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Spotlight

  • Create a Kanopy account to stream classic cinema, indie films, and top documentaries to your computer, phone or tablet. 

    Learn about Kanopy’s new ticket system here.

  • News about COVID-19 proliferates rapidly and can come at you from all directions, making it hard at times to maintain informed opinions to guide your everyday actions. During a pandemic, having the right information can be every bit as important as having clean hands. Try the resources in this guide for COVID-19 updates published by reputable organizations.

  • A coronavirus is a type of virus that often causes respiratory tract infections in humans. Viruses from this group are responsible for some cases of the common cold as well as for more serious illnesses such as SARS, MERS, and most recently, COVID-19. The specific coronavirus that results in the COVID-19 illness is called SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). For more information, take a look at the following sources.

  • There are a number of online counters that pull together statistics from a variety of sources to provide updates on the number of COVID-19 cases and associated figures for recoveries and deaths. Note that the actual figures reported may vary quite extensively depending on how frequently the data is updated, what sources are consulted, and how key terms are defined. Here are a few that we recommend consulting.

  • Consult the following sources for accurate, up-to-date information on how best to care for yourselves and others during the pandemic. To speak with a health professional or obtain medical advice, dial 8-1-1. If you are experiencing psychological distress and need someone to talk to, call the BC Crisis Centre at 604-872-3311 or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).
  • Find out how various governmental agencies at the global, national and provincial levels are responding to the pandemic through their official COVID-19 channels below.

  • Find reliable and up-to-date sources of information on the novel coronavirus illness (COVID-19) and its widespread socioeconomic impacts.

  • This guide highlights VPL databases alongside free online resources that support education across all grade levels on a wide range of school subjects.

  • If you've compiled a family history you may have considered donating it to a library collection so that it can reach a wider audience.

  • Information to help you find a professional genealogist for hire.