Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada is the federal institution tasked with acquiring, preserving and providing access to Canada’s documentary heritage, which includes published works, government records, photographs, maps, audiovisual material and digital content. It serves a broad audience that ranges from scholars and genealogists to government officials and the general public, offering both onsite research services and online access to its collections. The organisation fulfills the legal deposit mandate by receiving copies of all publications produced in Canada, ensuring a comprehensive record of the nation’s intellectual output. In addition to preservation, it provides reference assistance, interlibrary loan services and reproductions of materials upon request. Library and Archives Canada also develops national standards and best practices for library and archival work, supporting the broader information management community across the country. Its public programming includes exhibitions, educational outreach and digitisation initiatives designed to make heritage materials more widely available.

Operating under the Department of Canadian Heritage, the organisation reports to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and is headed by the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, reflecting its status as a distinct agency within the federal public service. While its primary headquarters is located in Ottawa, Ontario, it maintains regional service points and preservation facilities that extend its reach across the nation. The institution’s mandate gives it a unique role as both a national library and a national archives, a dual function that distinguishes it from many peer organisations. Its collections are described as vast and continually growing, encompassing millions of items that document Canada’s social, political and cultural development. Library and Archives Canada collaborates with provincial, territorial and municipal libraries and archives, as well as international partners, to share expertise and coordinate preservation efforts. Through these activities it supports access to information, promotes Canadian culture and contributes to the country’s collective memory.