Library unveils ‘virtual’ branch

The Greater Victoria Public Library has launched a new website meant to expand its online community among people who still think of the library as mostly a place to borrow books.

Touted as a “true virtual branch,” the website — found at gvpl.ca — showcases the ways people can “read, watch, listen, play, learn, discover and connect.”

“We know using the library can literally change your mind — through reading, learning, playing and connecting with others,” said Maureen Sawa, the library’s CEO, in a statement.

“The new website makes it easier for everyone to see all the ways the library can enrich their lives and provide learning opportunities to help people connect, explore and discover.”

The new design showcases not only physical and digital collections, but about 800 free programs that the GVPL wants the public to be able to easily access.

Several new services were launched along with the website, including a new events calendar and the option to sign up for a library card and start reading, watching and listening in minutes.

The library has not changed the balance of physical and digital collections as a result of the new website, said communications officer Jessica Woollard in an email to the Times Colonist.

In 2016, GVPL spent 72 per cent of its collections budget — about $1.9 million — on physical materials such as books, DVDs and CDs and 28 per cent — about $750,000 — on digital collections and e-resources.

There are about 600,000 print items in the GVPL and book checkouts are not declining in the face of digital use, Woollard said. In 2016, patrons checked out about five million physical items compared with 650,000 electronic ones. The website received 4.5 million visits in 2016.