File:London Ontario, Mechanics Institute, 1860 1877.jpg

Summary

1835 The London Mechanics' Institute in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London,_Ontario" class="extiw" title="en:London, Ontario">London, Ontario</a> Canada, forerunner of today's Public Library, is known to have existed as early as this date. It was the third established in Upper Canada, after Toronto and Kingston. A self-improvement centre for "the working classes," it offered lectures, concerts, exhibitions and a lending library. Its earliest official records go back to 1841. 1843 A new London Mechanics' Institute and Museum was built on the original courthouse square, near the present-day corner of Dundas and Ridout Streets. In 1855, it was moved to Talbot Street at the western end of Queens Avenue. By 1870, its library numbered 1,100 volumes." The building shown in this photograph is probably at the Talbot Street location. In 1877 the Mechanics' Institute opened in a new building at 231 Dundas Street, its final destination. After the Free Public Libraries Act of 1892 the city opened its first London Public Library in 1895 at the corner of Wellington and Queens Avenue. It included the book collection from the Mechanics' Institute. Some of this collection still exists in the London Room at the newest location of the Central branch of London Public Library at 251 Dundas Street, coincidentally beside the building that last housed its predecessor, the London Mechanics' Institute.

Licensing

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