Free books for all the public library movement in Ontario, 1850-1930 - Bruce, Lorne (Dundurn Press, 1994)
"This publication has been assisted by an Ontario Heritage Book Award from the Ontario Heritage Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation."
Includes bibliographical references and index
Preface; Introduction: A Dream for Ontario; Part One: Origins; Part Two: The Late Victorian Transition; Part Three: The Modern Public Library Emerges; Epilogue: Other Days; Appendix A: Tables; Appendix B: Graphs; Appendix C: Maps; Notes; Bibliography; Index
Free Books for All provides a detailed and reflective account of the people. groups, communities, and ideas that shaped library development in the decades between 1850 and 1930, from Egerton Ryerson to George Locke, from Mechanics Institutes to renovated Carnegie libraries. A chronological narrative, lively writings by the people involved, tables, maps, graphs, and period photographs combine to tell the stories of the librarians, trustees, educators, politicians, and library users who contributed to Ontario's early public library system. The book brings to life a fascinating period of library h