The Library itself was born before the confederation of the province, established by a small grant from the Colonial Legislature of Vancouver Island in 1863 (Barton, 1987). A few books were purchased and shelved unattended in a single room (\u201cThe British Columbia Legislative Library,\u201d 2002). Statutes, parliamentary papers, and reference materials were added slowly over time, and when R.E. Gosnell was appointed the first Provincial Librarian in 1893, there were between two and three thousand items in the Library collection (Library Finest on Continent,\u201d 1912). Gosnell had big ambitions for the Library \u2013 envisioning services and resources that could support not only the Legislative Assembly, but also the rest of the Province (Barton, 1987). He purchased as many works as possible to further his vision, and when the Parliament Buildings were completed in 1897, the Library moved into new quarters inside (\u201cThe British Columbia Legislative Library,\u201d 2002). Thanks to Gosnell and his successor, E.O.S. Scholefield, the Library rapidly outgrew this space as well. Within six years, 18,000 volumes were spilling into nine rooms (\u201cReport on the State,\u201d 1934), and Legislature staff even considered converting the kitchen and dining room into additional Library space (ibid). When plans were made to build additions to the Parliament Buildings, it was clear that a new Library had to be included. Francis Rattenbury, architect of the original buildings, returned to design the expansion project in 1911 (Segger, 1979).<\/p>\n
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![\"image](\"https:\/\/bclaconnect.ca\/perspectives\/files\/2015\/10\/BCArchives-Reading-Room-1930s-H-3177-300x232.jpg\")
<\/a>Image H-3177 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives.<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<\/p>\n
Building a new home<\/strong><\/p>\n
In September 1912 the Governor-General, His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, arrived in Victoria to lay the cornerstone for the Library wing. According to a local newspaper, the cornerstone included a time capsule of sorts \u2013 a leaden box containing, among other things: photographs of the Duke and Duchess, of the Lieutenant-Governor, and of the Premier; plans for the building; a 1911 Provincial Yearbook; a set of gold, silver and copper coins of the Dominion; a full set of stamps; and that morning\u2019s newspapers from across British Columbia (\u201cLibrary finest on Continent,\u201d 1912). At the time, it was noted that the Duke had granted his name for the Library\u2019s use, and the press spent great pomp and ceremony praising the future \u2018Connaught Library\u2019 (\u201cConnaught Library Opened,\u201d 1915). Sadly, the name did not stick much beyond that year and, in line with Gosnell\u2019s vision, shortly became known as the \u2018Provincial Library\u2019 instead. It\u2019s unknown whether or not this was a terrible disappointment for the Duke.<\/p>\n
Construction of the expansion took three years, and by the summer of 1915, the Library began moving into its current home (\u201cReport on the State,\u201d 1934). Reports from that year indicate that the entire collection \u2013 tens of thousands of items \u2013 was moved by the small but enthusiastic Library staff (ibid). E.O.S. Scholefield, then the Provincial Librarian, noted that the task was completed so \u2018cheerfully\u2019 (\u201cAnnual Report\u201d, 1916) that the move was finished in only a few weeks (\u201cConnaught Library Opened,\u201d 1915). The Library was able to open its beautiful new space to the public on September 15, 1915 (ibid).<\/p>\n
The provincial library<\/strong><\/p>\n
The early Librarians\u2019 ideal of creating a library that could serve the whole Province had a hand in forming library and archives services all over British Columbia. From almost the beginning, the Library curated a separate, smaller collection to focus on the history of British Columbia (Barton, 1987). Materials were painstakingly selected from all over the province for decades (\u201cReport on the State,\u201d 1934). These items became the bedrock of the Provincial Archives. For many years, the Provincial Librarian also received the title of \u2018Provincial Archivist\u2019 (Barton, 1987), and the archival collection was managed and stored by the Library. In 1970, the B.C. Archives separated from the Library and moved into a building of its own nearby (Library Development Commission, 1974).<\/p>\n
Starting in 1898, the Library also maintained a travelling library program, which sent small collections of fifty books to anywhere in the Province that required it (\u201cReport on the State,\u201d 1934). This included smaller communities without library service, schools, lighthouses, even ships at sea (\u201cThe British Columbia Legislative Library,\u201d 2002). When the Public Library Commission was established in 1919 they took over this service; by that point almost 200 travelling collections were in circulation (ibid).<\/p>\n
In spite of managing these and other projects, the Library continued to provide important services to Legislative staff and members of the Assembly. This included everything from research and reference, to supplying publications and other materials, and eventually to technical and computer support.<\/p>\n
The Reference Department itself has a history almost as long as the Library wing. It was established in 1920, and at the time was lauded as the first distinct Legislative Reference Department in Canada (\u201cReport on the State,\u201d 1934). The Department was created to \u201cfurnish the Ministers and their Deputies, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and the Legislative Counsel and other public officials such information as they require\u201d (ibid). It continues with this mission today.<\/p>\n
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![\"image](\"https:\/\/bclaconnect.ca\/perspectives\/files\/2015\/10\/Iona_Reid_Library_2015-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo of the Legislative Library of BC in Victoria, B.C., courtesy of Iona Reid, Acquisitions\/Serials Librarian.<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<\/p>\n
The legislative library<\/strong><\/p>\n
With the Archives separated and Public Library services long-since flourishing, during the 1970s the Library decided to re-focus and prioritize their services to members of the Legislative Assembly. They stopped using the \u2018Provincial Library\u2019 name and instead took up their statutory title: the \u2018Legislative Library\u2019 (Barton, 1987). Over the years, the Library has maintained a strong focus on Legislative services. However, true to its roots, a small amount of \u2018Provincial Library\u2019 services remain. When staff are not working to support the Legislative Assembly with research or materials, they find time to help public scholars, historians and press.<\/p>\n
The Legislative Library has surpassed R.E. Gosnell\u2019s dreams: a comprehensive collection that supports the political and the public, staffed by a long line of talented and passionate individuals. The Library staff are proud of the work they do for each and every client, and they look forward to the challenges brought on by the next hundred years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Andrea Lee is a Research Librarian at the Legislative Library of BC in Victoria, B.C.<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
References<\/strong><\/p>\n
Annual Report 1915-16: Provincial Library and Provincial Archives of British Columbia.<\/em> Victoria: Provincial Library and Archives, 1916.<\/p>\n
Barton, Joan. \u201cBritish Columbia\u2019s Legislative Library: All Things to All People or Just a Schizophrenic Organization?\u201d Victoria Forum. <\/em>June 1987: 7.<\/p>\n
The British Columbia Legislative Library: Shaped By Its Past. <\/em>PowerPoint Presentation to APLIC\/APBAC and Guests. Quebec City, September 24, 2002 [Speech Transcript]. Victoria: Legislative Library, 2002. http:\/\/intranet\/library\/intranet\/llbcdoc\/llbchistory\/aplic_sep_02_no_pics.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
\u201cConnaught Library Opened to Public.\u201d Victoria Daily Times<\/em> [Victoria] 15 September 1915: 11.<\/p>\n
Library Development Commission and British Columbia Legislative Library. A Proposal for Re-organization and Extension of Government Library Services in British Columbia.<\/em> Victoria: Legislative Library, 1974. http:\/\/www.llbc.leg.bc.ca\/public\/pubdocs\/bcdocs2011\/470813\/a%20proposal%20for%20reorganiztion%20of%20govt%20library.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"image](\"https:\/\/bclaconnect.ca\/perspectives\/files\/2015\/10\/BCArchives-Reading-Room-1930s-H-3177-e1446338096552.jpg\")
<\/a>Image H-3177 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives.<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n