At that time, its 600,000 volumes made it the largest free public library in the world.
No other city in Canada at this time had a completely free public library.
They were however never free public libraries in the modern sense.
Should he and those like him be given free libraries?
While the free library is still functioning, it has had relatively little use.
Where should he spend them, with a free library of four thousand volumes close by?
A total of 2,811 free public libraries were eventually built altogether.
Cooper Union also housed one of the first free public libraries.
A free library and a computer training center have also been built.
"Most people coming here do not have knowledge of free public libraries," she said.