In 2002, the government of Québec decided to merge several municipalities on
its territory. Montréal, which was composed of nine boroughs, was then expanded
to include the entire island of Montréal, with 27 boroughs. This situation only
lasted two years. In June 2004, residents of 15 former municipalities voted to
demerge. Since then, the city has comprised 19 boroughs, and an agglomeration
council was created for all municipalities on the island in order to discuss
issues that affect all of the cities.
The government of Québec determined the jurisdiction of boroughs and
corporate departments under its law.
The corporate department in charge of libraries is the Direction-associée –
Bibliothèques. This department is composed of a number of specialists trained to
deal with issues that affect the scope and growth of the library network.
Because libraries are considered local services, they are managed by the
borough councils. The borough councils recognize that, like anywhere else in the
world, deregulating information, consolidating certain activities and
consultation are the future roads of development for libraries. The law states
that the agglomeration council is in charge of certain priorities of collective
interest, such as the standardization of libraries’ computer systems.
In addition to the city’s 44 public libraries are the 12 libraries of
reconstituted municipalities of the island of Montréal and 10 public libraries
with private funding. In 2005, the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
(BAnQ) building opened in Montréal. Thanks to a partnership between the city and
the provincial government, which manages the BAnQ, the provincial library also
acts as the central library for the Montréal agglomeration.
Montréal’s network of public libraries aims to be a unifying, inclusive and
participative force. Its Web site, produced by the city, is a gateway for
Montréal’s public libraries, and for the entire books and reading community on
the island of Montréal.
Spread out across the island of Montréal, the city’s public libraries are a
doorway to knowledge, information and the joys of reading and learning.
Accessible, democratic and community-oriented, they participate actively in the
social, economic, cultural and civic progress of individuals and environments.
Come and discover the library’s treasures – they belong to you!
