About the Library Service
The Library Service of the Velocity Interoperability Network is responsible for the public library provision of the Velocity Interoperability Network. It operates the branch libraries at the principal sites, admits members and lends to them, maintains the digital collections, receives on deposit the official publications of the Network's departments and offices, and runs reading, study and research programmes at its branches.
The Service was established on 6 September 2026. It took over the six reading rooms and lending collections formerly maintained by member organisations for their own staff, together with the registrations of their 8,340 readers, and opened them to citizens and residents of the Network under a single membership. Its seven branches open between 7 and 11 September 2026; their locations and opening hours are set out on the Branches page.
Organisation. The Service is led by a Director and employs 96 staff: branch librarians and assistants at the seven branches, the reference librarians and the official publications unit at the Central Library, the digital collections and catalogue team, and a small central office responsible for membership records, statistics and correspondence. The Service is funded from the general budget of the Network and makes no charge for membership, loans or the use of its services.
Responsibilities. The Service's work falls into six areas.
- Branch libraries
- Seven branches at the principal sites of the Network, with common opening hours, a single catalogue and study places open to all.
- Membership and lending
- Free membership for the staff of member organisations, citizens, young people, resident visitors and institutions, and the lending of 214,600 physical items under common loan rules.
- Digital collections
- E-books, audiobooks, periodicals, reference databases, language courses, maps and plans, and music and film, licensed for the use of every member.
- Official publications
- Receipt on deposit of every document published by a department or office of the Network, its preservation in print at two branches and its availability online to anyone.
- Reading, study and research programmes
- Story time and homework clubs for children and young people, reading groups, research skills workshops and the reference and enquiry service.
- Statistics and reporting
- Quarterly statistical releases on loans, visits, reservations, membership and stock, and an annual report on the Service.
Principles. The Service lends to every member on the same terms, keeps loan records only for as long as they are needed and discloses them to no one, selects its stock to reflect the range of interests of the Network's staff and citizens, and makes the official publications of the Network available to anyone, whether or not a member.
For the Service's origins and the milestones since its establishment, see History. General enquiries may be sent to contact@libraries.gov.vin.