Ontario Library Association

The Ontario Library Association was founded at a meeting, October 19th, 1900, held in the Toronto Public Library at the northeast corner of Church and Adelaide Streets. This library was the former Mechanic's Institute and became the Toronto Public Library in 1883 with the adoption of the Free Library by-law. James Bain (1842-1908), Chief Librarian of the Toronto Public Library, was elected the first President of the Ontario Library Association. The O.L.A., the oldest library association in Canada, has played a major role in the growth of Ontario libraries and in developing the profession of Librarianship.