The Study Of Legal System On Canadian Public Libraries

In the scope of the world, the country with complete public librarianship always has the support of well public library legislation. At present,87countries have formulated225laws of public libraries, including Canada. Currently, Canadian legal system on public library consists of four parts:public library special law, public library special regulation, public libraries industry standards and norms, public libraries relevant laws and regulation. In the area of public library special law, in1867"British North America Act" assigned powers between federation and province. The power of education was assigned to province. So the provinces of Canada could make laws in relation to education, also places the public library legislation within the jurisdiction of the province. In1882, Ontario first maked "An Act to provide for the establishment of Free Libraries", then the other province of Canada pass law and regulation about public libraries in succession. At present, almost all public libraries are governed by a library act. The exception to this is Quebec."The Public Libraries Act" of Quebec was repealed in1993. In1953"National Library Act" established the Canada National Library. In October2003, the National Library and the National Archives of Canada, merge into one agency--Library and Archives of Canada. On April22,2004, the "National Library and Archives of Canada Act," was published. Public libraries industry standards and norms include two parts, one is norms and regulations of the local library associations and institutions, the other is constitution and polices established by library Associations. Public libraries relevant laws and regulation also has two parts, relevant laws and regulations used by libraries and relevant laws and regulations contain public libraries content. The above laws and regulations complement each other, jointly regulate the activities of the Canadian public libraries and build a relatively complete legal environment for the development of public librarianship in Canada.