Library and Archives Canada, National library and archives in Ottawa, Canada

Library and Archives Canada is a facility that holds millions of photographs, sound recordings, maps, newspapers, books and government documents. The complex consists of several reading rooms, a storage area and digital access points serving the public.

Library and Archives Canada traces its origins to the Dominion Archives, founded in 1872 within the Department of Agriculture, which became the Public Archives of Canada in 1912 and the National Archives of Canada in 1987. The National Library of Canada was founded in 1953 with the efforts of Freda Farrell Waldon. The two merged in 2004 under the Library and Archives of Canada Act, proclaimed on April 22, with Ian E. Wilson as first Librarian and Archivist.

The collection includes many publicly accessible documents in several languages, from the era of early European settlement to the present day. Visitors can review sound recordings, historic maps and personal diaries that reflect life in different regions of the country.

Access to certain collections requires prior registration through the website and issuance of a user card at reception. Reproduction services are available for a fee, and processing may take several days depending on complexity.

The archive holds handwritten records of Canadian soldiers from World War I, including enlistment papers and military service files. Some of these documents were kept by families for decades before being made available to the public.