Keeping your mind active is as important as other forms of recreation and social activity. Making time each day for reading, writing or doing puzzles is a great way to relax while still exercising your mind. Libraries are a great resource for books and magazines, either in paper or electronic form, and have many services to make reading more accessible.
Ten Ways to Exercise Your Brain
- Read a book either straight off the shelf or with the help of new technologies. Libraries are a great source for regular print, large print, e-books or audio books.
- Play cards alone or with others. Solitaire keeps your mind and body moving.
- Do a crossword puzzle. Crossword puzzles of all levels are an ideal way to keep the “little grey cells” active.
- Listen to music, anything from classical to singing along with the “oldies.”
- Sudoko, word puzzles and brain teasers are all excellent ways to challenge your brain and can be found in the newspaper, online or in books.
- Write about memories, gather inspiration from old photographs and family memorabilia.
- Use an atlas to look up places featured in the radio or television news.
- Keep a puzzle set up to be worked on at any time. Puzzles exercise spatial recognition and tune-up hand-eye coordination.
- Find a new interest or learn more about current interests. Switch to non-fiction to learn more about a topic or hobby, or borrow a book in your second language from the library.
- Write a note or card to a friend or relative.
Library Services
Whether borrowing a book, movies, or using the internet to stay connected, the library provides a great source of entertainment for free. Many libraries also accommodate people who are visually impaired or house-bound due to an illness or disability. Audio and large print books are commonly available as well as delivery services for those who cannot leave home. The “Books by Mail” program is also available for remote communities.
Greater Victoria Public Library
| Central 735 Broughton St. Victoria, BC V8W 3H2 250-382-7241 |
Bruce Hutchison (Saanich Commonwealth Place) 4636 Elk Lake Dr. Victoria, BC V8Z 7K2 250-727-0104 |
| Central Saanich 1209 Clarke Road. Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1P8 250-652-2013 |
Emily Carr (near Save on Foods) 3500 Blanshard St. Victoria, BC V8X 1W3 250-475-6100 |
| Esquimalt (at City Hall) 1231 Esquimalt Rd. Victoria, BC V9A 3P1 250-414-7198 |
Goudy 119-755 Goldstream Ave. Victoria, BC V9B 0H9 250-391-5702 |
| Juan de Fuca (near Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre) 1759 Island Highway Victoria, BC V9B 1J1 250-391-0653 |
Nellie McClung 3950 Cedar Hill Road Victoria, BC V8P 3Z9 250-477-7111 |
| Oak Bay (at the Monterey Centre) 1442 Monterey Ave. Victoria, BC V8S 4W1 250-592-2489 |
Saanich Centennial 3110 Tillicum Road Victoria, BC V9A 6T2 250-477-9030 |
Vancouver Island Regional Libraries
| Sidney / North Saanich (across from SHOAL Centre) 10091 Resthaven Drive Sidney BC V8L 3G3 250-656-0944 |
Sooke 2065 Anna Marie Road Sooke, BC V9Z 0A4 250-642-3022 |
Southern Gulf Islands Libraries
| Mary Hawkins Library 129 McPhillips Ave. Salt Spring Island, V8K 2T6 250-537-4666 |
Galiano Island Community Library 2540 Sturdies Bay Road Galiano, BC V0N 1P0 250-539-2141 |
| Eddie Reid Memorial Library (Saturna Island) 140 East Point Road Saturna, BC V0N 2Y0 (basement of St. Christopher’s Church) 250-539-5312 |
Pender Island Public Library 4407 Bedwell Harbour Road Pender Island, BC V0N 2M1 250-629-3722 |
| Mayne Island Public Library 411 Naylor at Miner’s Bay Park Mayne, BC V0N 2J2 250-539-2597 |
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