Friday, April 7, 2023

What's happening with our Friendshop, booksales and book donations

As of April 2023, the Library's current staff shortages (and other issues that have come up) mean that the Friends have no booksale in sight and no storage for donations. We regret this, as the Friends have enjoyed holding booksales as much as our customers enjoyed attending them -- raising money for worthwhile library projects, re-cycling books to new readers, and providing a focus for the library community. 

In the meantime, if you have books to donate, the Times Colonist has announced that its booksale will be held Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7, with the drive-through book drop-off on Saturday, April 22, and Sunday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. And the proceeds go to support literacy projects. 


As an alternative, you can donate small numbers of books to the Little Free Libraries dotted around the region. There are now more than 600 of them.  Here's more information on the LFLs in our area: Little Free Libraries – Greater Victoria Placemaking Network

Monday, March 20, 2023

Changes to our email addresses

 We've made some behind-the-scenes changes to our email.  If you've been using any of our "@gvplfriends.ca" addresses, please start reaching us via our "Contact" page where you can find links to send email to the right person.  Here's what it looks like:


Thanks for your help! 

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Volunteer Week Thanks

It's wonderful to be thanked for something you value and love doing!

During Volunteer Week, the Friends received this wonderful note from Maureen Sawa, the CEO of the Greater Victoria Public Library.  We are definitely looking forward to our first post-COVID book sale too!

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 Dear Friends of GVPL,

Happy National Volunteer Week! While we can’t celebrate together this year, I didn’t want to let the week go by without expressing my sincere gratitude and appreciation for all that you do.

Although the Friends weren’t able to undertake their usual activities, you still found a way to positively impact the community in 2020. Your donation to the Library allowed us to purchase Niche Academy, which provides videos to help people get started with the library’s digital resources. Your support of the Summer Reading Club helped us deliver a modified version of the program, which was a much-needed distraction and dose of normalcy for kids in our community. Thank you.

I hope you are all healthy and safe, and visiting the library in-person or virtually to keep yourself busy. I can’t wait for the first post-COVID Friends book sale!

Take care,
Maureen

Maureen Sawa
Chief Executive Officer
Greater Victoria Public Library

Your place to connect, discover and imagine.

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Book Donations, the Friendshop and our Book Sales under COVID-19

Unfortunately, GVPL is not able to accept donated materials at our designated drop off locations for the time being. Additionally, the Friendshop at the Central Branch will remain closed until further notice. Book sales are also currently on hiatus.

We, the Friends, look forward to the day when we can resume resume our activities and see you all again! 

In the meantime, see https://www.gvpl.ca/howdoi/donate-books/ for alternative locations to donate books and places to recycle books.

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Join the Friends online!

Exciting News! Friends of the Greater Victoria Public Library are pleased to announce that new and renewed Friends Memberships are now available online. Check out our Membership page.

Monday, August 31, 2020

Frendshop remains closed

The Friendshop at the Central Branch closed in March to keep all our volunteers protected in this time of Covid19. A reopening date is not planned for the foreseeable future. 

It was necessary for Library Staff to borrow the Friendshop space to facilitate the reopening of the Central Branch. As long as GVPL has need of our space we will remain closed.  

Thank you to all the Friendshop volunteers for being patient and safe. Information and updates will be passed on when received.

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Library Re-openings and Hours

The latest info on which branches are open, at what hours, can be found on the main page at gvpl.ca  More branches will be opening in September and October.

Further details about service are available here: https://www.gvpl.ca/reopening-branches-hours/

Monday, March 16, 2020

COVID-19 Impacts

Please see https://www.gvpl.ca/2020/03/covid-19-updates/ for information on GVPL closure of all Branches, effective 6:00 p.m. tonight.

As you likely expected, the Friends of the GVPL will not be holding our spring booksale in April.  However, our *next* one should be spectacular!

Stay well, "flatten the curve", wash your hands, and watch out for myths.  See https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Friendshop closed until further notice

Due to concern for our patrons and our volunteers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Friendshop will be closed until further notice. We will post updates here and also on our Facebook and Twitter channels.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please see BC Centre for Disease Control and the Government of Canada for more information.

On behalf of the Friends of the Greater Victoria Public Library, we hope you remain healthy and well.

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Psst! Booksale coming up!

Our next booksale is coming February 22 and 23 at Nellie McClung Branch, 3950 Cedar Hill Rd. at Mackenzie. Bring your own bags or boxes.

Saturday Feb. 22,  2-7 pm. Earlybird admission $3, prices as marked
Sunday Feb. 23, 9am-1pm Free admission, prices as marked

                          1:15pm-3:15pm $10 admission, books free