtesy GVPL)
The Years Between by Oak Bay resident Fay Pettapiece, 92, is available online at amazon.ca and at Ivy’s Bookshop in Oak Bay and Bolen Books in Victoria. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Longtime Oak Bay resident publishes first book at 92

Memoir paints clear characters over nearly a century of growing up in B.C.

The Years Between by Oak Bay resident Fay Pettapiece, 92, is available online at amazon.ca and at Ivy’s Bookshop in Oak Bay and Bolen Books in Victoria. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The GVPL’s James Bay Branch is among those on limited hours due to COVID-19 impacts. (Black Press Media file photo)

Libraries on reduced hours across Greater Victoria

Esquimalt in limbo as it awaits new branch opening

The GVPL’s James Bay Branch is among those on limited hours due to COVID-19 impacts. (Black Press Media file photo)
Librarian Kaitlin Ottenereit holds up one of the Greater Victoria Public Library’s most-borrowed books of 2021, Untamed by Glennon Doyle. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Greater Victoria Public Library announces most-borrowed books of 2021

More than 1.8 million library items accessed in 2021

Librarian Kaitlin Ottenereit holds up one of the Greater Victoria Public Library’s most-borrowed books of 2021, Untamed by Glennon Doyle. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Former education minister Rob Fleming and Premier John Horgan read to children at the James Bay Library during a previous summer visit. This year’s BC Summer Reading Club, staged by the Greater Vuctoria Public Library, is open to children under 13 and will feature artwork from Vancouver cartoonist and illustrator Zoe Si. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria Public Library gives kids incentive to read this summer

Summer Reading Club rewards participants for seven weeks of reading

Former education minister Rob Fleming and Premier John Horgan read to children at the James Bay Library during a previous summer visit. This year’s BC Summer Reading Club, staged by the Greater Vuctoria Public Library, is open to children under 13 and will feature artwork from Vancouver cartoonist and illustrator Zoe Si. (Black Press Media file photo)
Greater Victoria Public Library is reminding cardholders to check out the free selection of holiday eBooks, audiobooks, movies and family activities available through the library’s digital platforms. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria library highlights free digital entertainment offerings for at-home holiday season

Holiday audiobooks, Christmas movies available online through Greater Victoria Public Library

Greater Victoria Public Library is reminding cardholders to check out the free selection of holiday eBooks, audiobooks, movies and family activities available through the library’s digital platforms. (Black Press Media file photo)
Greater Victoria Public Library and Vancouver Island Regional Library have seen spikes in online users during the COVID-19 pandemic. They offer eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, television, music and online learning. (Shalu Mehta/News Staff)

What people are reading, watching and learning from local libraries during COVID-19

Greater Victoria Public Library and Vancouver Island Regional Library see big spikes in online users

Greater Victoria Public Library and Vancouver Island Regional Library have seen spikes in online users during the COVID-19 pandemic. They offer eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, television, music and online learning. (Shalu Mehta/News Staff)
The fire has been extinguished but crews remain on scene to put out hot spots and ensure the safety of the building. Some of the roof structure was damaged and will require repairs, with an estimated cost of $50,000. (Nina Grossman/News staff)

UPDATED: One man sent to hospital after fire at downtown Victoria Central Library

Fire caused by a cut gas line that ignited

The fire has been extinguished but crews remain on scene to put out hot spots and ensure the safety of the building. Some of the roof structure was damaged and will require repairs, with an estimated cost of $50,000. (Nina Grossman/News staff)
Rina Hadziev is the coordinator of collections and technical services at the GVPL. She says their eclectic collection of books is meant to both educate and entertain. (Nicole Crescenzi/News staff)

Victoria libraries choose quirky books to keep everyone entertained

Comics, spoofs, and off-beat hobbies among popular selections

Rina Hadziev is the coordinator of collections and technical services at the GVPL. She says their eclectic collection of books is meant to both educate and entertain. (Nicole Crescenzi/News staff)
Carl Cavanagh holds a copy of an LP version of the “Anatomy of a Murder” soundtrack, which was recently returned to the library – more than 20 years have the library stopped lending records (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

The strangest things ever returned to B.C. public library

Some things are returned decades late, others never belonged to the library at all

Carl Cavanagh holds a copy of an LP version of the “Anatomy of a Murder” soundtrack, which was recently returned to the library – more than 20 years have the library stopped lending records (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Carl Cavanagh holds a copy of an LP version of the “Anatomy of a Murder” soundtrack, which was recently returned to the library – more than 20 years have the library stopped lending records (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

80 years overdue and other strange returns at the Victoria library

Some things are returned decades late, others never belonged to the library at all

Carl Cavanagh holds a copy of an LP version of the “Anatomy of a Murder” soundtrack, which was recently returned to the library – more than 20 years have the library stopped lending records (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
On Oct. 27 and 28 all 12 branches of the Greater Victoria Public Library will waive overdue fines in exchange for a non-perishable food items. (Black Press file photo)

Greater Victoria Public Library waives overdue fines for food

Annual Food for Fines campaign takes place Oct. 27 and 28

On Oct. 27 and 28 all 12 branches of the Greater Victoria Public Library will waive overdue fines in exchange for a non-perishable food items. (Black Press file photo)
The GVPL has the highest circulation rate per capita in Canada, not including the contents of the newly opened Sxwenxwen Tenexw James Bay Branch. (File photo)

Greater Victoria Public Library has highest circulation rate in Canada

Across 12 branches, the GVPL’s members borrowed items more than 5 million times

The GVPL has the highest circulation rate per capita in Canada, not including the contents of the newly opened Sxwenxwen Tenexw James Bay Branch. (File photo)