View our guidelines for visiting the library.
Branch Head Kristy Hennings
250-542-7610 ext. 6891
khennings@orl.bc.ca
Book Returns are open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, excluding the Easter and Christmas closures.
We will be closed Monday September 19th all day for staff training.
Have a question? Call us at 250-542-7610 during open hours. For eBook, resource or reference help you can also email help@orl.bc.ca or call 1-844-649-8127.
There are three book drop bins located on the east side of the building. They are open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, except during our Easter and Christmas closures. Our indoor book drops are now open for your convenience during library hours.
Have a question? If so, please contact our Youth Services Librarian, Stephanie Thoreson, at sthoreson@orl.bc.ca.
Summer Reading Club challenges are due September 9th. Bring reading records to the check-out desk for your medal and draw ticket.
Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30am September 22-November 28.
Picture books, rhymes, songs and felt stories. Aimed at ages 3-5 but all ages are welcome.
Tuesdays at 10:30am September 20-November 29.
Interactive songs and rhymes for babies and caregivers.
Tuesday December 13 at 11:00am repeated Friday December 16 at 10:30am.
Contact Val (vknudson@orl.bc.ca) to book a field trip to the library or visit at your daycare.
Registration Required Code . Learn . Unite . BuildCome on out and dive deep into the tech world with us! Learn more about coding, programming, physics, circuitry and more. Through a variety of activities, participants will learn the basics of these fields and be encouraged to explore in a truly creative manner. This program is for all skill levels and abilities, it is the perfect environment to learn and collaborate in. Wednesday | September 21 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST Wednesday | October 5 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 AM PST Wednesday | October 19 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST Wednesday | November 2 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST Wednesday | November 16 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST
5 to 8 years old | Drop-In Thursdays at 3:00pm September 29-November 24 A series of events based on the book Fairy Tale Science by Sarah Albee. Each week we will read a fairy tale and do an experiment based on the story. This is for kids ages 5-8 and their guardians (who must remain present).
Drop-In Friday October 21 at 1:30pm repeated Tuesday October 25 at 3:30pm. All things Hallowe'en will be celebrated in this special story
time with songs, shadow puppets, and "Black Lightening!"
2:30pm October 1, October 15 and November 2. Ozobots, Cubelets, Code & Go and more with a literacy twist.
Minecraft Meet-up
Thursdays at 2:00pm September 22- November 24 Play Minecraft free on library computers. Meet other kids who play. Registration required to use our computers. Drop-in with your own device.
Registration Required Code . Learn . Unite . Build Come on out and dive deep into the tech world with us! Learn more about coding, programming, physics, circuitry and more. Through a variety of activities, participants will learn the basics of these fields and be encouraged to explore in a truly creative manner. This program is for all skill levels and abilities, it is the perfect environment to learn and collaborate in. Wednesday | September 14 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST Wednesday | September 28 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST Wednesday | October 12 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST Wednesday | October 26 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST Wednesday | November 9 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST Wednesday | November 23 | 3:30 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST
Wednesday September 21 at 3:30pm. Registration required. Artist Maud Lewis was famous for her tiny Nova Scotia home, which she painted from top to bottom in her whimsical folk art style. Kids will learn beginner-friendly coding skills using the drag-and-drop block coding platform Scratch. Recreate Maud’s masterpieces on their own digital walls.
Monday September 26 at 2:00pm. Registration Required Participate in some hands-on science experiments and borrow books about more you can try at home.
Intro Code + SCIENCE - Nibi’s Water Song
Wednesday September 28 at 3:30pm. Registration Required. Celebrating the Canadian book, Nibi’s Water Song by Sunshine Tenasco, kids will code a narrative game that explores the universal need for clean drinking water and how individuals can make a difference in the fight against climate change. The project will use foundational Scratch coding skills as a tool to celebrate themes like perseverance, community, and the beauty of protecting Canada’s natural environments.
Wednesday October 5 at 3:30pm. Registration Required. Inspired by the classic “Space Invaders” game, kids will learn to use the drag-and-drop block coding platform Scratch. Set the stage, choose your characters, and build the code to save your spaceship from aliens!
Saturday September 24 at 10:00am. Looking for options to fill your required volunteer hours or just want to make the world a better place? Visit the Vernon Volunteer Fair to find the right experience for you. Over 20 non-profit organizations in Vernon will be there to answer your questions about how you can make a difference. Prizes, just for coming.
Wednesday October 12 at 3:30 PM Registration Required. Learn the basics of algorithmic art and use your voice as an innovative way to interact with a generative art piece. Students will be introduced top5.js, a Javascript coding library for artists,andml5.js, a Machine Learning coding library, so budding algorithm artists can keep creating after the session.
Wednesday October 19 at 7:00 PM Costume contest, board games and art inspired by Disney and Marvel villains
Wednesdays September 28, October 26 and November 23 at 4:00 PM Pizza, karaoke, Just Dance and more for LGBTQ2S+ youth and allies.
Contact sthoreson@orl.bc.ca if you are interested in scheduling an in person or virtual visit for the Fall.
Please check our in-branch and online events in calendar format here.
All adult programs and events at the Vernon Library are FREE to the public.
If you have an idea you'd like to see happen @ your library, email us at vereference@orl.bc.ca.
Jump to:
Special Events
Book Clubs & Literary Events
Creative Circles
Games
Health
Makerspace
Technology Training
Tuesday September 27th, 7 pm - 8:30 pm
Marie Fleming Hall, Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
free of charge - drop-in
Saturday and Sunday afternoon October 22nd and 23rd, beginning at 1:00 pm
This is your chance to learn something new from a person who has lived it. Voices of Vernon will share their empowered stories and knowledge. Speakers to be announced soon.
Co-sponsored by Okanagan Regional Library and JCI Vernon.
The Vernon Reads Book Club is open to all interested adults. Engaging discussions are held monthly, January to November each year.
Individuals are responsible for acquiring a copy of each month's book. There are usually copies available at the Vernon Upstairs Desk (call 250-542-7610 ext. 6820 to check availability). Many titles are also available in eBook, eAudiobook, and audiobook formats in the ORL catalogue.
2022 Book Titles
3rd Saturday of each month | 10:30-11:30 am | Community Room
Destanne Norris - Author Talk AND Artist Walk
Oct. 1 | 2:00-3:00 p.m. | Community Room
Local author and visual artist, Destanne Norris, will talk about her book, Leah’s Gift: A Story about Reframing Loss, available through the library, and lead a tour of fifteen of her paintings from her Stellar series currently on exhibition on the upper floor at the library.
Oct. 5 | 6:00-7:30 p.m. | Community Room
Join Salmon Arm author Calvin White as he reads and discusses his new work, Facing the Sweating Horse, a collection of poems. The focus of the new work is that the foundation of life is connection, and how we share each moment, whether we notice it or not.
Dec. 1 | 7 p.m. | Meeting Room
The Kalamalka Weavers and Spinners guild is a group of fibre enthusiasts that are mainly focussed on weaving and spinning, and the sharing and continuation of the skills of hand spinning and hand weaving as well as knitting, crochet, dying and felting. Anyone is welcome to attend this free, drop-in program.
3rd Wednesday of each month | 6:30 - 8:30 pm | Meeting Room
The Vernon Knitters invite knitters of all experience levels and anyone interested in knitting, whether new or experienced. Bring along yarn and needles, and a project you are working on. You are also welcome to bring your knitting questions and problems, and someone in the group will happily help you work out a solution.
Saturdays | 10 AM - 12 PM | Community Room
Vernon Permaculture is an open community group whose aim is to share regenerative knowledge and hands on experiences with one another in order to build a stronger community and healthier local environment. Everyone is welcome to these drop-in sessions. For more information, visit @vernonpermaculture
Last Wednesday of each month | 7 PM - 9 PM | Community Room
Come play the game of kings! Everyone is welcome, from beginners to seasoned players.
Tuesdays | 6:00 - 8:45 p.m. | Community Room
Mah Jongg: American Version
If you love games, you'll love American Mah-Jongg. Experienced and novice players are all welcome - all equipment is supplied.
This program will get underway at 6:30 p.m. September 8, 2022.
Thursdays | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Magazine area
Join us to play Dungeons and Dragons, the greatest fantasy role-playing game in the world. Create characters, battle foes and co-operate with other players as you explore a fantasy world. Adventurers League is a drop-in, drop-out DnD format that allows players of all levels to come and play.
Materials are not required. All you need is an active imagination and the desire to work with others.
Join us in a fun group to learn ways you can take control of your health and health care decisions. Each week you will learn tools and skills to be more in control of your health and learn what health care services are available.
Tuesday | 1 p.m. | Sept. 27, Oct. 4, Oct. 11, Oct. 18, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 | Meeting Room
Substance Use First Aid is a 90-minute presentation presentation that addresses different categories of substances, including the effects and risks, and how to support someone under the influence. An overview of the continuum of care is also part of the presentation and includes information on Harm Reduction services, ranging from medication and counselling to Save a Life- Naloxone Training to reverse an opioid overdose.
This is a free drop-in program open to adults and young adults alike.
Participants can also expect to leave with a free Naloxone kit. This is a free drop-in program open to adults and young adults alike.
First Wednesday of each month | 5 PM - 6:30 PM | Meeting Room - Aug. 3 presentation cancelled. Program will resume Sept. 7.
This fall, beginning in September, the Vernon Library is hosting a series of free health and wellness workshops for seniors presented by the Seniors' Health and Wellness Institute. Each workshop will address a different topic that affects all seniors.
Sept. 7 - Memory and Aging | Sept. 14 - Hearing
Oct. 5 - Falls Prevention | Oct. 19 - Chronic Diseases
Nov. 9 - Sleep | Nov. 23 - Skin Conditions
Dec. 7 - Stress | Dec. 14 - Vision
Second Wednesday of Each Month | 10:30 - 12:30
Generously funded by the Vernon Friends of the Library
Join us in the Makerspace to create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using a variety of tools and materials - such as our 3D printer, Cricut cutter, digitization stations, full Adobe Creative Cloud, recording studio and more!
Visit our system-wide Makerspace Page to view the services we offer.
Those under 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian maker. Contact or visit the Branch to learn more.
To use an ORL Makerspace independently, all makers must:
To use the Cricut Machine you must:
To use the Prusa 3D Printer you must:
If you are trying to book a space less than 24 hours ahead of time, you need to call the branch at 250-542-7610.
Monday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00 am - 8:30 pm
If you're part of a group of 2 or more people interested in using the library makerspace equipment, whether it's for certification-only equipment like the 3D printer, of for other equipment like the recording studio, we'd love to set you up a free group training session. Email Cody at cepema@orl.bc.ca for more information and to book a time. Class visits are welcome.
View our certification courses and tutorials
This program offers adult patrons one-on-one tutoring by volunteers with The Literacy Society of the North Okanagan. One hour appointments can be booked at 250-542-7610 Ext. 6820 or in person at the library.
One hour appointments offered Fridays at 10 am and 11 am and Saturdays at 10 am and 11 am.
Want to learn how to access the library's digital resources? Whether a Kobo eReader, phone, tablet or computer, we can teach you the skills you need to connect to the library's eBooks, eAudio, Rosetta Stone, PressReader and more. Contact us to set up your appointment at 250-542-7610 ext. 6820.
We have a variety of bookable and rental spaces in the Vernon Library.
There are two rentable spaces available at the Vernon branch (the Meeting Room and the Community Room). Both rentable spaces have free Wi-Fi, projectors and screens.
We also have two free bookable spaces available (the Okanagan Room and the Study Room). They do not have projectors or screens are much smaller.
Please call the library at 250-542-7610 ext. 6811 with any questions or book the space using our online reservation system. If you would like to book for today or tomorrow, you need to call the library directly to the book the spaces.
Reserve a Room Online
You can reserve a meeting room online at https://orl.evanced.info/spaces, at least two days in advance. Library staff will approve your booking based on availability.
Meeting Room
Available during branch open hours only. Setup and take-down (exception of A/V equipment) is the responsibility of the renter.
This space is located on the main floor of the library off of the foyer and can hold up to 100 people. There is an outside entrance on 28th Street with an accessible ramp and entry from our main foyer.
Community Room
This space is located on the second floor of the library and can hold up to 40 people. It has a long glass wall that looks out over our computer area.
Okanagan Room - no charge
Available during branch open hours only. Rooms are as is - no office supplies, A/V equipment or additional furnishings provided.
The Okanagan room is free, holds up to 18 people, and can be booked up to 2 months in advance.
Study Room - no charge
The study room is free, holds up to 6 people, and can be booked up to 2 months in advance.
The Vernon branch's seed lending library is open once again and patrons can now check out seeds. Patrons can check out the seeds for free as long as they replace the seeds in the fall from the plants they grow.
Two step-by-step guides on how to save heirloom seeds are available at the library, to aid you if are unsure about the various steps you need to take to save specific seeds. Some are easy to save while others are less easy.
Any patron interested in contributing seeds to the library is asked to place seeds from each vegetable in its own envelope and label it with the type of vegetable, variety if known, date collected and general location. The seeds can be dropped off at the upstairs information desk at the library.
Call or email us for more details at pcritchley@orl.bc.ca or 250-542-7610 ext. 6831.
We are offering sit down eBook sessions in branch at the following times: Tuesdays at 7:15 pm, Thursdays at 1:00 pm & Saturdays at 2:00 pm.
Call 250-542-7610 ext. 6820 to book a spot or email us at vereference@orl.bc.ca.
Check here to see if your eReader or Tablet is compatible with the library's eBook provider.
Are you looking for somewhere to take an invigilated exam, either written or online? The library can help you out. For more information, please read the Vernon Branch's Exam Invigilation Information for Students.
Call or email us to book your exam invigilation at vereference@orl.bc.ca or 250-542-7610 ext. 6820.
The Vernon Branch has 17 internet terminals with word processing capabilities available for one hour per day with a valid ORL library card. Unlimited Wi-Fi access is available all day. Printing and photocopying is $0.25 per page, black and white only. Scanning to email is available and is free of charge.
We have multiple public computer stations that can be used to access the internet and write documents using Word. You can also print wirelessly from your mobile phone, tablet or laptop, using Princh. All print jobs are $.25 per page, in black and white.
Due to COVID-19, this room is not available until further notice.
The library has a beautiful boardroom that can be booked by groups or individuals for up to 2 hours at a time, free of charge. The room may be booked up to 24 hours in advance by calling 250-542-7610. It's a great space for tutoring, studying, meetings, scrap-booking and more!
The library has a small office available that can be booked by individuals for up to 2 hours at a time, free of charge. This space is great for tutoring, studying, and small meetings (4 people maximum). The room may be booked up to 24 hours in advance by calling 250-542-7610.
A. Those chair were bought as part of the the new library and are called Bouloum Lounge chairs.
A. Most of the artwork should have information tags beside each piece. Our Friends of the Library co-ordinates the artwork in the library and the vast majority is displayed by the Vernon Art Gallery.
The Vernon Friends of the Library, a non-profit organization formed in 1989, is registered under the Societies Act of British Columbia.
Friday September 30th and Saturday October 1st, 10 am - 4 pm at 9908 Kalamalka Road
For all donations please call Trish at 250-938-2559. The library will no longer be accepting book donations at the branch. Magazines won't be accepted for donation.
The major fundraiser is the huge book sale held in early May every year.
Past contributions made by the Friends of the Library include:
The Friends also hold smaller book sales throughout the year, and provide book bags for purchase at the branch.
New members are always welcome. Anyone interested in more information can contact Linda Wills at 250-549-1466 or lwills41@telus.net or visit their Facebook page.
JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use Google Maps. However, it seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser. To view Google Maps, enable JavaScript by changing your browser options, and then try again.