Canadian name authorities

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) creates name authority records and participates in cooperative programs to develop these records.

About name authorities

Name authorities

Name authorities are standardized terms for authors, creators and issuing bodies (associations, government departments and agencies).

Title authorities

Title authorities are standardized terms for titles, uniform titles and series titles.

Cooperative programs

Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO)

LAC creates its English-language authority records in the LC/NACO file of the Name Authority Cooperative Program. Contact bac.normesdecatalogage-cataloguingstandards.lac@canada.ca for more information.

Francophone Name Authority Program (PFAN)

LAC creates its French-language authority records in the Canadiana file, which is governed by the Francophone Name Authority Program (PFAN). Contact bac.pfan-fnap.lac@canada.ca for more information.

Retrieving name authorities

Learn about getting name authorities for your library.