Just Ask: What Else Can You Do with Your Library Card? Sechelt Library Edition
Hayley Toth | Sunshine Coast Resource Centre
When people think of the Sechelt Public Library, books are often the first things that come to mind. However, your library card is your gateway to a wealth of resources beyond just reading materials. The library has transformed into a hub for learning new skills, accessing technology assistance, connecting with community programs, and utilizing services designed to enhance everyday life.
This summer, the library has been bustling with activities such as Ukulele Jam, Outdoor Movie Night, Natural Fabric Dyeing Workshops, and the Beyond the Harvest Fall Fair. More events are on the way this September, including a Repair Café on September 12 from 12 PM to 3 PM, the Friends of the Sechelt Library Book Faire on September 19 from 10 AM to 5 PM, free card‑making classes on September 10 and 24 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, and chair yoga sessions on Mondays from 12 PM to 1 PM. You can also meet local candidates at the District of Sechelt Election Candidates Meet and Greet on September 22 from 4 PM to 6 PM. Some events may require registration in advance.
Your library card also gives you access to so much more than special events. The library offers public computers, laptop loans, and Samsung tablets with data. You can also book one‑on‑one technology assistance — perfect for learning a new device or navigating online forms. To make an appointment, call 604‑885‑3260 or email info@secheltlibrary.ca.
The library’s collection extends well beyond books. You can borrow magazines, DVDs, video games, Kobo e‑readers, ukuleles, brain games, children’s STEAM kits, and even Nintendo Switch games. They also loan out unique items such as SAD lamps, radon detection kits, and carbon dioxide monitors.
Accessibility is another key focus. Patrons can access large‑print, Braille, and audiobook materials, along with specialized audiobook players and accessible online libraries. Families can borrow Cognitive Care Kits to support individuals experiencing cognitive changes.
For digital resources, the library provides access to Mango Languages, LinkedIn Learning, Ancestry.com, BC Historical Newspapers, PressReader, and Clicklaw.
Practical services like printing, scanning, and faxing are also available, along with interlibrary loans that allow you to borrow materials from libraries across BC and Canada. Book delivery services connect Sechelt with Gibsons and the Pender Harbour Reading Centre.
Library Director Leianne Emery emphasizes how much the library’s role has grown. “People still think of us as a place for books, and we are — but we’re also where a senior learns to video‑call their grandchildren, where a family researching their roots gets genealogy help, where a patron with low vision finds the right accessibility tool.” In 2025, the library facilitated over 625 free one‑on‑one technology appointments and hosted 525 programs and events.
Next time you reach for your library card, remember it’s not just a pass to a shelf of books; it’s a key to a world of technology, learning, community programs, accessibility support, and valuable resources. For questions about library events and programs, contact the library at info@secheltlibrary.ca, call 604‑885‑3260, or visit them at 5797 Cowrie Street. You can also see a full list of their events and programs online at sechelt.bc.libraries.coop.
Books may still be at the heart of the library, but a whole world waits beyond the bookshelf.