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The history of books, reading, and public libraries in Canada can be traced from the first public reading in 1535. Although a university library organized by Jesuits in 1635 was followed by book collections in fur trading posts, government agencies, subscription libraries, and libraries for the professions, the first public libraries did not open until 1883. These were in Guelph and Toronto. Traveling libraries grew in Western Canada, and the provinces enacted library legislation. Early in this century new public libraries opened and began to flourish (some with the help of the Carnegie Corporation), but the depression and World War II slowed development. Since cooperation and a national library were seen as necessary in the 1940's, the Canadian Library Council and the Canadian Library Association (CLA) were formed to promote them. The 1950's saw increased library cooperation, the rise of regional libraries, legislation for a national library, and the formation of libraries in previously unserved areas. In the 1960's and 1970's metropolitan libraries grew, the number of library schools increased, standards were written, and the new national library building opened. Future library development may include better funding and services, improved communications, increased use of nonprint media, resource sharing, workshops and other training programs, and better facilities. (LS)

Proceedings of a 1981 conference on professional competence and the law are presented. The perspectives of educators Leon Trakman, Murray Fraser, and Stewart Macaulay concerning the educational needs of the legal profession and the role of the law school are presented. The Canadian justices McIntyre and Cowan comment on the quality of lawyers' skills, as revealed by legal counsel in court, and the competence of judges to weigh evidence and render judgment. Issues pertaining to Canadian law schools, and, specifically, developments in Ontario and at the University of Toronto, are addressed by law school representatives Frank Iacobucci, Hudson Janisch, William Charles, Grant Hammond, and Rod MacDonald. In addition, four seminar papers are presented: "Are Judges Competent?" (Chris Axworthy); "Are Practitioners Competent?" (Ronald Pugsley); and "Are Law Teachers Competent?" (Leon Trackman). After an address entitled "Incompetence: The North American Experience," (Roger Cramton), lawyers Edwin Harris, Arthur Maloney, Peter Green, and Brian Flemming evaluate lawyer competence from the prospective of law school and continuing legal education programs, and consider controls exerted on lawyers through professional regulation, litigation, and punishment. Additionally, the social costs of incompetence are addressed by A. Wayne MacKay, Stewart Macaulay, Justice Glube, and Agar Adamson; and forecasts and prescriptions are offered by Roger Cramton, Justice Jones, and Arthur Maloney. Group discussions follow all the papers, and a list of participants is appended. (SW)