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Tous les autres axempiairss originaux sont film*s en uommenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une ampreinte dlmpression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derni^re page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la demiAre ima je de chaque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — •• signifie 'A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent atre filniAs * des taux de reduction diffirants. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etra reproduit en un seul ciich*, il est film* * partir da Tangle sup*rieur gauche, de gauche * droite. et da haut en bas un prenant le nombre d'images n*cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m*thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 (.< I TJl PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN CANADA, liV JAMES BAIN, Jr. PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN CANADA. J A M Es H A I :;. J K. KcaJ at ini'ctint,' of C'an.iilian Institntr, Dtvcinlvr ..S.,7, Ihere was a time, shortly after the discovery ot' printing', when it was possible for a man liite Casaubon to sa_\ that he linew the contents, more or less thoroughly, of every printed book. But the limits of human endurance were speedily passed, and to-day the enormous mass of literature ti'...2s the ingenuity cf the librarian to mould it into organized form. Each successive generation adds its own stratum, and the whole forms the storehouse from which the new generation draws its inspiration and facts. This is especially true of the scientific worker, dependent on the accumulation of minute facts, recorded by long series of patient observers. It is for this reason, therefore, that I bring before you, an institution devoted to science, a paper on the " Libraries of the Dominion." The art of printing was introduced into the infant colonies at a very early period. In Halifax the Qasette wa', published in 1756, the first-born of a numerous progeny, and was followed by the Quebec GV/ae/Zc in 1764. In 1779 a number of the officers stationed at Quebec and cii the leading merchants undertook the formation of a subscription library. The Governor, (Jeneral Haldimand, took an active part in the Wi..k and ordered, on behalf of the subscribers, ;£.500 worth of books from London. The selection was entrusted to Richard Cumberland, dramatist, and an interesting letter from the Govor- noi, addressed to him, describing the literary wants of the town and the class of books to be sent, is now in the public archives, Ottawa. The books arrived in due course, and, while no catalogue survives, 1 think it would not be difficult to name a large proportion of tliem. The hook world in which Dr. Johnson moved was yet a small one. A room for their reception was granted in the bishop's palace, and as late as i8c">6 we learn from " Lambert's Travels" that it was the only library in Canada. Removed several times, it slowly increased, until in 1822 it numbered 4,000 volumes. The list of sub- scribers having become very much reduced, it was leased to the Quebec Liter- ary .Association in 1843. In 1854 a portion oi it was burned with rhe Parliament Building, where it was then quartered ; and finally, in 1866, the entire library, consisting of 6,9c)9 volumes, was sold, subject to conditions, to the Literarj' and Historical Society for the nominal sum of $500. Naturally, on the organizatic>n of each of the provinces, libraries were established in connection with the Legislatures, hi Upper Canada the small library in the Parliament Building was destroyed by the .Americans, and the one by which it was leplaced, by the fire ot 1824, so that, when the two libraries of Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841, there appears to have been little left of the early fugitive literature of the province. .At the end of the past year the Legislative libraries of the Dominion numbered nine, and contained 48,834 pamphlets and*3CK),395 volumes. By far the most im- portant ot these is the library of the House at Ottawa. Originally established on the union of the provinces t:^'i Upper and Lower Canada in 1841, it was successively removed with the seat of government from Kings'onto Montreal, to Quebec, to Toronto, agiiin to Quebec, and finally to Ottawa — a wandering life which effectually prevented its attaining large proportions. The unfortunate fires in Montreal and Quebec still further injured it, rob- bing it of much that was very valuable and which could not be replaced. On the federation of the difle'-ent provinces in 1S67, the liiirary of the two prov- inces only passed into the hands of the Federal Government. The beautiful building in which it is placed behind the House of Parliament presents a prominent feature in the magnificent pile of buildiu/s which crown the heig'hts overlooking- »he Ottawa River, and from the windows the spectator gazes across the rocK- efor^je and the Chaudiere Falls toward tlie Laureiuide hills, formini,'' i. le of the -nost picturesque scenes on the continent. In the ejes of the librarian the libriiv has only one serious defect— it is coniplete^no arran^emL'iit has been made I'or extension. On the confederation, in 1867, of the provinces which now form the Dominion, the union which existed between the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada was dissv>Ked, and, as we have seen, the librarv passed into the hands of the Federal (iovernment. Kach of these provinces, now known as Ontario and Quebec, established new libraries in Toronto and Quebec city. The sixty-two colleges and univert-ities of the Dominion are provided with libraries containing- 627,626 \oliMres and 2^,894 pamphlets, an average of 10,123 volumes and 402 pamphlets. It is scarcely fair, however, to depend on an average of the whole number, as some half-dozen universities possess at least half of the total number. The senior of these, Laval llniversity, Quebec, is famous as being, after Harvard, the oldest on the continent, being founded by Bishop [..aval in 1663. Dunng the dark days .vhich witnessed the long struggle, first with the Iro- quois and afterwards with the English and Americans, little progress was made in tlie collection of books, and it was not until it was converted into a university, in 1852, that its library commenced to increase rapidly. On the suppression of the Jesuit Order and seminary their books were transferred to it. It numbers considerably over 100,000 volumes, and is unrivalled for the extent and character ot its French collection and its many scarce books in early French-Canadian literature and history. Their collection of the relations of the early Jesuit missionaries is only surpassea by the Lenox library. New York. Our own Province of Ontario was for long the only one which attempted to grapple with the question of public libraries. Miss Carnochan, of Niagara, has given an interesting account in the Transactions of the Canadian Institute for 1895, of the formation and history of the first circulating library in L'pner Canada (1800-1820), established by some enterprising citizens of the town of Niagara, for the supply of their own immediate wants anc* of those non-residents who could pay the small annual fee. It was successful until the destruction of the town by the .\merican troops in 18 13 wasted its volumes and impoverished its subscribers, so that it shortly after quietly pas';i d out of existence. In 1848 the late Dr. Ryerson drafted a School Bill which contained pro- visions for school and township libraries, and succeeded in awakening a deep interest in the subject. Fver anxious to impress on his hearers the impor- tance of libraries as the keystone to a free educational system, he urged it on every opportunity. L-trd KIgin, at that time Governor-General, was so strongly impressed with the importance of the movement that he styled it the "Crown and glory of the institutions of the province." In 1854 Par'. *ment passed the i-equisite .-\ct, and granted him the necessary funds to carry out his views in the matter. The regulations of the Department authorized each county council to establish four classes of libraries: An cidinar.y comrnon school library in each schoolhouse for the use of the children and ratepayers. A general public lending library, available to all the ratepayers in the municipality. A professional library of books on teaching, school organization, language and kindred subjects, available for teachers only. A library in any public institution under the control of the municipality for the use of the inmates, or in any county fr^ol for the use of the prisoners. To aid this work a book depository was established in the Education Office to enable tlie smaller libraries to obtain readily good literature. The books were supplied at cost, and a grant of 100 per cer t. on the amount remitted was added in books by the Department. During the thirty years of its existence 1,407,140 volumes were so supplied. The proposal to establish the second class, was, however, prematuie, and accordinjjfly, findiiijf that Mechanics' Institutes, suoported by members' lees, were beinj; developed throut^hort the many towis a.id villages the liducational Department wisely lid.d il.j •i.cvemei.t b\ ^ivin^; .. small f,ian;, proportionate to the amount coi.tributed by the members, for the purchase of books, and reachinjj a maximum of Sjoo, afterwards increased under altered conditions to $400 annually. In 10^69 these had y;rowii to iiumber 26, in 1880, 74, and in 1896 to 292. The number of books possessed by these 292 libraries was 404,605, or an averajje oi 1,385 each, with a total membership of 32,603. The issue of books for home reading was 700,958, or an :verage of 24.6 lor each member, which is a ver\- creditable r.-turn, consifi.,mg th.'-t only }o per cent of the books were fiction. In 1895 the Minister of Education brought mi a bill, which came inta t >rce in May, changing the name "Mechanics' Institutes ' into " Public Library. " By this Act the directors of any Mechanics' Institute were empowered to trans- fer the property of the Institute to the municipal corporation on condition that the library be free. This c.n be done without passing a by-law ot rec|uir- ing a vote from the people. A large number iiave alreadv availed themselves of it. in the cities and larger towns, however, the Mechanics' Institute, with its limited number ot subscribers, was found unequal to the task assigned it, and accordingly in 1882, the Free Libraries Act was passed, based upon similar enactments in Britain and the United States. The first free library established under the Act was in 1883, and in the period between that date and 1896 fifty-four have succssfully come into operation. They contain254,09i volumesandcirculated during i8q^, 1,216,407. Two of them, Toronto and Hamilton, take rani', both in ,mber and character of their books, anu>ng the best libraries of the Dominion. Unitedly the 346 Public and Free Libraries of the Province of Ontario have on their shelves 658,696 volumes, and supplied in 1895, 1,917,365 books to their readers. Their revenue wa.s $183,688, of which 42,741 was con- tributed by the province, and they spent of this in books $49,417. The Province of Quebec has not yel introduced a Vres Libraiy Act, but the generosity of the late Mr. Fraser and a number of gentlemen in Montreal has provided a fund for the establishment of a Free Library in that city, which was opened in October, 1885, under the title of the PVa.ser Institute. The Mercantile Library Association transferred to it 5,500 English, and L'Institut Canad.'en 7,000 French books. In St. John, N.B., a Free Library was founded in June, 1883, to com- memorate the landing of the Lo\alists a century previous, and in Halifax a Free Library owes its origin to the generosity of the late Chief Justice Voung, both of which have been very successful. .\ sister society, the Library and Historical Society of Manitoba, has been the means of introducing a Public Library, and, with the assistance of the municipal authorities of Winnipeg, has laid the foundation of an extensive and valuable libr try. In the lack of trustworthy information, I have not attempted to give any particulars of the law. Medical, Scientific, Collegiate Institute and Voung Men's Christian Association Libraries, further than they are summed up in the following condensed tables, showing the character, and the province in which they are placed, of the 480 libraries of a more or less public character in Canada. KiNH. No. Pamphlfts. Books. ' l-aw 21 t,929 "05,788 Legislation 9 48,8,^4 ^09, ^95 ' ... .-- i^ubiic... — 325 ,7,535 663,125 ; Collegiate, etc 62 ^3,8*+ 6^7,^46 ... . <:. ^'hej-s 29 i5,"4,. ,, 96.9'8 . ^ special 2 14,330 18,500 ■■!■-'-■''■ V.M.C. Associations ; 32 '"'•■. •' 23,660 Totals 480 122,746 . 1,874,632 By provinces the 4^ libritries are distributed : ' HllOVtMC«. No. l'>»IPHtHT«. KlVKS. Ontario ^74 .ti.qiJ ^l.tHy Si}"«"b»?c J9 31,841 S^l,^SO Nova Scot:a. i6 '7.756 »>7.5.Ji Ww Brunswick 15 j,<>K() 54t'7>*7 I'riiicc Kilwanl iilanH 3 500 H, ^jK Munitoha S .S.014 .H'7.1" Rriiish Columbia 10 '•554 ''•.?*>,? N'orllivfsi Tcrriiori*> 1 140 -i.'SO 476 <),1.4'<> 1,682.572 |l«iininion 4 i9,.W iqJ,o6o i ToiaK 480 '•'■!. 746 1, 874,(1 v' We may conclude, therefore, Froin these lipures, that so tar as the ordi- nary reader and University student are concerned, Ontarii', at least in the cities and towns, is not badly ser\-ed. The percentage otbook:^ per head is not un- worthy of a province which has only been redeemed from the wilderness during the past fifty years. In two directions, however, do we find short- cominj^s, it not actual want. Outside of the larj>-er cities, towns and villajjes lies a larife pn portion of the population of this province as well as in the others, which are entirely without access to books. There are whole town- ships and nurrkbers of villa an urgent need that has not been supplied by any other agency " They have carried into hundreds oi' homes new thoughts and informa- tion, higher aspirations and ideas, new forces that are making for a better individual, family and social life. Their books are warmly welcomed l>y families whose doors are closed to the reformer or the missionary. Hundreds of small communities in Wisconsin have attempted to do such work for themselves, but have nearly always failed. They have raised money by entertainments or private subscriptions, and have started libraries with high hopes. In most cases their selection of aooks has been unfortunate, and when the few entertaining books have been read by most of the patrons and no new volumes are added the popular interest dies, and the library is either put \n an obscure place or its volumes are scattered " By the new system only wholesome and entertaining books are bought, and thev are constantly appealing to new readers until worn out by use, and not mercl>- shelf won;. Every six months a library is new to some public, and its arrival is a matter of comment and draws new interest to the library station. The books are bought at the lowest, and substantial editions are selected. They can be occasionally examined and repaired, an important economy, for with books as with clothing, a 'stitch in time saves nine." In the tnaking of rules and regulations a wide body of experience can be drawn upon, and in the printing much economy exercised. " Finally, it practically takes the selection of the reading of great numbers o( untrained readers from the hands of blind chance, and puts it in the custody of trained experts, who can draw for assistance upon the library experience of the world. Our great and costly system of public schools, works unceasingly to teach children how to read and then leaves too many of them to go through their adult lives without using that power to the best advantage, because of lack of opportunity. " The travelling libraries oflFet an unexpectedly cheap, efficient and prac- ticable method ofbroadening our educational system to include in itsbenencent purposes every one who goes out from the brief course of our common schools, and to enable them to pursue a life-long system of education." Such a system as has been described seems feasible in Ontario. No part of the province is beyond reach by rail or steamer, and in no part need there be lack of readers" Our school system, by providing school sections ot moderate urea, each with its schoolhouse and teacher, seems to have placed the machinery ready to hand. In Wisconsin about one-third of the libraries :'.re kept in the post office, one-half in farm houses and the remainder in small stores. But with the schoolmaster as librarian and the schoolhouse as the distributing post, the most widely-scattered farm ponulation could be easdy reached, while the results of the daily tasks would be more satisfactory. By MtpplyiiiK alsi) in lhi> way the Mmallor existini; Publii- Libraries, which arc barely able to add lO their collections, boxes of loo new boo'is every six months. Iresh liie would be thrown into them and their reHders brought into contact with the literature ot the day. The Minister of Kducalion ni>;hl justly consider the proposal to curtail the ifrants for libraries, ainountnij,' to over $^^,700, and ilevote the savinjjf to the eslablish-nenl of travelhnjf libraries. riic second want is found at the other end of the scale. Our besi libraries have not reached the stajfe of meeting: the wants of our best scholars, and with the limited means at their disposal the lime seems far distant when they will be able to do so. Rivalry is out of question with such ^jreat libraries as those of Harvard, the .\sior-Lenox, Smithsonian, and others mi the United Stales, not to speak of tireal Kritain, l-'raiice and tlermany, or even Russia ; but if our stutlonis .-ire to remain at home, some provision must be made to meet their wants. .\s a nation we cannot afford to be entirely dependent upon others f\>r our hi^'hesi culture, so that it is incumbent on us to consider carefully our position, and if possible, by combination and economy of ener>jy, endeavor to supply i>ur want. We have in the City of Toronto st)me tifteen, more or less, public libraries, all ot which, except tour, are devoted t'' special subjects. These fi)ur arc : t!ie [ ej^islative Library, the University Kt( Tori(nti>, the I'liblic Reference Library, nd the Canadian Institute. I he first three mentioned are sjmewhal on the samn lines, special departments bein(.j added to each to meet special requirements. In the past, efforts have been made by the librarians to prevent the duplication of expensive books and sets ; but necessarily a larfje proportion of the books are alike, and much waste of money, time and energy has ensued. The Le>r"^lative Library, established to suppl\ the demands ot our lej^islaliirs. has been t\irced to add to its shelves quantities of ^'^eneral literature. It has now ouif,'rown the ciriinber provided for it, and it will be necessarv for the tiovernmenl al an early date to pro\ ide further accommo- dation. The City Public Reference Library has in like manner thrown to about 45 000 volumes, which are h^'used in a buildinj:- unsuitable for the pur- pose—exposed to dantjer from lire .irid in need of additional space for expan- sion. The Canadian Institute with its valuable collection of Transactions, is in much the same condition, with the additional disadvantage th;' . the student finds here only a portion of his work, thouijfh an important one, and a lack of proper catalogues and literary assistance. We have here three libraries which partially overlap and which fail to make full use of their opporti'.i.iiies by reason of special circumstancts, and yet which if worked in harmony would do much to remove the present reproach. It has seemed to me, after careful consideration, that the best interests of the province and city would be served by adopting a proposal such as the following: The Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto to unite in the main- len^nce of a common Provincial Reference Library, the books in which would be free to every person ip the province. The province in consideration of the value of the books in tiie Public Library, to erect suitable buildings in a suitable locality- I'he Legislative Library to be confined to such books as art actually re- quired for legislative purposes, and the balance of the books transferred to the joint library. The Canadian Listitute l'-> hand over their collection to the joint library, receiving in consideration a suitable meeting room. Regulations made by which students in all parts of the province could share in the use of the books, due regard being had for th'jir safety. In this way a library could be instituted— free to the citizens of Toronti/, as their own is to-day — furnishing the highest literature to every student in the province, properly housed with little more expense than the three libraries are ai present costing, in which would be found room for extensive geological, mineralogical, botanical and other departments, so much wanted, forming a National Librarv worthy of the Province and i)f the Citv in which it is placed.