All the British North American provinces have now a system of Free Libraries–or at least the germ of one–but for the purpose of these pages it will suffice to describe that which, during almost twenty years, has been at work in Canada, with but a passing word or two of the rest.

The merit of its origination belongs to Dr. Egerton Ryerson, who for many years filled, with ability and energy, the office of Chief Superintendent of Education in the Upper Province.

Dr. Ryerson had observed with interest the measures adopted in the State of New York, and in some other States of the neighbouring Union, for the creation of Township and District Libraries. Approving, heartily, of the principle of maintenance by a rate, he saw in several of the details of the system–especially as it had been established in New York–practices which, as it seemed to him, ought rather to be avoided than imitated.

The Origin of the Canadian Township Libraries

In July, 1849, Dr. Ryerson submitted to the then Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada (the Earl of Elgin), an Educational Report in the course of which he thus expressed his views:–“There can be but one opinion of the great importance of introducing into each township of Upper Canada, as soon as possible, a Township Library; with branches for the several School Sections, consisting of a suitable selection of entertaining and instructive books… It is not easy to conceive the vast and salutary influence that would flow from the introduction of such a fountain of knowledge and enjoyment into each Township.”