Nearly 100 years
at kids’ eye level.
The MCL has changed addresses, grown in size and taken on new forms. One thing has never changed: the belief that every child should be able to read, play, discover and grow without money getting in the way.
And plenty more pages still to write.
A few chapters since 1929
It all starts with an idea.
Elizabeth Murray believes that every child should have the chance to grow up surrounded by books.
When she learns that the children’s section of the Fraser Institute does not have enough funding to build its collection, she rallies the community. A fundraising campaign brings in $3,000.
The little library begins to spread its wings.
A first branch opens in Montreal West. Others follow in several neighbourhoods across Montreal.
The MCL is already sharing its experience with communities looking to develop children’s library services of their own.
THE YEARS
A true constellation.
At its peak, the network grows to six branches, more than 10,000 young members and over 40,000 items.
Three branches are even named after stars: Antares, Vega and Polaris.
Still small. Still very much alive.
Today, the MCL continues its story in Saint-Michel. Books, of course — but also games, spaces to imagine and build, activities, and plenty of ideas that tend to pop up along the way.
And everything is free. That matters a lot to us.
Small in size.
Not in ideas.
The MCL is an independent children’s library and a nonprofit organization. People come here to choose a book, try a game, build something, make things, listen to a story, meet people or simply have a good time.
Being small also lets us stay flexible: we can observe, experiment, change our minds and adapt what we do to whatever comes our way!
Four professionals.
So many (so many) ideas.
We read, play, test things, make recommendations, create, research, start over and sometimes change the plan completely. Our team brings the collections, game library and activities to life with plenty of expertise — and very little patience for boredom.
What we learn here can be useful elsewhere.
The MCL also offers training for professionals from other libraries, sharing expertise developed through decades of hands-on experience: games in libraries, children’s literature, services and programming, welcoming practices, as well as organization and teamwork.
Our training comes straight from practice: what we try, what we observe, what works — and sometimes what we’ve had to rethink. It’s another way of carrying out our mission: sharing ideas so they can benefit even more children — including some we may never meet.
A board that never
watches the clock.
The MCL is able to move forward thanks to a volunteer board of directors committed to its governance, development and long-term future.
The board helps guide the MCL’s overall direction, supports the team and takes on another essential mission: finding the resources and donations that allow this little library to remain open, vibrant and accessible.
Other Board Members
Board of Directors 2026–2027
This story exists
because of you.
Since 1929, generation after generation, people have chosen to support one simple idea: children deserve free access to books, play, discovery and culture.
Your generosity helps us keep our services free, renew our collections of books and games, offer activities, welcome families and develop new projects.
Your donation is not just a little extra. It makes part of what we do possible.
What does that look like in real life?
Here are a few examples of what books, games, materials and activities actually cost at the MCL.
or two dolls
These are real costs at the MCL: every donation, big or small, helps keep our services going.
The MCL turns 100.
We’d love to get there with you… and keep going for many years after that.
A recurring donation helps us plan for tomorrow, too.