We’re thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership between Vancouver Public Library (VPL) and Internet Archive Canada to digitize rare and historical books from VPL’s collection. This collaboration, dubbed “VPL’s Virtual Vault,” will make it easier for people all over the world to access unique and historically valuable materials that were previously only available to those visiting the library in person.
The Virtual Vault features an impressive range of rare and unique books, periodicals, directories, and pamphlets focused on the history of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. It also includes significant works of Canadian literature, as well as a collection of children’s titles showcasing the best of publishing and illustration for young readers from 1728 to the 1950s.
These are just a few of the titles you will find in the VPL Virtual Vault:
Rules and Regulations Governing the Library in its Various Departments, by the Carnegie Public Library (12 pages). A look at the rules and regulations adopted by Vancouver’s Carnegie Public Library in 1908, specifying borrowing policies, required standards of behaviour, and the hours of the Ladies’ Reading Room.
A Specimen of Printing Types,by Fry and Steele, Letter-founders to the Prince of Wales, Type-Street (262 pages). Printed by T. Rickaby, London in 1794, this is one of the oldest books in the Vancouver Public Library collection. It incorporates a large range of font styles shown through texts in English, French, Latin, Greek, and many other writing systems including Arabic, Persian, Saxon, Tartaric, and more. There are also examples of typical decorations and ornamentation used in book printing and maps.
Early History of the British Columbia Electric Power System in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia (20 pages). Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Alternating Current in British Columbia (1886-1936), this address from the chief electrical engineer of the B.C. Electric Railway Company tells the story of Vancouver’s electric railway system, starting with the formation of the Vancouver Electric Illumination Company in 1887.
As part of this initiative, we’ve installed one of our own Scribe scanners—specialized digitization equipment designed and produced by Internet Archive—on the third floor of Vancouver Public Library’s central branch. Located in an open space, the Scribe allows library patrons to observe the careful process of digitizing books, even rare and delicate volumes, in a way that preserves their integrity while making their content available online.
This partnership will greatly increase access to these invaluable materials, enabling users worldwide to explore the rich history and culture of British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada, without needing to be physically present at the library.
“I’m delighted that through this partnership with the Internet Archive, VPL’s
Virtual Vault on the Open Library platform will make available in digital format
Canadian works that are not otherwise broadly accessible. This work increases
access to unique Canadian content, and helps support a healthy book and
reading ecosystem for readers, writers, publishers and libraries in Canada.”
Kay Cahill, Director Director, Information Technology & Collections
The initial funding for this project to digitize key Canadian heritage materials was generously provided by the Kahle/Austin Foundation.
Explore the growing collection at vpl.ca/virtual-vault, & archive.org/details/vancouverpubliclibrary and stay tuned as more titles are made available!
Together, Internet Archive Canada and Vancouver Public Library are committed to preserving and sharing knowledge, ensuring that Vancouver’s history and Canada’s literary treasures can be explored by future generations of scholars, researchers, and the general public. We’re excited to see how this initiative will open doors to historical discovery and enrich the knowledge of communities near and far!