How to Access Library and Archives Canada Records

Start by consulting Sources by Topic and Databases. Each database includes a comprehensive Online help page, which contains helpful information about the records, the database and how to consult the actual records.

Once you have identified a specific item held by Library and Archives Canada, you can access it by one of the means described below.

Note that many sources are not indexed by name. Unfortunately, Library and Archives Canada does not have the staff resources to do searches for you.

Consult the Records Onsite

You are welcome to visit Library and Archives of Canada at 395 Wellington Street in Ottawa. Our consultants can assist you with archival and published sources.

Archival records on microfilm, such as census and passenger lists, and many genealogy reference books, are available on a self-serve basis.

• More Information about Visiting and Consulting Records Onsite

Borrow Material through Inter-Institutional Loan

Most microfilm reels and published sources may be borrowed for your use by any institution (libraries, archives and resource centres) within and outside Canada. Requests for loan must be submitted by the borrowing institution. An online Loan Request form is available for your institution's use.

Loan requests should be submitted by the institution and must include the microfilm reel number or the title and author in the case of books. Note that restricted material, archival documents that have not been microfilmed and reference books cannot be borrowed.

Borrowing institutions equipped with a reader-printer are authorized to make copies of pages from our microfilm on behalf of their patrons.

• More Information about Inter-Institutional Loan

Consult Microfilm at Other Libraries

Many libraries and archives, including the Family History Library, hold microfilm copies of our archival records, such as census and passenger lists.

• Microfilms Available in Other Institutions
• Family History Library

Hire a Free-Lance Researcher

If you cannot visit Library and Archives Canada, and the material of interest to you is not available for loan, you can hire a local researcher to search the records on your behalf.

• Hiring a Free-lance Researcher

Order Copies of Documents

If you have identified a specific page or file of interest, you can request photocopies. Note that you must provide an exact reference.

• Services to the Public

Access Restrictions

Some Government of Canada records are closed and must be reviewed under the provisions of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. Records created by individuals or organizations may be restricted by the donor. Specific access details are noted in the references in the General Inventory and Government of Canada Files databases.

• Records of the Government of Canada