Library and Archives Canada

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox library

Library and Archives Canada (LAC; Template:Langx) is the federal institution tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada.<ref name=JLW/> The national archive and library is the 16th largest library in the world. The LAC reports to the Parliament of Canada through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

LAC traces its origins to the Dominion Archives, formed in 1872, and the National Library of Canada, formed in 1953. The former was later renamed as the Public Archives of Canada in 1912, and the National Archives of Canada in 1987. In 2004, the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada were merged to form Library and Archives Canada.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

PredecessorsEdit

File:Dominion Archives 1923.jpg

The Public Archives of Canada building in 1923, prior to its 1925 expansion. The institution was housed at 330 Sussex Drive from 1906 to 1967.

The Dominion Archives was founded in 1872 as a division within the Department of Agriculture tasked with acquiring and transcribing documents related to Canadian history. In 1912, the division was transformed into an autonomous organization, Public Archives of Canada, with the new responsibility of managing government documents on all types of media.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The organization would be renamed in 1987 as the National Archives of Canada.<ref name=":0" />

With the efforts of people like Freda Farrell Waldon, the first president of the Canadian Library Association,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="brief">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the National Library of Canada was founded in 1953.<ref name=":0" />

21st centuryEdit

In 2004, under the initiative of former National Librarian Roch Carrier and National Archivist Ian E. Wilson, the functions of the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada were combined to form Library and Archives Canada.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Snyder, Lorraine. [2006 February 7] 2015 June 5. "Library and Archives Canada." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada.</ref> LAC was established per the Library and Archives of Canada Act (Bill C-8), proclaimed on April 22, 2004, with a subsequent Order-in-Council on May 21, which formally united the collections, services, and personnel of the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wilson assumed the position as the first Librarian and Archivist of Canada in July that year.

ModernizationEdit

In June 2004, LAC issued a discussion paper titled Creating a New Kind of Knowledge Institution;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> after consultation in June 2006, it issued LAC Directions for Change, a document setting out five key directions to define the new institution, including being a new kind of knowledge institution; becoming a truly national institution, a collaborative institution that works to strengthen Canada's documentary heritage; a learning destination; and an institution in government information management.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

LAC's modernization policy provides for transformation from an institution focused on the acquisition and preservation of analogue (non-digital) materials to one that excels in digital access and digital preservation.<ref name=Mod>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A Documentary Heritage Management Framework developed in 2009 seeks the right balance between resources dedicated to analogue and digital materials and is based on:

three main business pillars: acquisition, preservation and resource discovery (resource discovery includes description, discovery, access and services to the public)
four guiding principles for fulfilling its documentary heritage mandate, i.e. significance, sufficiency, sustainability and society (broad social context)
four key roles, i.e. foundation building (relationship building), collaboration, program (integrated collection management processes) and transfer (formal agreements with third parties to fulfill its legislated mandate).

Eight pilot research projects were initiated to validate the framework, including projects on military documentary heritage, aboriginal documentary heritage, and stewardship of newspapers in a digital age.<ref name=DHMF>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In March 2010 LAC issued its final report on Canadian Digital Information Strategy stakeholder consultations initiated in accordance with its mandate to facilitate co-operation among Canadian knowledge communities.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the same month it issued Shaping Our Continuing Memory Collectively: A Representative Documentary Heritage, a document which outlines how it plans to achieve its modernization objectives.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Despite LAC's stated objectives of continuing to fulfill its mandate by adapting to changes in the information environment and collaboration with others, the actual experience since 2004 has been a reduction in both services and collaboration.<ref name=Mod/><ref name=DHMF/><ref name=TSEd>Template:Cite news</ref> Federal funding cuts since 2004 have also impacted on LAC services and acquisitions.<ref name=Hall/><ref name=CobbMay3/><ref name=TSEd/><ref name=MooreNADP/><ref name=CobbJune10/> A detailed timeline of relevant developments and the decline in LAC services since 2004 has been compiled by the Ex Libris Association.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Budget cutsEdit

Following the announcement in the 2012 federal budget of a CDN$9.6 million funding cut over the three years commencing in 2012–13,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> more than 400 LAC employees received notices which indicated their jobs may be affected and the department announced a 20% reduction of its workforce of about 1,100 over the following three years.<ref name=Curry>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=CLAPR>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name=Kirkup/> The "harsh" wording of a 23-page code of conduct for employees effective January 2013, which "spells out values, potential conflicts of interest and expected behaviours", has been criticized by the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Canadian Association of University Teachers among others. The code describes personal activities including teaching and speaking at or attending conferences as "high risk" activities "with regard to conflict of interest, conflict of duties and duty of loyalty" and participation in such activities is subject to strict conditions. In a section on duty of loyalty, it also cautions employees about expressing personal opinions in social media forums. Only authorized LAC spokespersons may issue statements or make public comments about LAC's mandate and activities, which includes controversial changes related to modernization and budget cuts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=CobbMay12>Template:Cite news</ref>

Changes introduced under the management of Ian E. Wilson and Daniel J. Caron have been the subject of controversy and public criticism.<ref name=TSEd/><ref name=KarstensSmith>Template:Cite news</ref> Caron asserted that radical change is needed to cope with the influx and demand for digital material and they are subject to federal budget constraints.<ref name=CobbMay12/><ref name=CobbMay16>Template:Cite news</ref>

Several individuals and organizations voiced concerns about these changes. In 2011, the Canadian Association of University Teachers launched the Save Library & Archives Canada campaign.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On May 2, 2012, the Canadian Library Association expressed concern about budget cuts to libraries, both in federal departments and at LAC.<ref name=CLAPR/><ref name=Kirkup>Template:Cite news</ref> In August 2012, the Bibliographical Society of Canada wrote to every Member of Parliament urging them to ensure budget cuts do not compromise LAC's legislated mandate. In a follow-up letter to Heritage Minister James Moore in November 2012, the Society singled out the termination of interlibrary loans as a particularly harmful decision.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bibliophile blogger Nigel Beale characterizes LAC as "Canada's national disgrace" in his blog Literary Tourist.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Academic Ian Milligan describes LAC's "rhetoric of modernization" as a "smokescreen" for cutting services in light of the insignificance of and limited accessibility to LAC's online collections on the ActiveHistory.ca website.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Historian Valerie Knowles outlines the impact of government cutbacks at LAC and federal government libraries in her article "Closing doors on Canada's history" on the iPolitics website.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On May 31, 2012, the Association of Canadian Archivists announced its withdrawal from forums of LAC's Pan-Canadian Documentary Heritage Network, stating that it does not believe the network can meet the needs and interests of archives across Canada previously met by the National Archival Development Program abruptly terminated by LAC following the 2012 federal funding cut.<ref name=MooreNADP>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=CobbJune10>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="archivists.ca">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Following Caron's resignation in May 2013, a stakeholder coalition issued a joint statement on the qualities of a successful Librarian and Archivist of Canada for official consideration in what they consider a "matter of great national significance":<ref name=KarstensSmith/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

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A broad coalition of Canadian stakeholder organizations has developed the following list of qualities we believe the Librarian and Archivist of Canada should have in order to be successful in this critical position of public trust and responsibility. We believe it is essential that the person appointed to this position at this time possess the necessary qualities to meet the tremendous challenges of dealing with the complex issues of the digital environment in an era of limited financial and human resources and the demands of providing increased public access to the irreplaceable treasures of Canadian documentary heritage.{{#if:|{{#if:|}}
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In June 2013 the Heritage Minister said speeding up the digitization of records will be a priority for the new Librarian and Archivist of Canada. Moore also said he will ask the person appointed to revisit the termination of the National Archival Development Program.<ref name=MooreNADP/><ref name=CobbJune10/>

Truth and Reconciliation CommissionEdit

During the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Library and Archives Canada initially failed to produce records requested by the commission in a timely and comprehensive manner and was ordered by an Ontario Superior Court judge to do so.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ultimately, LAC did provide the records, but many were not in digitized and searchable formats as required by the commission.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Calls to Action of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission explicitly referenced Library and Archives Canada as follows:

We call upon Library and Archives Canada to: fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher principles, as related to Aboriginal peoples' inalienable right to know the truth about what happened and why, with regard to human rights violations committed against them in the residential schools; ensure that its record holding related to residential schools are accessible to the public; [and] commit more resources to its public education materials and programming on residential schools.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref>

Library and Archives Canada has begun to address these concerns by dedicating funding to hire Indigenous archivists, build relationships with Indigenous communities, and support digitization efforts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, Indigenous-led organizations have drawn attention to the fact that Indigenous communities have been conducting this type of work for decades.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

LAC also holds and provides access to archival copies of the websites of organizations related to the TRC, in collaboration with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the University of Winnipeg Library, and University of Manitoba Libraries.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

FacilitiesEdit

Template:Multiple image The building at 395 Wellington Street in downtown Ottawa is the main physical location where the public may access the collection in person. The building was officially opened on June 20, 1967.<ref name=VisitUs>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With the de-emphasis on physical visits, in-person services have been curtailed—for example, since April 2012, reference services are by appointment only—and the role of this building is decreasing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Curry/> There are also administrative offices in Gatineau, Quebec, and preservation and storage facilities throughout Canada for federal government records.<ref name=VisitUs/><ref name=Numbers/><ref name=BehindScenes/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Preservation Centre in the city centre of Gatineau, about 10 kilometres away from the Ottawa headquarters, was designed to provide a safe environment for the long-term storage and preservation of Canada's valuable collections. It was built at a cost of CDN$107 million, and the official opening took place on June 4, 1997. It is a unique building containing 48 climate-controlled preservation vaults and state-of-the-art preservation laboratories.<ref name=BehindScenes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2000, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada named it one of the top 500 buildings constructed in Canada during the last millennium.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Multiple image A Nitrate Film Preservation Facility on the Communications Research Centre campus in Shirleys Bay, on the outskirts of Ottawa, houses Canada's cellulose nitrate film collection.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The collection contains 5,575 film reels dating back to 1912, including some of the first Canadian motion pictures and photographic negatives.<ref name=Numbers/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The film material is highly sensitive and requires precise temperatures for its preservation. The state-of-the-art facility, which was officially opened on June 21, 2011,<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> is an eco-designed building featuring an environmentally friendly roof that provides better insulation and minimizes energy expenditures.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A planned key activity for 2013–14 was to rehouse analogue (non-digital) information resources in a new state-of-the-art high-density storage facility in Gatineau, where the national newspaper collection and records of Second World War veterans will be stored.<ref name=RPP201314/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The facility will feature a high bay metal shelving system with a suitable environment to better protect Canada's published heritage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Butler>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2019, Library and Archives Canada announced that negotiations for a new facility to be built next to the existing one in Gatineau were starting, with an opening date in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

LAC's online collection is accessible via its website and LAC provides ongoing information online via its blog, podcasts, the Twitter and Facebook social networking services, the Flickr image-sharing site, and the YouTube video-sharing site. RSS feeds provide links to new content on the LAC website and news about LAC services and resources.<ref name=Electronic/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A new modernized website is being developed and is scheduled for completion in 2013, with both new and old websites accessible during the transition period.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CollectionEdit

File:National Archives Microfilm Room, Ottawa.jpg

Storage units for the institution's microfilm collection at the Library and Archives Canada building.

The Library and Archives of Canada's holdings include:<ref name="Collection" />

File:Views of icebergs taken at sea, off Scott Inlet, Baffin Island Photos d’icebergs prises en mer, sur le bras Scott, au large de l’île de Baffin (48188946567).jpg

A photo album of icebergs from the Library and Archives of Canada's collection.

250 linear kilometres of Canadian Government and representative private textual records
- textual archives for various individuals and groups who have contributed to the cultural, social, economic and political development of Canada
22 million books and publications acquired largely through legal deposit
24 million photographic images (including prints, negatives, slides, and digital photos)
over 3 million architectural drawings, plans, and maps
over 90,000 films (including short and full-length films, documentaries, and silent films)
over 550,000 hours of audio and video recordings
over 425,000 works of art (including watercolours, oil paintings, sketches, caricatures and miniatures, as well as medals, seals, posters and coats of arms)
about 550,000 musical items (including the largest collection of Canadian sheet music in the world; documentation related to music in Canada; and recordings on disks and records of all formats, including piano rolls, reels and spools, and 8-track tapes)
the Canadian Postal Archives;
national newspapers from across Canada, including daily newspapers, student newspapers, Indigenous magazines, and ethnic community newsletters.

Notable items in the collection include:<ref name="Numbers">Template:Cite news</ref>

the Proclamation of Canada's Constitution Act, 1982, which bears marks left by raindrops during a ceremony on Parliament Hill in April 1982 when Queen Elizabeth II signed it;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

a copy of the Constitution Act, 1867 (aka the British North America Act), which features editing changes made by the first Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

De antiquitate Judaica: De bello Judaico ('Antiquities of the Jews and the Judean War')—the oldest book in the collection—written by 1st-century historian Flavius Josephus and printed in 1470;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

the chair used by world-renowned pianist Glenn Gould while he played and recorded.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

DigitizationEdit

LAC also houses more than a petabyte of digital content.<ref name="Collection">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some of this content is available online, primarily books, Canadian theses, and census material—equating to around 5 thousand terabytes of information in electronic format.<ref name="Electronic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many items have not been digitized and are only available in physical form.<ref name="VisitUs" /> As of May 2013, only about 1% of the collection had been digitized, representing "about 25 million of the more popular and most fragile items."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Hall">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="CobbMay3">Template:Cite news</ref>

OperationsEdit

Since its inception, LAC has reported to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> LAC's stated mandate is:<ref name="JLW" /><ref name="LACProfile" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

to preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations;
to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada as a free and democratic society;
to facilitate in Canada co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge;
to serve as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.

LAC is expected to maintain "effective recordkeeping practices that ensure transparency and accountability".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ManagementEdit

The Librarian and Archivist of Canada has the same seniority level as a deputy minister of a federal department.<ref name=LACProfile/>

On May 27, 2019, Leslie Weir was appointed Librarian and Archivist of Canada for a four-year term commencing August 30, 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Weir is the first woman to hold this role.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her term has been extended another four years to provide continuity through some major building projects.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The head of Canada's national archives was known as the Dominion Archivist from 1872 to 1987 and the National Archivist from 1987 to 2004.<ref name="Chabot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Librarians and Archivists of Canada
Name	Period in office	Note
Librarian and Archivist of Canada
Leslie Weir	2019–incumbent	first woman to hold this role<ref name=":1" />
Guy Berthiaume<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>	2014–19
Daniel J. Caron<ref name="CobbMay16" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2009–13
Ian E. Wilson<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="WilsonTerm">{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2004–09	Wilson held the position of National Archivist from 1999, and transitioned from there into the role of the Librarian and Archivist of Canada with the establishment of the LAC.
National Librarian of Canada
Roch Carrier<ref name="CarrierScott">Template:Cite press release</ref>	1999–2004
Marianne Scott<ref name="CarrierScott" />	1984–99
Guy Sylvestre<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1968–83
William Kaye Lamb<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1953–68
National/Dominion Archivist
Ian E. Wilson<ref name="WilsonTerm" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1999–2004	National Archivist until the role was merged with that of the National Librarian of Canada following the establishment of the LAC. Wilson would continue as the Librarian and Archivist of Canada until 2009.
Jean-Pierre Wallot<ref name="Chabot" />	1985–97	Dominion Archivist until position was renamed National Archivist in 1987.
Wilfred I. Smith<ref name="LambSmith">{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1970–84	Dominion Archivist
William Kaye Lamb<ref name="LambSmith" />	1948–68	Dominion Archivist
Gustave Lanctot<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1937–48	Dominion Archivist
James F. Kenney<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>	1935-37	Acting Dominion Archivist
Sir Arthur George Doughty<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1904–35	Dominion Archivist. A statue of Doughty is located on the north side of the LAC building in Ottawa.<ref name=":2" />
Douglas Brymner<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1872–1902	Dominion Archivist