Dora Drinkwater Community Library - Denman Island Library

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Dora Drinkwater Community Library - Denman Island Library Run by volunteers, the Library is located in the Denman Island Community Hall. It is open 1:30 to 3:30 every day except Sundays and statutory holidays.

The library accepts donations of books in excellent condition (no trade paperbacks or textbooks please) The Dora Drinkwater Community Library has around 5,000 books, including an excellent selection of Canadiana and a section devoted to local authors. Books may be taken out for two weeks at a time (although special additions, such as titles by authors featured at the annual DI Readers and Writers Festival, are offered on a "fast read" period of seven days). The Library is run by a committee of volunteers. It acquires books by three means:

- direct purchase of new volumes
- purchase by the myriad friends of the Library
- donations of used books

Donated used books are catalogued and incorporated into the library's collection. If they cannot be accommodated due to space limitations or duplication, they are added to the small but active 'books for sale' section or transferred to the Free Store and/or other used book venues. The library receives assistance from the Comox Valley Regional District Grant-in-Aid program and from private donors who have supported the library for a number of years. With the addition of proceeds from book sales, 'late return' donations, and the bottle depot, the library's operating budget reaches nearly $1,000 per year. Space in the Community Hall is provided by the Denman Island Recreation Commission Society. The library is named for a woman who moved to Denman Island in 1947 with her husband, Joe. Dora had always loved books and she read those she brought from the Lower Mainland (mostly classics) not only to herself, but to her children. Later, the school left books at Dora’s home during the summer holidays, mostly children’s books, but also a few for adults. Islanders borrowed these books under Dora’s care and thus was the first Denman library born.

This Thursday, Oct 29 from 1:30 - 2:30 pm join Hugo and Louie (Youth Seed Library Coordinators) and Shirley Ward and Ser...
10/25/2026

This Thursday, Oct 29 from 1:30 - 2:30 pm join Hugo and Louie (Youth Seed Library Coordinators) and Shirley Ward and Serendipity Uprising (Denman Island seed saving mavens) at the Dora Drinkwater Community Library as they celebrate, collaborate, and fill seed envelopes. Bring your saved seeds, gardening questions, or passion for counting seeds. Everyone is welcome!

Seed Libraries are becoming a common library resource and are an excellent way to bring the community together through gardening. Gracie MacDonald and DICES are helping us move the existing Seed Library at the Hub to our library. We're happy to take on the cataloguing, organizing, and growth of this community project.

We hope this Seed Library helps us build a resilient future for our island and the creatures who share it, and encourages us all to embrace nature, foster sustainable practices, and promote food security.

Take a seed, grow a seed, give a seed!

Brian Thomas Isaac was 70 years old when his first novel, All the Quiet Places was published in 2021. The coming-of-age ...
09/29/2026

Brian Thomas Isaac was 70 years old when his first novel, All the Quiet Places was published in 2021. The coming-of-age story of Eddie Toma, a Syilx (Okanagan) boy was based on Brian’s childhood growing up on the Okanagan Indian Reserve. Brian was one of the featured authors at this year’s Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival. He told us that after he retired as a bricklayer, he and his wife Marlene decided to write stories to read to each other every Friday night. Unbeknownst to him, Marlene entered one of his stories in a contest – and it won!

That started a winning streak that saw All the Quiet Places win the 2022 Indigenous Voices Award. It was also a finalist for the Governor General’s Award and the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, and was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and CBC’s Canada Reads.

Brian continued Eddie Toma’s story in Bones of a Giant. Our library has both of these books. If you haven’t read them yet, this is a good time to read a book by a First Nations author as National Day For Truth and Reconciliation takes place Wednesday Sept. 30. The library will be closed on this day; however, you can check out books by Brian Thomas Isaac and other Indigenous authors from 1:30 – 3:30 every other day, except Sundays.

“I am the silliest man alive,” Tomson Highway told us at this year’s Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival. “When I...
09/28/2026

“I am the silliest man alive,” Tomson Highway told us at this year’s Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival. “When I get serious, I get sick. I want a button on my tombstone you can press and hear me laugh!”

Tomson and his family faced many challenges as he was growing up but he says his father “taught us the fundamental lesson of life is to face challenge with a smile on your face.”

He told a story about his father and his dogsled trying to outrun a blizzard one winter. They got caught in a whiteout while crossing a frozen lake. So, his father decided to wrap himself in his sleeping robe in the sled and have “the most beautiful nap of his life”. The eight dogs continued and they all arrived home safely thanks to the strength and wisdom of the lead dog.

“When disaster strikes, you don’t freak out,” says Tomson. “You lie down and have a beautiful dream. You turn disaster into a privilege.”

The Dora Drinkwater Community Library has Tomson Highway’s latest book, a memoir called Permanent Astonishment. We also have his novel Kiss of the Fur Queen and his non-fiction work Laughing with the Trickster. Look for them Mondays through Saturdays at the library between 1:30 – 3:30 pm. Note that the library closes for statutory holidays so will be closed Wednesday Sept. 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The library will not be open Wednesday Sept. 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We have a variety of books b...
09/26/2026

The library will not be open Wednesday Sept. 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We have a variety of books by First Nations authors you may want to check out, including those by Tomson Highway, Brian Thomas Isaac and Tracey Lindberg - all of whom were guests at this year's Denman Island Readers and Writers Fesitval (Tomson and Brian as featured authors, Tracey as a panel moderator). Have a look 1:30-3:30 Mondays through Saturdays, except statutory holidays like this Wednesday.

We know you’ve got lots of events and tasks to juggle on this busy island of ours - but be sure to fit in the library’s ...
09/19/2026

We know you’ve got lots of events and tasks to juggle on this busy island of ours - but be sure to fit in the library’s last book sale! It’s taking place today in the field near the community hall, starting shortly after 10 am and going to 3:30.
Drop in after you go to the community garage sale and preview the amazing auction items that will be sold Sunday!
Sales are by donation, with funds going to a renovation of the library. Payments can be made by e-transfer to [email protected]

Hallelujah! There’s one more book sale scheduled! Join us Saturday September 19 10:30-3:30 and put your hands out for lo...
09/16/2026

Hallelujah! There’s one more book sale scheduled! Join us Saturday September 19 10:30-3:30 and put your hands out for lots of great books - some of them new to the sale table. We’ll be in the field if the weather cooperates.

Sales by donation, funds go to a library renovation.

[Post from Sharon Mackin] Susan Weseen has taken over from Sharon Mackin to lead the library into new and fun-filled tim...
09/16/2026

[Post from Sharon Mackin] Susan Weseen has taken over from Sharon Mackin to lead the library into new and fun-filled times. As president for 11 years, I am feeling that I’ve given all I can in that position, and Susan is creative, energetic, and fresh! She is a certified librarian who, working in an inner city school, built the entire collection from only a couple of books. She has already begun to add to the our children’s collection and to create a lively program of Story Time and educational activities for Denman’s children and their parents.

Susan is in the library every other Wednesday, so come in with your children and meet her, or just stay tuned for news of upcoming activities.

Susan has also started a puzzle exchange, and she and our treasurer, Stephanie Slater, have been working on a plan to create some much-needed renovations in the library space.

Stephanie has been energetically working on raising funds; she got a grant from the CVRD for the express purpose of acquiring childrens’ and young adult books and I’m sure you’ve seen her publicity about our book sales. Stephanie and Susan—along with other library volunteers and friends—set up, took care of sales, and packed up again 3 times so far, and there’s one more opportunity to buy books, by donation at the Hall on Sept. 19!

Last, but not least, thanks to all of you on Denman who donated books for our sale and bought new ones. Everyone was really generous! Come in and check out a book.

Hey, we’ve started to catalogue some of the hundreds of great books that have been recently donated to our library. Thes...
09/15/2026

Hey, we’ve started to catalogue some of the hundreds of great books that have been recently donated to our library. These are two of them - one is fiction, one is a memoir. Both are funny, unusual and well worth reading! Our nonfiction section has many gems. It is well worth checking out! You will find Priestdaddy with other memoirs in the 813 section.

And of course, remember our final sale of the year - a bonus! It will be this Saturday at the community hall while you come to the community garage sale and preview the auction items. Our library is grateful that we will receive some funding from this great community event.

Finn, the one-eyed wonder cat - is wondering if you’ll make it to the library’s final book sale Saturday Sept 19 from 10...
09/14/2026

Finn, the one-eyed wonder cat - is wondering if you’ll make it to the library’s final book sale Saturday Sept 19 from 10:30-3:30. (we extended the hours from those originally published).

Perhaps Finn is wondering if anyone will buy the book about talking to dogs… Ha! Cats know how to make themselves understood and aren’t particularly interested in what humans have to say to them (other than “dinner’s ready!”). No books needed on that topic! But there are many more covered by the books on offer - including those that haven’t made it to the sale tables yet. So keep your eye(s) peeled for great finds!

Quit clowning around and get down to the library’s last book sale - 10:30 -3:30 this Saturday, Sept 19. (we extended the...
09/12/2026

Quit clowning around and get down to the library’s last book sale - 10:30 -3:30 this Saturday, Sept 19. (we extended the hours from those originally published).

We’re putting out all kinds of books that haven’t made it to the sale tables yet. Check them
Out when you come to the garage sale and auction preview.

Cash or E-transfers (to [email protected]). Funds will go to a renovation of the library.

Address

1196 Northwest Road
Denman Island, BC
V0R1T0

Opening Hours

Monday 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Tuesday 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Wednesday 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Friday 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Saturday 1:30pm - 3:30pm

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