ShareLibrary Services
The newly renovated Sidney/North Saanich Library branch is located at 10091 Resthaven Drive. Library upgrades include remodeled youth and adult sections, a fireplace lounge area, additional computers and a new laptop bar, additional study and lounge seating, improved layout to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers, an enclosed book-drop, and more!
Visit the Sidney/North Saanich Library website for additional information, including branch hours, catalogue details, and eLibrary services.
Vancouver Island Regional Library System
Local library service is operated by the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) system, which serves the whole of Vancouver Island above the Malahat, as well as Sidney, North Saanich and Sooke on the lower Island. For more information about VIRL, please refer to their website.
Financial Information
The local library branch is co-owned by the Town of Sidney and the District of North Saanich, and leased to VIRL for staffing and operation. The Town of Sidney collects funds annually, on the property tax bill, on behalf of VIRL, and remits the funds to VIRL for Sidney’s share of operating the library service. In 2015, the average residence, valued at about $426,000, paid a library levy of $85.
Sidney, like all VIRL members, pays for a share of overall VIRL operating costs according to a formula based on population and the assessed value of property within each jurisdiction. Operating costs shared by VIRL members include the cost of each library branch. Some branches were built and are owned by VIRL; other branches, like Sidney’s, are owner by the local jurisdiction and leased to VIRL. VIRL’s current preference is to own its own facilities, on behalf of the communities it serves.
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