The Greater Victoria Public Library is extending hours at four of its branches and access to public computer stations at the sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ James Bay branch.
The Central, Juan de Fuca, Nellie McClung and Saanich Centennial branches will now be open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and until 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The other eight GVPL branches are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
Public computer stations with printing services are also now available in a dedicated computer lab at the sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ James Bay branch. Computer sessions of 50 minutes each can be booked up to seven days in advance, while 15-minute express computer sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Public computer access will be restored at the remaining library locations on a branch-by-branch basis.
The library reports “unprecedented” demand for its digital services during COVID-19.
While the branches were closed, the circulation of digital items was up more than 92 per cent, according to the GVPL. It says use of the digital collection continues to be strong, with more than 1.8 million items checked out in 2020.
To keep up with demand, the library added 37,000 new digital items to its collection.
Since branches reopened in June, patrons have requested more than 446,000 items to borrow. For more information, go to gvpl.ca.
— Times Colonist
