NANAIMO—North Vancouver Island is particularly well-represented on the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board executive committee, thanks to the election of two local representative at last week's VIRL annual general meeting.
Dave Rushton of Woss, Area D director on the Regional District of Mount Waddington board, and Gaby Wickstrom, member of the Town of Port McNeill Council, were both elected to the eight-member executive committee during the Feb. 9 meeting in Nanaimo.
Bruce Jolliffe, representing the Comox Valley Regional District, was elected by acclamation as Board Chair. Brenda Leigh, representing the Strathcona Regional District was elected by acclamation as Vice-Chair. Ronna-Rae Leonard, representing the City of Courtenay fills the position of Past Chair.
In addition to Rushton and Wickstrom, six additional members-at-large were elected to the 2013 executive committee: Penny Cote (Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District); Mel Dorey (Cowichan Valley Regional District); Joe Bratkowski (Lantzville); Sue Powell (Parksville); George Holme (Nanaimo Regional District); and Ron Kerr (Campbell River).
The Vancouver Island Regional Library Board of Trustees administers a budget of over $20 million.
Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) is the fourth largest library system in British Columbia. It serves more than 430,000 people on Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and Bella Coola on the Central Coast through 38 branch libraries, an eLibrary at virl.bc.ca and a Books by Mail service. VIRL’s holdings number almost one million and include books, magazines, eBooks, CD’s and DVD’s. Administrative offices are located in Nanaimo.