EGERTON RYERSON'S LIBRARY SYSTEM

OK, another OLA SuperConference in Toronto has come and gone at the start of February along with the snowstorm! I was lucky to make it to the Metro Convention Centre to give a presentation on "Centennial Libraries" that were built across the province in 1967. While I was at the conference, I talked to some other presenters about posting Powerpoint slides to the Internet for people to view. Many people think this is a great way to share information outside of the regular conference sessions.

I agree! But let's backtrack a bit. I am going to start with last year's (2007) presentation first, the one about Egerton Ryerson's library scheme for the public -- students and adults -- to use across Upper Canada. He introduced legislation for schools in 1850 and of course included libraries. His system, much maligned and never replicated, was ahead of its time and was partly based on district school libraries that had been developed in the United States, especially the adjacent state of New York.

Ryerson persisted for a quarter century and his depository system established libraries in hundreds of small localities across Canada West, later Ontario. It had the merit of being a pioneer system of libraries and the forerunner of tax-based, universal service for all residents in a respective jurisdiction.

Please note that converting Powerpoint to the Internet has some drawbacks -- but people using Internet Explorer and Firefox should be able to navigate all the slides successfully by checking the link provided above on the title or right here:

• Egerton Ryerson's libraries.