CANADA.
There are few records of collections of books in Canada prior to the establishment of the British colonies. Le Moyne d'Iberville is said to have gathered together all the works on the New World and carried them with him on his expeditions, but what became of them is unknown. The Jesuit Fathers, as is well known, were indefatigable chroniclers, but whether they were equally enthusiastic readers is less certain. At any rate the first library re corded in Canada was one organized by a group of British officers stationed at Quebec in 1779, who expended f500 in London in the purchase of books. This was first housed in the Bishop's Palace. In 1843 it was transferred to the Que bec Literary Association, and again in 1866 to the Literary and Historical Society, at which time it numbered about 7,000 volumes. The collection now numbers 16,000 volumes, mainly Canadian history.
Collections in Ottawa.— In Ottawa, the seat of the Dominion government, are centred the libraries developed by the various official departments. Of these the Iarliament Library is the most important and, prior to the fire of 3 Feb. 1916, was the largest in Canada, numbering between 300,000 and 400,000 vol umes. The departments of Justice (8,000 vols.), State Geological Survey (20,000 vols.) and the Supreme Court (38,000 vols.) are spe cial collections that are growing rapidly.
Provincial Libraries.— The most import ant collection in Quebec is the library of the legislature of the province (1792; 107,218 vols.) and the University of Laval in the same place possesses about 102,000 volumes and con tains much important historical material rela tive to Canada, and the B. Saint Sulpice (80,000), also in Montreal, has a most attrac tive building. Public libraries have developed to a very limited degree in Quebec, but the con trary is true of the province of Ontario. This has a widespread and thoroughly modern sys tem modeled upon American and British meth ods. The value of the library is recognized and it is liberally supported. A considerable num ber are an evolution out of mechanics' libra ries. These were taken over by the municipali ties, the communities being taxed to maintain them • under provisions of the Free Libraries Act,, passed in 1882. Libraries were provided
for in the law reorganizing the school system drawn up by Dr. Ryerson and passed in 1848, but only a few libraries were established at that time. There are more than 500 libraries, large and small, in Ontario. The largest and most active public library in Canada is the public library of Toronto with 15 branches and 300, 000 volumes. The activity in Ontario has ex tended to the middle and western provinces,. the Provincial Library of Manitoba at Winnipeg numbering 60,000 volumes; British Columbia having several active libraries, the Provincial Library at Victoria containing 30,000 volumes; while Alberta has three collections of over 10,000, the most important being the Public and Strathcona Library at Edmonton, containing 35,000 volumes. Many new and splendidly equipped buildings are being constructed in Canada, especially in the western provinces.
Traveling Libraries.— In 1890, a system of traveling libraries was initiated by Lady Aber deen at a meeting•of ladies in Winnipeg. This, called the Aberdeen Association, has endeav ored to supply reading matter to settlers and iso- lated families in the Canadian Northwest. This association has distributed thousands of books, magazines, etc., and has brightened the lives of many lonely people.
University Libraries.— The largest and most modern university library in Canada is that of McGill University at Montreal. This has six branches and its collections number about 152,000 volumes. The University of To ronto has also an excellent library numbering some 148,434 volumes.
There is an active library association in Can ada, which was established in 1900. Canadian libraries have suffered severe losses by fire dur ing the recent years — the collections of the Uni versity of Toronto, of the Provincial Library of Quebec and finally the Parliament Library at Ottawa was partially destroyed in the burning of the Parliament buildings, 3 Feb. 1916.