The Roots of the Modern Library System

The original University of Toronto library collection was housed in University College, which officially opened in 1858. Thirty-three thousand volumes were tragically destroyed in the fire of 1890, including James Audubon’s Birds of America – a rare book valued at approximately $10 million today. Generous benefactors, including Queen Victoria and Alfred Tennyson helped to rebuild and expand the collections, contributing 40,000 volumes.