Edgar Stewart Robinson (1897–1957)

Edgar S. Robinson, n.d.

Edgar S. Robinson had many qualities which made him one of Canada's finest administrators in the first half of the 20th century. During his tenure as director of the Vancouver Public Library from 1924–57, he introduced important services and, as a popular public figure not only in British Columbia but in Canadian library circles, he was a respected commentator on library trends and the 'world of books.' Through speeches, newspaper reports, journals, library conferences, and liaising with groups, he was a tireless advocate for public libraries across the Dominion. Over the years Robinson consistently opposed censorship and book bans: he believed it was the library's role to try to present both sides of an issue and let people decide for themselves. He was active in presidential roles in library associations and served as a steadfast advisor on national issues. He possessed a clear vision for the future of library service in Vancouver. By 1956 there were seven attractive branch libraries and a modern bookmobile that extended service to every corner of the city. Unfortunately, the central library on Burrard Street, which he had advocated for so long, did not open until shortly after his death in 1957.

My biography of Edgar Robinson appeared first on the Ex Libris Association website in 2017.

Edgar Stewart Robinson

b. Nov. 23, 1896, Pickford, Michigan, USA; d. Oct. 24, 1957, Victoria, BC

Education:

1920 BA University of Toronto
1924 BSLS University of Washington

Positions:

1912–15 Page, Calgary Public Library
1921–23 Head of Circulation, Calgary Public Library
1924–57 Director, Vancouver Public Library

Publications:

Robinson, Edgar S. (1925). “Report on Libraries in the Schools of the City of Vancouver.“ In J.H. Putnam and G.M. Weir, Survey of the School System, pp. 545–548. Victoria: King's Printer.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1934). “Suggested Policy for the Collection and Care of Canadian Provincial Documents.” In Public Documents: Their Selection, Distribution, Cataloging, Reproduction and Preservation/Papers Presented at the 1933 Conference of the ALA, ed. by A. F. Kuhlman, pp. 203–205. Chicago: American Library Association.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1934). “Canadian Library Council [Editorial].” Library Journal 59 (15): 656–657.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1935). “On the Pacific Front.” Ontario Library Review 19 (1): 8–10.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1936). “The Work of Public Documents Committee of Canada.” In Public Documents: Papers Presented at the … Conference of the American Library Association [1935], edited by A. F. Kuhlman, 162–166. Chicago: American Library Association.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1947). “Libraries for Today.” Journal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada 24 (2): 59–60.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1947). “Debtors to our Profession.” Canadian Library Association Bulletin 4 (October): 5–6.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1950). “‘Branching Out’ in Vancouver.” Canadian Library Association Bulletin 6 (5): 201–204.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1950). “New Times New Libraries.” Canadian Library Association Bulletin 6 (5): 189–190.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1952). “Plans and Progress.” Canadian Library Association Bulletin 9 (3): 82.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1954). “The Technique of Photocharging.” Canadian Library Association Bulletin 10 (5): 165–168.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1956). “Vancouver Public Library Building and How It Grew.” PNLA Quarterly 21 (Oct.): 17–21.
Robinson, Edgar S. (1957). Training Professional Librarians for Western Canada; Report of the Special Committee on Library Education of the Public Library Commission. Edgar S. Robinson, Chairman; Samuel Rothstein, Secretary. Ed. by British Columbia Public Library Commission Special Committee on Library Education. Victoria, B.C.: British Columbia Library Association.

Associations:

President, British Columbia Library Association, 1926–27 and 1938–39
President, Pacific Northwest Library Association, 1928–29
Chairman, British Columbia Public Library Commission, 1945-36 and 1956–57
President, Canadian Library Association, 1952–53

Accomplishments:

Edgar Robinson championed the concept of the “library in the community” in Vancouver. He was also a prominent regional voice for librarians in western Canada, especially British Columbia. Although his lifelong efforts to open a new central city library only came to fruition shortly after his death, the “Modernist style” four-storey central library on Burrard Street served Vancouver from 1957 to 1995 and was designated a heritage site in 1994. Robinson also presided over the development of several neighbourhood branches, notably Collingwood (1951), Dunbar (1950), Kerrisdale (1943), Kitsilano (1927), and South Hill (1949).

Sources:

Curry, Ann and Gary Carre. (1998). “Edgar S. Robinson: Canada’s Longest Serving Public Library Director.” Epilogue : Canadian Bulletin for the History of Books, Libraries, and Archives 13: 117–136.
“In Memoriam Edgar Stewart Robinson, November 22, 1896–October 24, 1957.” (1957). Viewpoint, the Vancouver Public Library Staff Association Newsletter 11 (2): 1–11.
Harry C. Bauer. “Edgar Stewart Robinson,” Bulletin of Bibliography 21, no. 10 (1956): 217–219.