Viewing library and archives material

Things you’ll need to do before you visit Library and Archives Canada to view materials. Since most of the collection is stored off-site, you will need to order material before you visit.

This page is specifically for the Ottawa location; for information on how to visit our other service locations, please visit their respective pages.

On this page

• Register for a user card
• What we have
• What we don't have
• Find the material you would like to consult
• Order and view material in person
• Order digital copies of material
• On the day of your visit

Register for a user card

You will need to sign up for a user card to access archival and library materials.

To request published items, you also need an Aurora account.

What we have

Archives hold unpublished materials not widely or usually shared with the public. Archival records come in more formats then you would think. Besides textual documents, there are also photos, art, maps, audio-visual materials and some three dimensional artifacts. LAC’s collection includes records from federal government departments as well as private records. Private records might represent politicians, volunteer organizations, or notable people from the arts or sciences.

Libraries have published materials that were created with public distribution in mind and are available in a wide variety of formats like print, audio-visual, and electronic. Through the legal deposit program, LAC collects materials created in Canada and intended for sale or public distribution. We also collect rare books and early editions.  

What we don't have

There are certain records that we do not hold, including:

• recent records of birth, adoption, marriage, divorce, death and wills. Check local or provincial government archives, and churches for these.
• immigration records after 1935 
• recent government human resources records. Try reaching out to the departments that created them. 
• census records after 1931 
• materials published outside of Canada 
• provincial government publications after 2012
• foreign and international official publications, for example, British parliamentary papers

Find the material you would like to consult

Collection Search and our library catalogue (Aurora) allow you to search our collection to find the records you are interested in.

• If you’re searching for archival records, use Collection Search. This database holds our archival collections as well as our published collection.
• If you’re searching for only published material, go directly to the library catalogue (Aurora). While the published collection is in Collection Search, Aurora allows you to search for published materials more specifically.

When you find records you are interested in, you can save them to your My Research list (in Collection Search) or Saved Items (in Aurora) to keep track. For some records, there may be a digital image available in the database. For records that are not digitized, you’ll need to see them in person.

To learn more about finding materials, try:

• How to do archival research
• How to do library research

Order and view material in person

Since most of the collection is stored off site, you will need to order material before you visit.

Archival

Once you’ve found archival materials you would like to consult, you should order them at least 10 business days before you’d like to view them on site.

You can only order 10 boxes a day. Learn more about how to order archival materials.

After you order the materials, use track my archival order to confirm when they are available to view (requires account registration).

Library

Use our library catalogue to order books, magazines, music, and other published items.

The catalogue can search by author, title, keyword and more.

Materials may be requested in advance (up to 10 at a time) and will be delivered to the shelves in the third-floor consultation room, where they will be located alphabetically by last name. Materials from special collections or those in a fragile condition are delivered to the Special Collections room, also on the third floor. When you receive your checkout notice, it will indicate which room the materials will be delivered to.

Further help can be found at the bottom of the search page under Library Links.

Order digital copies of material

If you or one of your co-researchers is unable to come in person, you can request digital copies of many archival materials for a fee. Published material, such as books, magazines or music, may be affected by copyright, however. Parts of the item, such as articles or chapters, may be copied for personal or academic use. Any commercial use, such as film, the Internet or inclusion in your own published work, will need to have the approval of the original publisher.

See Ordering copies online for details on cost, payment methods, time frames, a link to order copies, etc. Use the order form for copies to place your order.

You will need each item’s archival reference number or OCLC number to request copies. Make sure to properly format your archival references. Learn more about reference numbers and titles.

On the day of your visit

First stop: Commissionaires’ desk, first floor

When you arrive at 395 Wellington Street, you must sign in at the commissionaires’ desk. You will see it in the lobby as soon as you enter the building.

You will be assigned a locker to store your personal items, bags, outerwear and anything else that you cannot bring into the public consultation rooms; see the list below.

What you can and can’t bring into the public research rooms

Second stop: Registration desk, second floor

Once you have stored your personal items, go upstairs to the registration desk using the elevators or the stairs. Pick up your user card at the registration desk if you don’t already have it. If you already have your card, you can continue straight to the consultation rooms on the third floor.

You will need valid personal identification to pick up your user card. All forms of official government identification with a photograph are acceptable, including

• driver’s licence
• health card
• passport
• Canadian citizenship card
• Canadian permanent resident card
• Secure Certificate of Indian Status card

Last stop: Consultation rooms, third floor

Once you have your user card, you will be able to visit the consultation rooms and look at the material you ordered.

Go to the consultation desk first. Staff will let you know whether the material that you have ordered has arrived, and they will bring it out. If you have a confirmation from Track my archival order, show it to the staff, and they will bring your boxes.

Physical copies of archival and library material must be consulted on site. As such, you will have to go through everything while you are there. If you do not get through everything during your first visit, staff can give you a locker for your material, where it can stay for up to 28 business days. If you need more time, just ask.

If you plan to take photos of your material, you will need to complete a self-serve photography application form. You can print it and bring in the completed form, or you can pick up a form at the consultation desk to fill out. You will also need to use a wrist or neck strap with your phone or camera (to prevent dropping it on materials). These are available to borrow at the consultation desk.

Restrictions on viewing and copying material

Published materials, such as books and magazines, may be governed by copyright. It is your responsibility to follow copyright restrictions and the access copyright license.

If you have any questions about your research, like recommended documents to look at or where to go next, you can visit the reference desk on the second floor. If you have a question about genealogy, you can go to the genealogy room on the third floor. Staff at both locations will be pleased to answer any of your questions.