Library History and Mandate

About the Legislative Library

The Legislative Library of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario contributes to the effective functioning of the Legislative Assembly by providing timely, professional and comprehensive information and research services to Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs), legislative committees and Legislative Assembly officials.

All our services are designed to meet MPPs' specific information needs and to function in the unique environment of a modern legislature. The Library's confidential non-partisan research services and specially designed electronic information products on the Intranet are available only to MPPs and other Legislative Assembly clients.

Our mandate and resources do not allow us to serve the general public. Several library products that specifically focus on parliamentary affairs or support public understanding of the Ontario Legislature are also published here on the Internet.

Library History

The Legislative Library of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is the descendant of the parliamentary libraries of the province of Upper Canada (1792-1841) and of the united Province of Canada (1841-1867). In 1867 the Ontario Legislature established a new Legislative Library, which was recognized in the Standing Orders of the House. Since Confederation, the Library has been administered by the Speaker (1867-1899), by the Treasurer (1899-1921), by the Minister of Education (1921-1964), by the Provincial Secretary (1964-1972) and by the Minister of Government Services (1972-1976).

The Library entered a new era in April 1976 when, upon the recommendation of the Ontario Commission on the Legislature, it became a division of the Office of the Assembly under the authority of the Speaker once again. The Commission emphasized that Ontario legislators needed a Library that could proactively respond to their specific information needs. In response, the Library created a number of new services, including a professional research service, a comprehensive current affairs data file system, and various customized press clipping and reference services.

While the program mix, service design and technology have changed dramatically over the past two centuries, the goal of providing timely and responsive services to meet Members' information needs remains our driving force.