The Central Coast Regional District assumed responsibility for the public library function pursuant to provincial government regulation as established by Regional District bylaw. The Regional District requisitions taxes locally to provide quarterly contributions to the Vancouver Island Regional Library. The VIRL is represented by a director of the Regional District board who attends quarterly meetings on Vancouver Island.
Vancouver Island Regional Library
The Province of British Columbia enacted a regulation in 1994 under the Library Act that required the Central Coast Regional District to adopt an establishing bylaw for the purpose of replacing School District No. 49 in the Vancouver Island Regional Library District. All electoral areas participate and pay for the service.
The VIRL is based in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Regional District appoints one director annually to sit as a member of the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board of Directors.
The Bella Coola branch of the regional library is located on the Bella Coola town site (Electoral Area E). All other Central Coast communities are serviced by a “Book by Mail” program offered by Vancouver Island Regional Library.
The Bella Coola branch is open to the public as follows:
| Wednesday | 12:00 to 3:30 |
| Thursday | 10:00 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 5:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 5:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 5:00 |
See also: http://www.virl.bc.ca/