Services for the Public

  

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) provides services to members of the public who wish to consult the documents of its collection or order photocopies and reproductions.

Reference Services Charter

• We provide equitable service to all Canadians using multiple channels of communication.
• We offer orientation services to assist you in accessing our facilities and collection.
• By appointment, we provide access to Library and Archives Canada staff to assist you in your research. We do not conduct research on behalf of clients.

While we make every attempt to accommodate our clients' requests, we must work within our existing capacity.

Our reference specialists are available:

• To help with your research
• To help find answers to your questions
• To assist you in using our collections and resources

Before You Visit

Save yourself some time during an on-site visit by registering for a user card, requesting material Material Retrieval (On-site Consultation) Form, or booking a reference appointment before you arrive.

Preparing to do Research

Searching for Material

• Consult the Search Help page and the How to Begin your Search Online video.
• Use the online research tools and guides:
  • Library Search
  • Archives Search
  • Image Search
  • Ancestors Search
  • Search All
  • Research guides organized by type and by topic

Important: many archival research tools are only available in paper format and can only be consulted in person on-site.

Ordering Material

To order material prior to your visit to LAC, you must:

• Obtain a user card number by filling out the User Card Registration Form.
• Fill out the Material Retrieval (On-site Consultation) Form. You can request that we store your research material in a locker under your name in this form.

Important: retrieval requests for non-restricted documents can take up to 5 business days to process and those for restricted material are processed within 30 days. You can consult the Access to and Use of Documents page.

Consulting Material

• The material can be consulted at our building located at 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa. Here is a map and the service and opening hours. You can watch the Orientation Services for Clients at 395 Wellington video and see the Consulting and Borrowing Material page.

Questions and Appointments

• For more information or to book an appointment with a LAC reference specialist, please consult the page Ask Us a Question.

Good luck with your research!