Just in time for schools reopening, more Vancouver libraries and services will be restarting this month.

The Vancouver Public Library (VPL) announced today (September 1) that it will reopen five more branches.

Over the summer, five branches—Central Library, Britannia, Kitsilano, Renfrew, and South Hill—were reopened and offered takeout service at five other branches—Champlain Heights, Dunbar, Firehall, Hastings, and Kensington—in a phased approach to restarting.

Now the Marpole, Mount Pleasant, Terry Salman, Kerrisdale, and West Point Grey branches will reopen on September 8 with limited services available.

On September 14, the Central Library branch will be increased to include Mondays, and the book drop hours on Hamilton Street will expand to seven days a week.

Throughout the month, VPL will be reopening branches that are offering takeout service at the moment and will provide limited in-person services at most location by the end of September.

Loan periods have been extended to seven weeks, and fines have been suspended.

VPL chief librarian Christina de Castell stated in a news release that since takeout service and limited reopenings began, patrons have borrowed almost 200,000 items.

The VPL has expanded its digital library (which includes ebooks, movies, music, online courses, and more) and also offers online programs and events, such as reading circles, storytime, and online ESL conversation practice.

For more details about branch reopenings, visit the VPL website.