Preservation Centre

The Gatineau Preservation Centre (GPC) opened in June 1997 in Gatineau, Quebec. Its facilities are dedicated to the preservation of the country’s documentary heritage. The centre provides:

  • optimal environmental conditions for collection storage
  • labs equipped for preservation activities

Some of the architectural elements are reminiscent of the Canadian Prairies, where the project's principal architect, Ronald Keenberg, is from.

The Preservation Centre is Library and Archives Canada’s (LAC) flagship building. Together with the Preservation Storage Facility, they form the Preservation Campus. Citizens and visitors can enjoy the green space surrounding the campus and read the interpretive panels to learn more about LAC.

Library and Archives Canada Preservation Centre, 625 du Carrefour Boulevard, Gatineau, Quebec

The vaults

Forty-eight vaults, each about 350 square metres large, house a variety of archival records and publications. They were designed to protect the collection against different types of dangers. A sophisticated system detects and suppresses fires, and the materials used inside the vaults are strictly controlled to avoid any contamination.

Photograph of the mobile shelving units used to store books
  • Books

Stored on mobile shelving

  • Temprature: 18°C (+/- 2°C)
  • Relative humidity: 40% (+/- 5%)
Photograph of the mobile shelving units used to store boxed textual records
  • Paper documents
  • Black-and-white photographic and film materials
  • Magnetic and electronic records

Stored in boxes on mobile shelving

  • Temperature: 18°C (+/- 2°C)
  • Relative humidity: 40% (+/- 5%)
Photograph of the mobile shelving units used to store the “pizza boxes” used for oversize paper documents
  • Maps
  • Posters
  • Works of art on paper

Stored in boxes or large archival containers on mobile shelving

  • Temperature: 18°C (+/- 2°C)
  • Relative humidity: 40% (+/- 5%)
Photograph of the mobile shelving units used to store black and white motion picture films
  • Black-and-white motion picture film

Stored in polypropylene cans on mobile shelving

  • Temperature: 18°C (+/- 2°C)
  • Relative humidity: 25% (+/- 5%)
Photograph of the antechamber of the cold storage vault where colour, and black and white film records are kept
  • Colour and cellulose acetate motion picture film and photographs

Stored in a cold storage vault (photo shows the anti-chamber)

  • Temperature: -18°C (+/- 2°C)
  • Relative humidity: 30% (+/- 5%)
Photograph of the interior of the art storage vault for paintings and other artwork
  • Paintings
  • Globes
  • Miniatures

Stored on mobile hanging racks

  • Tempature: 18°C (+/- 2°C)
  • Relative humidity: 50% (+/- 5%)

Preservation laboratories

On the top floor, above the three-storey vault, is a village-like setting of laboratories. These labs are for:

  • conservation treatment
  • preservation copying of records
  • digitization

This allows our preservation experts to work together under the same roof.

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