Toronto Public Library

Toronto Public Library TWENTY - FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT I• 1908 CONTENTS List of Members of the Board and Officials 4 Report 5 Short History of the Library 7-11 Statistical Returns u-18 Reference and Circulating Libraries 19 Number and Classification of Books in the Library • :io Total Number of Borrowers JI Financial Statements :i4-:i5 List of Donations :i6-:i8 List of Newspapers and Periodicals Received • :i9-39 List of Periodicals and Publications of Learned Institutions in Reference Department 40 TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1909 .MURRAY PRINTING Co., LIMITED TORONTO BOAR.D OF MANAGEMENT THE HoNOURABLE SIR GLENHOLME FALCONBRIDGE, Chairman. His WoasHIP THE MAYOR. NORMAN B. GASH, K.C. T. W. BANTON. HUGH T. KELLY, K.C. A. E. HUESTIS. W. T. J. LEE. THOMAS W. SELF. JOHN TURNBULL. Chairmen of the Board 1883-1907 JOHN HALLAM ................ 1883-4 MILES VOKES ................ 1894 JOHN TAYLOR .... : ........... 1885 WM. DAVID McPHERSON... 1895 GEORGE WRIGHT, M.B. ...... 1886 HUGH T. KELLY.... 1896-7 JAMES MASON ............... 1887 Hrs HoN. JUDGE McDouGALL1898-9 A. R. BOSWELL, K.C........ 1888 w. T. J. LEE......... 1900 EDWIN P. PEARSON..... 1889 Hrs HON. JUDGE McDOUGALL1901 Hrs HoN. JuooE McDouGALL 1890 THOMAS W. BANTON. 1902 R. A. PYNE, M.D.... 1891 J. HERBERT DENTON.... 1903 A. R. BOSWELL, K.C... 1892 ROBERT H. GRAHAM....... 1904 WM. MARA....... 1893 THE HONOURABLE Bra GLENHOLME FALCONBRIDGE 1905-8 CHEIF LIBRARIAN; JAMES BAIN, D.C.L. From 1883 to May 1908. CHIEF LIBRARIAN; GEORGE H. LOCKE, M.A. ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN AND SECRETARY-TREASURER; C. EGERTON RYERSON, M.A. TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD FOR THE YEAR 1908. GENTLEMEN. THE past year has been one of the most eventful in the annals of the Library. On March 30th, Dr. James Bain (who had been our esteemed and efficient Chief Librarian since June, 1883,) left his office ill and never returned. His lamented death took place on the 22nd of May, 1908. A special committee to examine applications, and make enquiries as to filling the position, was appointed on the 21st of May. The Committee comprised Mr. Kelly, K.C., Mr. Gash, KC., Mr. Huestis and myself. In the meantime, Mr. C. Egerton Ryerson was appointed Acting Chief Librarian and filled that position from the 1st of April to the 21st of December. The Committee, after most laborious and painstaking consideration, on November 13th reported in favour of the appointment of Mr. George R'. -i,oc1ee, M.A., at a salary of $4,000 per annum. The appointment was confirmed by the Board on the same day and Mr. Locke immediately began to devote a portion of his time to our service, and on the 21st of December he assumed the full duties of his office. What we nave seen of the new Chief Librarian fully warrants me in assuring the Board and the public that we have made a most wise selection. The past year will alsQ be notable in the history of the library because of the progress made in the work of extending the privi leges of the institution. During this year the new Reference Library has been almost completed and will probably be fully equipped and ready for use in May, the College Street Branch was opened early in December, and the new Western Branch is so near completion that before the end of March it will be ready for occupation. The appreciation of the Branch Libraries is well illustrated by our experience at College Street, where during the first five weeks after the opening almost one thousand new tickets were issued to borrowers. The well ventilated and well lighted reading room, quiet and restful; the separate room for the ladies 6 and the children, and the privilege of handling and examining the books in consequence of the adoption of the open shelf system, have been the great contributing causes to this popularity. Therefore by the Spring of 1909 the people of this city will have many new advantages in that there will be not only the new Reference Library, which in point of beauty and utility will have few superiors on the continent, but three first class Branch Libraries in full operation: Yorkville, College Street and the Western, all as handsome architecturally and as well planned for economically and efficiently serving the people as those of any other city. Pursuant to unanimous resolution of the Board, Mr. E. Wyly Grier, R.C.A., has been commissioned to paint a portrait of Dr. Bain (to be hung in the new building). The unveiling of the picture will be a feature in the proceedings at the formal opening when an opportunity will be afforded to speak of his eminent services to the Library and to the community in terms which could not so aptly find a place in a mere business report such as the present. The accounts of the Library have been audited by the proper officers and the usual statement of receipts and expenditure and of assets and liabilities are appended Appended also is a statement of the circulation of the Central and five Branch Libraries for 1908, as compared with the pre ceding year. GLENHOLME FALCONBRIDGE, Chairman. THE TORONTO PUBLIC REFERENCE LIBRARY, COLLEGE AND ST. GEORGE STS. SHORT HISTORY OF THE TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY A QUARTER of a century having elapsed since the establish ment of the Toronto Public Library in 1883, the Board of Manage ment deemed it a fitting time to give a short history of the rise and progress of this institution. Under the Free Libraries Act of 1882, it was provided that on the passage of a by-law by the citizens of any city, town or municipality, a Free Library could be established. On the 1st January, 1883, the citizens of Toronto passed the Free Library By-Law. The first meeting of the Board of Management was held in the City Hall on the 15th day of February, 1883, with the follow in11: members: His Worship the Mayor, Arthur R. Boswell in the chair. George D'Arcy Boulton, John Hallam, W. H. Knowlton, James Mason, John A. Mills, William Scully, John Taylor, George Wright, M.D. It was moved by Mr. Knowlton, seconded by Dr. Wright, "That inasmuch as the services rendered by Mr. John Hallam to the free library movement demand recognition at our hands and the information in his possession will be most valuable to the Board, he is hereby elected first Chairman of the Free Library of Toronto." The motion was unanimously carried and Mr. Hallam took the chair. On the 28th February he presented to the Board a very carefully prepared scheme for the establishment of the free library, setting forth at considerable length its aims and requirements and the necessary qualifications of a librarian. The Board, on the 26th day of June, 1883, appointed Mr. James Bain, Jr., Chief Librarian, at a salary of $2,000 per annum, and Mr. John Davy, Assistant Librarian and Secretary, at a salary of $1,000 per annum. These gentlemen held office till removed by death, the former in May, 1908, and the latter in August, 1898. The present Assistant Librarian and Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. C. Egerton Ryerson, was appointed on the 16th day of September, 1898. On March 6th, 1884, the building formerly occupied by the Mechanics Institute, at the north-east corner of Church and Ade laide ,-Streets, was formally opened by His Honour Lieutenant Governor John Beverly Robinson. On this occasion addresses 8 were delivered by Dr. Daniel Wilson, President of University College ; the Hon. G. W. Ross; Minister of Education ; Goldwin Smith, Esq., and Rev. Dr. Withrow. The late Mr. Alderman Hallam took, as above stated, a most prominent part in the promotion of the scheme of establishing the Library, donated some 2,000 books, was the first Chairman, and accompanied the late Mr. James Bain, then Chief-Librarian, to England, to complete the purchase of books, at a cost of $25,- 421.22, the sum of $50,000 having been placed to the credit of the Board by the Corporation of the City. At the dose of 1883 the number of books in the Circulating Library was 13,560, and in 1908 this number had increased to 78,349, and the Reference Library during the same period from 8,034 to 74,132. The total number of books, patents, pamphlets, etc., at the end of 1908 in the Central and Branch Libraries was 152,481. The number of ticket holders entitled to take books home in 1908 was 66,385, as compared with 5808 in 1884. The eirculation of books in 1884 was 179,506, in 1899 it had increased to 310,945, and in 1908 to 377,475. Branch Libraries were opened in St. Andrew's Ms,rket and St. Paul's Hall early in 1884, on Bolton Avenue and Dundas Street in 1888, and on the corner of Brunswick Avenue and College Street in 1900. The circulation in these Branches has steadily increased from year to year, showing the appreciation of the public in these facilities for obtaining books. The year 1903 was remarkable by reason of two events. First, the death of His Honour Judge McDougall, for eleven years a member of the Board, during which term he was four times elected Chairman. His great ability and long experience, com bined to make him a most valuable member of the Board. The second event was the generous offer from Mr. Andrew Carnegie, of $350,000, for a new Reference Library and three Branch Libraries, upon condition that the City of Toronto should guar antee an annual income of $35,000 for maintenance, and provide suitable sites for the buildings.

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