Library

Librarian
S. Skultety​​
​​
Library Assistant
D. O’Quinn
​The CBSS library is a well-equipped facility with numerous text-based reference materials and scores of fictional titles available for student use. The Library also houses a writing lab which includes 30 computers supporting curriculum topics. All computers and their applications are configured to enrich course curriculum.

The library staff welcomes and encourages all students on their educational journey. It is hoped that students find the library a conducive place to study and research, as well as a location which is both pleasing and comfortable. If you’d like to make any suggestions please check out our CBSS wiki above.

The library and writing lab are open daily from 8:00am -3:15pm to encourage students to work on homework, or other school related activities. ​ ​

Student Resources

The information resources available here are:

1. ones that we pay a subscription fee for our students to be able to access(so, if you’re not using a school computer you will need to enter our passwords, which are available from the Library.)

2. reliable, as they are from authoritative sources that have been checked by editors with an expertise in the subject area (UNLIKE most Internet webpages!)

Details & Extras:

The Encyclopedia of B.C. – The online version of the excellent encyclopedia that covers almost everything notable related to British Columbia.

World Book Online – The online version of the popular encyclopedia.

INFOTRAC Databases CPI.Q (Canadian Periodicals) – articles from a comprehensive list of Canadian and international journals, magazines, selected sections of the Globe and Mail, Canadian biographies, and other reference content from Gale Group, all with a Canadian focus

Gale Virtual Reference Library – a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research that includes the additional eBooks that we have purchased (see below)

Gale eBooks – electronic versions of popular reference books
Alternative Energy

Ancient Civilizations Reference Library

Arts and Humanities Through the Eras

Biology

Canadian Parliamentary Guide 2005

Chemical Elements: From Carbon to Krypton

Chemistry: Foundations and Applications

Encyclopedia of Bioethics

Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion

Encyclopedia of Food and Culture

Fashion; Costume; and Culture: Clothing; Headwear; Body Decorations; and Footwear through the Ages

Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders

Genetics

Governments of the World: A Global Guide to Citizens’ Rights and Responsibilities

Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia

Industrial Revolution Reference Library

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Canadian Provinces

Major 21st-Century Writers

New Dictionary of the History of Ideas

Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z

U*X*L Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances

World of Forensic Science

Statistics Canada – online access to the government of Canada’s central statistical agency, whose mandate is to produce statistics that help Canadians better understand their country—its population, resources, economy, society and culture. In addition to conducting a Census every five years there are about 350 active surveys, on virtually all aspects of Canadian life, that Stats Can uses in the information gathering process.

To get full access to these government databases you will need to be identified as a VSS student, or staff member. If you are at school this will happen automatically, but at home you will need to enter our user-name and password. These are available in the Library.

EBSCOhost databases GreenFILE – a freely accessible research database focusing on the relationship between human beings and the environment, with well-researched but accessible information on topics ranging from global warming to recycling to alternate fuel sources and beyond. Comprised of scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports, GreenFILE offers a unique perspective on the positive and negative ways humans affect the ecology.

Digital Newspapers – Now you can read The Vancouver Province, Sun, and 9 other Canadian newspapers anytime, anywhere. They are available to you at home or at work, and are the same editions as the printed copies available at the newsstand. Sections and supplements are laid out just as in the print edition, but complemented by a variety of digital tools which enhance the printed newspaper’s look and feel.

Consumer Reports– Consumer Reports is a nonprofit organization supported only by consumers. They buy all of the products that they test, and do not accept advertising or free samples. Subscriptions, to both the printed magazine and the online version, help fund the testing and keep them independent of the product manufacturers.