The Oak Bay Public Library was a hotspot for bookworms last year, according to Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) data.
B次元官网网址淚t remains one of the busiest branches in our system,B次元官网网址� said GVPL's CEO Maureen Sawa.
In 2024, the Monterey Avenue library placed second in checkouts and the circulation of physical materials among GVPLB次元官网网址檚 12 branches, behind SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Nellie McClung Library. The Central Branch ranked third.
While library visits rose by 10.8 per cent across the GVPL system last year, the Oak Bay branch logged a 61.8 per cent increase, snagging second place for in-person visits, thanks to the 1,843,553 people who perused its well-appointed stacks.
Four hundred kids also completed the B.C. Summer Reading Club B次元官网网址� a free literacy program designed to engage school-aged children B次元官网网址� at the Oak Bay branch in 2024. This was the third most popular of these programs in Greater Victoria.
B次元官网网址淪everal factors contributed to this growth. The branch saw a significant rise in new cardholders during 2024, issuing 1,627 new library cards B次元官网网址� a 17.2 per cent increase B次元官网网址� as more people discovered our services. Public computer use nearly doubled, reflecting increased demand for digital access,B次元官网网址� said Sawa. B次元官网网址淓ngaging library programming, like the B.C. Summer Reading Club, a strong reading culture in the community and enhanced collections also played a role.B次元官网网址�
The library closed for over four months in 2023, after Oak Bay discovered asbestos in the building. Sawa noted this played a role in the branch's rise in usage last year.
B次元官网网址淲hile the 2023 closure contributed to the year-over-year increase, the continued rise in cardholders, program participation and digital access points to a broader trend: more people are turning to the library for learning, connection, entertainment and community,B次元官网网址� said the CEO.
On Feb. 24, Sawa outlined the library's popularity at an Oak Bay council meeting, which prompted kind words from Mayor Kevin Murdoch.
B次元官网网址淎s much as the usage is driven, perhaps, [by] changing demographics and needs, a lot of it is driven by providing a service and product that people want and get benefit from, and youB次元官网网址檙e doing a great job of meeting that need and responding, so I just want to say thank you for all the work that goes in,B次元官网网址� he said.
The public also had great things to say about the branch.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lots of parking around here and I like the layout. It feels very comfortable," said Kathrine Ogg, who regularly visits the library." It just feels like a living room somehow."
The Victoria resident noted she would rather borrow books from the Oak Bay branch than the Central one.
B次元官网网址淚 feel threatened a bit [downtown]. IB次元官网网址檓 an older person. Here, you feel comfortable. Most people are your age or there are a lot of young mothers and kids," she said. "I know it is a smaller branch, but it feels like itB次元官网网址檚 got everything you need."
Oak Bay resident Margaret Drew noted the library's convenient location might help explain its popularity.
"Partly because it's attached to the Monterey Centre here, youB次元官网网址檙e able to do lots of other things. There are so many activities that go on here that I think thatB次元官网网址檚 one of the main reasons," she said. B次元官网网址淚 tie it in with other things."
Others, including another Oak Bay local Carol Fabri, noted that Oak Bay's older population could help account for the branch's usage.
B次元官网网址淚 think maybe itB次元官网网址檚 the demographic. Maybe people that live here might be an older demographic B次元官网网址� people who have been reading all their life and carry on," she said.
Victoria resident Erica, who opted not to share her surname, expressed a similar sentiment.
B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e still seeing a surge in retirees coming to Oak Bay and the bulge in the population from the boomers isnB次元官网网址檛 quite finished yet, so youB次元官网网址檝e still got that influx," she said. "ItB次元官网网址檚 just so popular with the silver tops."
