One Card, Four Branches: A Practical Guide to Shuswap Libraries

Practical details were checked on October 13, 2026. Branch hours, holiday closures, programs and services can change, so follow the linked branch page before making a special trip.

A library card can do more than keep a stack of books moving through the house. Around the Shuswap, it can help you find a quiet place to work, use a public computer, download an audiobook for the drive, join a community program or simply spend an unhurried hour indoors when the weather turns.

Four Okanagan Regional Library branches serve different parts of the region: Salmon Arm, Sicamous, South Shuswap in Blind Bay and North Shuswap in Scotch Creek. Their schedules and on-site services are not identical, but an ORL membership connects them. Here is how to choose the branch that fits your day—and make better use of the card once you have it.

Start with the right kind of library card

If you live in the Okanagan Regional Library service area, you can apply for a resident card online or in person. For an in-person application, ORL asks teens and adults to bring identification and proof of their current address. A BC driver’s licence or BC Identification Card can cover both; ORL’s membership guide explains the alternatives if you use other documents. Children aged 12 and under need a parent or guardian involved in registration.

Want to begin from home? Residents aged 13 and older can apply for an ORL e-card for temporary digital access. It is valid for eight months and opens the door to ebooks, e-audiobooks, magazines, streaming resources and e-learning. It is designed as a bridge to full membership, so visit a branch with your identification when you are ready to borrow physical items.

Visitors from elsewhere in British Columbia have another option. If you already belong to a BC public library, ask an ORL branch about BC OneCard. Bring your home-library card and identification showing your home address. OneCard supports physical borrowing, but it does not include ORL’s licensed online resources or interlibrary loans; use your home library account for those.

Choose the branch that fits your route

Salmon Arm: the broadest weekly schedule

The Salmon Arm library at Piccadilly Mall is at 1151 10th Avenue Southwest. It is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday is closed.

This is a useful branch when you need evening access. The official branch page lists free mall parking, an accessibility ramp, seating, computers and Wi-Fi. It also has bookable meeting and study space. Two book-return bins provide some flexibility: one is behind the library, and the indoor return near the mall entrance is available during mall hours. ORL notes that returns may be locked during extended holiday closures.

Pair a library stop with errands or make it part of a slower day using The Shuswap Loop’s Salmon Arm guide.

Sicamous: late opening on Friday

The Sicamous library is at 446 Main Street. Its regular schedule is Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m., Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Monday, Thursday and Sunday.

The branch lists three public computers, internet printing, photocopying and free scan-to-email service. It also features a changing display by a local artist. That makes it a practical stop for both a quick document task and a longer browse. Holiday closures affect the book drop, so check the branch page if you are returning items around a long weekend.

South Shuswap: a five-day option in Blind Bay

The South Shuswap library is at Unit 1, 2425 Golf Course Drive in Blind Bay. It is open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Monday and Sunday.

Free parking is available. The branch’s outdoor book drop is normally accessible, although ORL says it is locked at Christmas, Easter and on some long weekends. If you are planning a family outing, a club visit or a rainy-day stop, check the live branch calendar first; programs appear there as they are confirmed.

For food, shops and other stops nearby, browse The Shuswap Loop’s Blind Bay guide.

North Shuswap: a community stop in Scotch Creek

The North Shuswap library is at 3867 Squilax-Anglemont Road in Scotch Creek. Regular hours are Tuesday from noon to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Monday, Thursday and Sunday.

The official branch page lists free parking, an accessibility ramp, seating, public computers and Wi-Fi. Its calendar currently includes recurring community programs, but dates can change; use the live page to confirm what is happening on the day you plan to visit.

Use the library even when you cannot get to a branch

Once your card and PIN are set up, the library can travel with you. ORL’s Libby collection includes ebooks, e-audiobooks and e-magazines for phones, tablets and compatible e-readers. You can download titles for offline use, which is handy before a road trip or when internet service may be uneven.

A few small setup steps make digital borrowing smoother:

• Keep your card number and PIN somewhere secure.
• Sign into Libby while you still have a reliable connection.
• Download an audiobook or ebook before travelling.
• Turn on notifications if you are waiting for a hold.
• If your PIN is not working, use ORL’s online reset option or contact a branch.

Popular digital titles can have waitlists, just like physical books. Place holds early, then look for available-now options if you need something immediately.

Plan a better first visit

A branch visit does not need much preparation, but these details prevent avoidable detours:

• Check the live hours. The four branches follow different schedules, and statutory holidays can affect both doors and book drops.
• Bring identification and proof of address if you are registering or upgrading an e-card.
• Bring your home-library card if you are a BC visitor asking about OneCard.
• Confirm the service you need. Computers, printing, scanning, meeting space and other facilities vary by branch.
• Register early for programs. Some library events have limited space or separate registration.
• Ask staff about transfers and holds. The shelf in front of you is only one part of the wider ORL collection.

Make the library part of your Shuswap routine

The most useful library is not always the closest one. It may be the branch open after work, the one already on your errand route, or the one hosting a program your family will enjoy. Start with one practical goal—get a card, set up Libby, reserve a title or learn which branch schedule works for you—and build from there.

For more ways to shape the rest of your day, explore upcoming Shuswap events and local area guides on The Shuswap Loop. The library can be the destination, the rainy-day backup or the quiet stop between everything else.