The Public Library – The Pivot of Democracy 1944
I received a very touching email yesterday from Christine Kujawa, the Director of the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library in North Dakota:
“…This year marks our 100 year anniversary, and we've been going through archives and records. We came across annual reports written during WWII, and in July 1944, the Toronto Public Library director was quoted.
I thought you might like to read it. It's quite moving, and certainly still rings true over 70 years later.”
Charles Sanderson was Toronto Public Library’s Chief Librarian more than 80 years ago and his words about the importance of public libraries in supporting democracy, intellectual honesty and informed minds are more relevant than ever today.
Happy Freedom to Read Week, everyone!
6 thoughts on “The Public Library – The Pivot of Democracy 1944”
Charles R. Sanderson was Toronto Public Library’s chief librarian from 4 February 1937 until his death on 24 July 1956. The above quote originally appeared in Sanderson’s report that was published in the annual report of the Toronto Public Library Board for 1942, which is available for viewing on the Library’s Digital Archive. http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMDC-TPL-A-0059&R=DC-TPL-A-0059
Page 9. 😉
“…to think with intellectual honesty, to think with informed minds”
Simply beautiful. Well done TPL!
I should also have pointed out that Toronto Public Library’s Sanderson Branch was named to commemorate Charles R. Sanderson (1887-1956). Officially Charles R. Sanderson Memorial Branch, it opened at the southeast corner of Bathurst and Dundas streets on 27 September 1968.
Absolutely fascinating! Are there any library resources on the history of TPL?
Hi Danny – You can find more about the history of TPL here: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/about-the-library/library-history/