96 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Chaudiere Falls toward the Laurentide hills, forming one of the most picturesque 

 scenes on the continent. In the eyes of the librarian the library has only one 

 serious defect — it is complete — no arrangement has been made for 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 

 dissolved, and, as we have seen, the library passed into the hands of the Federal 

 Government. Each of these provinces, now known as Ontario and Quebec, estab- 

 lished new libraries in Toronto and Quebec city. 



The sixty-two colleges and universities of the Dominion are provided with 

 libraries containing 627,626 volumes and 24,894 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 University, Quebec, is famous as being, after Harvard, 

 the oldest on the continent, being founded by Bishop Laval in 1663. During the 

 dark days which witnessed the long struggle, first with the Iroquois and afterwards 

 with the English and Americans, little progress was made in the collection of books, 

 and it was not until it was converted into a university, in 1852, that its library com- 

 menced to increase rapidly. On the suppression of the Jesuit Order and seminary 

 these books were transferred to it. It numbers considerably over 100,000 volumes, 

 and is unrivalled for the extent and character of 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 surpassed 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 Transac- 

 tions of this Institute for 1895, of the formation and history of the first circulating 

 library in Upper Canada (1800-1820), established by some enterprising citizens of 

 the Town of Niagara, for the supply of their own immediate wants and of those 

 who could pay the small annual fee. It was successful until the destruction of the 

 town by the American troops in 1813 wasted its volumes and impoverished its 

 subscribers, so that it shortly after quietly passed out of existence. 



In 1848 the late Dr. Ryerson drafted a School Bill which contained provisions 

 for school and township libraries, and succeeded in awakening a deep interest in 

 the subject. Ever anxious to impress on his hearers the importance of libraries as 

 the keystone to a free educational system, he urged it on every opportunity. Lord 

 Elgin, at that time Governor-General, was so strongly impressed with the import- 

 ance of the movement that he styled it the " Crown and glory of the institutions of 

 the province." In 1854 Parliament passed the requisite Act, and granted him the 

 necessary funds to carry out his views in the matter. The regulations of the Depart- 

 ment authorized each county council to establish four classes of libraries : 



An ordinary common 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 ohly. 



A library in any public institution under the control of the municipality for the 

 use of the inmates, or in any county gaol, for the use of the prisoners. 



To aid this work a book depository was established in the Education Office to 

 enable the smaller libraries to obtain readily good literature. The books were sup- 

 plied at cost, and a grant of 100 per cent, 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. 



