Tag Archives: Vancouver Island Regional Library

Vancouver Island Regional Library explains 15% Budget Increase

April 2, 2024 Roy L Hales

The Vancouver Island Regional Library increased its operating budget for 2024 to $38 million. That is 15% more money than last year ($33 million). Executive Director Brent Hyman explained that this increase is necessary because the library’s previous management did not budget properly and more money is needed for wages, benefits and leases. He has been giving presentations to the library’s funding partners. He has already spoken in Victoria, Nanaimo, and some of the other regional districts. Six of the library’s 39 branches are in the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) and he gave a presentation at the SRD Board’s March 27th meeting.

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Housing, Poverty

The rural housing and service needs survey

April 26, 2022 Roy L Hales

The Strathcona Regional District is in the midst of a 30 day survey of rural housing insecurity and service needs. The Campbell River and District Coalition to end homelessness emailed copies to every Vancouver Island Regional Library in the district. There was a network of volunteers ready to work with them on Cortes Island and individual volunteers on Quadra, but some areas can only be reached through social media. The survey comes to an end on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

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Education

Library strike: No job action today

March 12, 2022 Roy L Hales

Editor’s Note: While there were no picket lines on Thursday, as the article below states, they appeared at the Nanaimo Harbourfront branch and Creativity Commons in downtown Nanaimo on Friday.

There will be no job action today in the Vancouver Island Regional Library strike, which began Tuesday.

A BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) spokesperson emailed Cortes Currents, “We do not want to be in job action so, in order to minimize impact on communities, we are making plans day-to-day based on what we hear from the mediator and will update the community as far in advance as we can.”

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Education

Library strike could start Wednesday

March 7, 2022 Roy L Hales

The libraries in our area are preparing for a strike. Shortly after BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which represents the librarians, issued a 72-hour strike notice last Wednesday, the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) made a new offer to its librarians. This was rejected and the union responded with a counteroffer.

Their collective agreement with the VIRL expired 15 months ago.

BCGEU President Stephanie Smith said, “Unless the employer comes back with a serious offer, pickets will be up at VIRL branches starting Wednesday, March 9.”

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