The Royal Canadian Military Institute

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Description

RCMI Library: Steeped in History When a group of Toronto area Militia officers decided to found a military institute in 1890, they included in the Charter that it was for "the promotion of Military Art, Science and Literature" among other aims and objectives. The Library was initiated with a donation of 200 volumes from "the late Militia Institute". A further large donation of 733 volumes came in 1925 from the estate of Colonel George T. Denison, so that by the mid-1930s, through donations and purchases, the collection stood at well over 10,000 volumes. Since then the collection has more than doubled. The collection forms a corpus of military history, science and art maintained as a reference source, the largest privately funded and maintained library of its kind in Canada, and one of the larger in North America. It is for the study and enjoyment of those whose interest lies in the broadest sense of "military" and supplements the more modest or restricted military literature holdings of public or other libraries. It is unique, being supported largely through the RCMI membership and the RCMI Heritage Fund, plus money raised from in-house book auctions and sales. Its wide range of subject matter, Army, Navy, Air Force, training and equipment, tactics and strategy, uniforms, medals and war art, allows a detailed study of subjects not readily found elsewhere. The Library as a Research Centre The Library is available for use by those wishing to make use of its resources for research projects, scholarly or university assignments or to anyone with an interest in military affairs or history. Research projects cannot be undertaken by the Librarian, but guidance will be given to the extent possible, including making material available to the user. The Library will be closed as of June 18, 2010. It will reopen after the redevelopment project. How to Use the Library The Library uses Library of Congress classification system. The Library is fully automated, powered by Inmagic, and there is a terminal with an online catalogue available in-house. This catalogue will be accessible through the website for external use some time in the future. Interlibrary Loan service is available to members and other Libraries. Library loans are suspended for the duration of the redevelopment project, effective June 7, 2010. Staff Librarian On Hand to Help The Library is but one part of the RCMI and, under the Board of Directors, is administered by a Chairman, who is a member of the Board, and a Library Committee of volunteers who are members of the Institute. A professional Librarian, Penny Lipman B.A., M.L.S., is on staff to design and maintain the online database, catalogue the collection and fulfill interlibrary loan requests. Penny also handles day-to-day operations, responds to reference queries, and ensures the safekeeping of the collection. She is also implementing new Library projects. Her office is on the Library Gallery. With his vast subject knowledge, Arthur Manvell, the RCMI Honorary Librarian, is frequently on hand to answer research questions and process donations.

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