What's New at Library and Archives Canada?

Encountering Gabrielle Roy

20 Nov 2009 15:13:38 GMT

Gabrielle Roy (1909-1983) is one of the most important writers in 20th-century Canadian literature. Achieving equal recognition in Quebec and English Canada, her work belongs to the literature of both cultures, and transcends national and linguistic boundaries...

Major interruption of Library and Archives Canada's computing services on November 21, 2009

13 Nov 2009 15:16:05 GMT

Saturday November 21, 2009

Between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm (ET)

There will be a major interruption of Library and Archives Canada's computing services. During this period, the following services will be unavailable: All LAC Websites.

Library and Archives Canada regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

Modernization @ LAC

13 Nov 2009 14:24:04 GMT

Library and Archives Canada is mandated to preserve and make available the documentary heritage of Canada, and to serve as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada. However, the overwhelming growth in the production of digital material, which has created an overabundance of information in a variety of formats, as well as changing user behaviors and expectations about information, have created considerable challenges for all documentary memory institutions. There is a growing awareness that there is too much content for one institution to address alone, and that collaboration among memory institutions is essential.

In order to respond to these challenges, as well as the reality of the hybrid digital/analog landscape, LAC is developing a new framework based on three pillars of documentary heritage: acquisition, preservation and resource discovery. The framework will be based on four guiding principles designed to assess the value of acquisitions: Significance, Sufficiency and Sustainability and Society. Consultations on the framework and other new approaches are currently underway, setting the stage for ongoing collaboration among actors who share similar goals...

Library and Archives Canada Audiovisual Migration Strategy

12 Nov 2009 20:53:55 GMT

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) preserves over 530,000 hours of audio and video recordings including music, television and radio broadcasts, oral histories and interviews, documentaries and parliamentary proceedings, on cylinders, disks, or tapes. This diverse collection shares a common fate: obsolescence...

Portrait Gallery of Canada program celebrates Olympic spirit on Granville Island

10 Nov 2009 19:44:21 GMT

Granville Island, B.C., November 10, 2009
The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, accompanied by Dr. Daniel J. Caron, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, today announced the upcoming installation of Portraits in the Street: Vancouver 2010. Developed by Library and Archives Canada's portrait gallery program, this installation will help celebrate the Olympic spirit through more than 20 framed reproductions to be presented on Granville Island during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games...

Library and Archives Canada: Departmental Performance Report (DPR) and Financial Highlights 2008-2009

10 Nov 2009 18:26:57 GMT

European Union Film Festival

6 Nov 2009 17:45:45 GMT

November 19-December 6, 2009
7 p.m.
Auditorium, Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St., Ottawa ON
Tickets $10; $6 members, students, seniors

The Canadian Film Institute presents its annual showcase of the best of contemporary European cinema. All films are Ottawa premieres and are presented in their original languages with English subtitles.

Tickets available at the door 30 minutes before each screening.

613-232-6727
www.cfi-icf.ca

Canada at War - Veterans Week 2009

30 Oct 2009 21:00:44 GMT

This site will lead you to the many resources available on our website, exploring Canada's contribution to military and peacekeeping operations at home and around the world. Each of the links contained in this website will lead you to a virtual exhibition or a database of primary documents.

Temporary Building Closure on October 31st, 2009 - 395 Wellington St., Ottawa

30 Oct 2009 20:59:38 GMT

Please be advised that on Saturday October 31st , 2009, the building of 395 Wellington will be closed all day. SNC Lavalin ProFac and the City of Ottawa's fire department will perform the inspection and preventive maintenance on the sprinkler system's water supply as part of the 3-Year Life Safety Testing.

Library and Archives Canada regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

One World Film Festival - October 29 and 30

29 Oct 2009 19:12:06 GMT

One World Film Festival

5:30 p.m.
395 Wellington St., Ottawa ON
Auditorium
Tickets $12 per evening

World Inter-Action Mondiale presents its 20th annual film festival with four evenings of documentaries on global issues, as well as world music, food, guest speakers and information kiosks.

In English

www.wiam.ca

Symposium on Recordkeeping and Web 2.0 has been postponed!

28 Oct 2009 18:03:02 GMT

Please note: The Symposium on Recordkeeping and Web 2.0 which was to be held at 395 Wellington Street on October 29th has been postponed. A new date for the symposium will be available shortly. We thank you for your patience!

Launch of the Thematic Guide to Sources Relating to the Grosse �le Quarantine Station

27 Oct 2009 14:25:14 GMT

This guide consists of a history, some specific archival sources, as well as selected references relating to quarantine and the Grosse �le quarantine station. The references include administrative and policy records of the colonial and federal governments and some records created at the station itself. Some of these contain genealogical information concerning persons who passed through or died at Grosse �le...

LAC Celebrates World Audiovisual Day

27 Oct 2009 14:22:12 GMT

Building now open - 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa

27 Oct 2009 14:17:47 GMT

Heating has been restored at 395 Wellington Street and the building is open to the public as of Tuesday, October 27, 2009. However, please note that public events have not yet resumed.

We encourage you to continue to check our website for updates.

Building Closure - 395 Wellington, Ottawa

23 Oct 2009 17:13:01 GMT

Due to an incident at the Cliff Street central heating and cooling plant, the building at 395 Wellington Street is without heat and is closed until further notice.

Please check the Library and Archives Canada website (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html) to obtain up-to-date information. We apologize for the inconvenience to our clients.

What's On: Cancelled Events

22 Oct 2009 16:26:12 GMT

Please note that all events taking place at 395 Wellington are cancelled until the end of day, Sunday, October 25, 2009. Currently, the building has no heat or hot water.

For updates on this situation, please consult the following Web page: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/whats-new/013-421-e.html.

No heat and no hot water at 395 Wellington St., Ottawa

22 Oct 2009 14:33:26 GMT

Due to an incident at the Cliff Street central heating and cooling plant, which provides heating and hot water to government facilities along Wellington Street, the facility at 395 Wellington is without heating and hot water for the time being. The delay for heat and hot water to return is not known at this time. More information will be provided when available.

Library and Archives Canada regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

Major interruption of LAC computing services on October 17 Major interruption of LAC computing services on October 17

16 Oct 2009 20:08:45 GMT

On Saturday October 17, 2009 between 6:00 am and noon (ET), there will be a major interruption of LAC computing services. During this period, the following services will be unavailable: All LAC Websites Library and Archives Canada regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

Temporary Building Closure on October 31st, 2009 - 395 Wellington

15 Oct 2009 15:31:29 GMT

Please be advised that on Saturday October 31st , 2009, the building of 395 Wellington will be closed all day. SNC Lavalin ProFac and the City of Ottawa's fire department will perform the inspection and preventive maintenance on the sprinkler system's water supply as part of the 3-Year Life Safety Testing. Library and Archives Canada regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

Kaleidoscope: Irish Research 101

13 Oct 2009 17:24:07 GMT

Kaleidoscope Featuring Terry Findley from (BIFHSGO) British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa; A talk entitled “Irish Research 101" by Terry Findley from BIFHSGO using Library and Archives Canada (LAC) genealogy resources.

To be held at Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street, Exhibition Room A
October 15th, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.
Admission $5.00

Kaleidoscope
A series of public talks by collection specialists on material from the Library and Archives Canada collection, is presented by the Friends of Library and Archives Canada.
www.friendsoflibraryandarchivescanada.ca

Major interruption of LAC computing services on October 10, 2009

6 Oct 2009 20:38:13 GMT

On Saturday October 10, 2009 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. (ET), there will be a major interruption of LAC computing services.

During this period, the following services will be unavailable:

All LAC Websites

Library and Archives Canada regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

New Lower-Level Descriptive Records: 10th Canadian Reserve Battalion (1916-1919)

5 Oct 2009 20:52:31 GMT

New file-level descriptions have been created for records created and/or maintained by the 10th Canadian Reserve Battalion (1916-1919), a unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.). The records document many aspects of the unit's activities. These descriptions are an electronic version of finding aid 9-74.

New Lower-Level Descriptive Records: Witley Camp

5 Oct 2009 20:51:09 GMT

New file-level descriptions have been created for the records of Witley Camp, dating from 1915-1919 (finding aid 9-73). Witley was a camp in Surrey, England that served as a base for the 5th Division of the C.E.F. and a training facility for infantry during the First World War. At the end of the war troops were assembled at Witley prior to their return to Canada and demobilization. These records document many aspects of the activities of the camp.

New Online Database: French-Canadian Newspapers: An Essential Historical Source (1808-1919)

1 Oct 2009 18:38:44 GMT

French-Canadian Newspapers: An Essential Historical Source (1808-1919) presents selected French-language newspapers from across Canada, in a digitized, fully-searchable format. These newspapers form the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collection of first, final and special editions of French-Canadian newspapers...

Book Launch: Frank Cole, life without death

30 Sep 2009 15:37:19 GMT

October 3

Frank Cole, life without death

6 p.m.

Auditorium at 395 Wellington St. in Ottawa ON

Book launch is free; film admission is $10; $6 members, students, seniors

The Canadian Film Institute is holding a book launch of the biography Life Without Death: The Cinema of Frank Cole, a retrospective of the life of legendary Canadian filmmaker Frank Cole followed by a film screening of his works.

In English

www.cfi-icf.ca

International Polar Year Film Festival

24 Sep 2009 18:47:06 GMT

Auditorium, Library and Archives Canada September 28 to 30, 2009 Free; ticket is required for admission Celebrate the International Polar Year (IPY) and explore the world of science and research in the Arctic. The IPY is the largest international program of scientific research focused on the polar regions. It has brought together nations from around the world to shed light on some of the most pressing issues we face, such as climate change and the health and well-being of Northern peoples. The IPY Film Festival includes a range of films from educational works (documentaries, industrial films) to fiction films. After the screenings, filmmakers and researchers will discuss their films and answer questions. Photos and posters will be on display in the lobby. Tickets are free and are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Canadian Film Institute by calling 613-232-6727. The Film Festival is funded through the Government of Canada Program for the IPY. www.ipy.gc.ca or www.cfi-icf.ca

What's New? Improving Services

16 Sep 2009 14:58:17 GMT

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) would like to advise you of recent improvements in the delivery of its services. These improvements were made following comments and recommendations received from users and from members of the Services Advisory Board...

D�j� Vu: 40 Years of Language and Laughter in Political Cartoons

14 Sep 2009 20:54:24 GMT

Exhibition

September 10 to December 2009

D�j� Vu: 40 Years of Language and Laughter in Political Cartoons

9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
395 Wellington St. in Ottawa in the Main Lobby
Free

Marking the 40th anniversary of the Official Languages Act, this exhibition of cartoons portrays with humour and mordant irony key events and passionate political debates that have shaped our relationship with official languages. Presented by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, in cooperation with Library and Archives Canada.

A smaller version of the exhibit will travel across the country from September 2009 to May 2010.

For more information, visit the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages Web site at www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/html/anniversary_anniversaire_e.php.

Major interruption of LAC computing services on September 19

14 Sep 2009 20:23:14 GMT

On Saturday September 19, 2009 between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm (ET), there will be a major interruption of LAC computing services.

During this period, the following services will be unavailable: All LAC Websites

Library and Archives Canada regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

Portrait Gallery of Canada Program Continues to be Accessible to Canadians

10 Sep 2009 22:51:08 GMT

Gatineau (Quebec), September 10, 2009 -- Library and Archives Canada today corrected inaccurate and misleading information reported by members of the media concerning the status of the Portrait Gallery of Canada...

Message from the Librarian and Archivist of Canada: Modernization

10 Sep 2009 14:35:47 GMT

Service Improvements to the Prairies-Northwest Regional Service Centre

4 Sep 2009 17:37:14 GMT

For Government of Canada Departments:

On June 1, 2009, the Treasury Board Secretariat's Directive on Recordkeeping came into effect with an objective of enabling departments to create, acquire, capture, manage and protect the integrity of information resources of business value so that they are authentic, reliable and usable...

Read Up On It

4 Sep 2009 15:37:08 GMT

Read Up On It is a publication that promotes Canadian children's literature and reading. It highlights notable books on a given theme, and features award-winning, Canadian children's books in all categories. The publication is offered free from Library and Archives Canada. This year's theme is Ice Floes and Frost.

A Virtual Schoolhouse

1 Sep 2009 16:35:03 GMT

Major Interruption of LAC Internet Services on February 21, 2009

20 Feb 2009 19:16:51 GMT

All LAC Websites will be unavailable on Saturday, February 21, 2009, between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (ET).

LAC IT services apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

Digital Initiatives at LAC

16 Feb 2009 19:42:05 GMT

Kaleidoscope: Australian Playbill

12 Feb 2009 16:46:31 GMT

An Australian playbill printed for a July 30, 1796, Sydney production of Jane Shore, a drama written by a British playwright in the early 1700s, was discovered inside a 150-year-old scrapbook in the collection of Library and Archives Canada. Experts in both countries confirmed that the playbill is the oldest surviving document printed in Australia. During an official ceremony in 2007, Prime Minister Harper presented the document to the Australian Parliament.

The playbill was discovered in May 2007 by Elaine Hoag, rare books librarian in our Published Heritage Division, during the routine cataloguing of collections. Elaine will give a lecture on the significance of the 212-year-old document and how she discovered it this Thursday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. in Exhibition Room A, Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa.

The lecture, followed by a period for questions, will be given in English.
Refreshments will be served.
Admission is free.

Kaleidoscope, a series of public talks by collection specialists
on material from the Library and Archives Canada collection, is
presented by
The Friends of Library and Archives Canada.

www.friendsoflibraryandarchivescanada.ca/en/home.php

COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DIGITIZE COLLECTIONS

9 Feb 2009 19:15:45 GMT

Library and Archives Canada is issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) for non-monetary collaborative arrangements for the digitization of its diverse collections. For more information consult link.

New Database: Census of Canada, 1891

3 Feb 2009 15:13:40 GMT

The 1891 Census offers a rich source of information about Canada and Canadians. Through this research tool, you can access digitized images of original census returns which list the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time of the 1891 Census. Library and Archives Canada gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Ancestry.ca (www.ancestry.ca) without which this project would not have been possible...

Library and Archives Canada Celebrates Black History Month

3 Feb 2009 15:11:22 GMT

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and honour the legacy of Black Canadians. To commemorate this occasion, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is offering a Web portal of the online resources available on its website relating to Black History in Canada...

Invitation - Nunavut 10th Anniversary Celebration at LAC

28 Jan 2009 13:52:36 GMT

New Virtual Exhibition: The Early Chinese Canadians 1858-1947

16 Jan 2009 16:52:06 GMT

Come and explore the social and political history of Canada's early Chinese communities. Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has assembled many resources to offer an overview of the topic...

Search All: New and Improved

14 Jan 2009 19:14:23 GMT

Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce a new, improved version of our primary institutional search page, Search All, available through Search on the top menu. Related search pages, such as Archives Search and Library Search, have been redesigned as well. The changes reflect our efforts to address issues with the previous version and to comply with the Treasury Board standard Common Look and Feel 2.0....

Nunavut 10th Anniversary Celebration

8 Jan 2009 16:59:01 GMT

January 29, 2009
2:00p.m. - 9:30p.m.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Nunavut, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is hosting a one-day celebratory event to promote informed reflection and dialogue on the past, present and future of Nunavut...

Presented by:

LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy
The Royal Canadian Geographic Society
Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs

New Genealogical Records Available Online: Library and Archives Canada Connects Canadians to their Irish roots

24 Dec 2008 14:51:36 GMT

Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce that its partner, the National Archives of Ireland, has launched the next important phase of an online census research tool for the Irish counties of Antrim, Kerry, and Down for 1911.

KALEIDOSCOPE PRESENTS: "CHILDREN'S BOOKS - A SEASONAL SELECTION"

16 Dec 2008 19:20:16 GMT

Josiane Polidori, Head of Children's Literature at Library and Archives Canada, will present a lecture entitled "Children's Books: A Seasonal Selection" on Wednesday, December 17, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. in Exhibition Room A of Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa.

Josiane brings a wealth of experience to the field of children's literature, having served as Chair of the Program Committee for the International Forum on Canadian Children's Literature and as President of IBBY-Canada (International Board on Books for Young People). She also participated in the 2008 IFLA satellite conference Navigating with Youth as a member of the scientific committee.

Josiane will give her lecture and field questions in English and in French. Refreshments will be served following the presentation.

Kaleidoscope, a series of public talks by collection specialists
on material from the Library and Archives Canada collection, is
presented by
The Friends of Library and Archives Canada.

www.friendsoflibraryandarchivescanada.ca/en/home.php

New Database: Quebec City Passenger Lists Index 1865-1900

16 Dec 2008 13:54:09 GMT

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new online database, Quebec City Passenger Lists Index 1865-1900. Through this online database, researchers can search by name of passengers to access digitized images of original passenger lists for arrivals at Quebec from 1865 to 1900 which list the name, age, country of origin, occupation and destination of each passenger. Library and Archives Canada gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Ancestry.ca, without which this project would not have been possible.

Collaborative Arrangements: Library and Archives Canada Agreement with Ancestry.ca - Overview

11 Dec 2008 16:36:09 GMT

As a way of increasing public access to some of its most frequently used collections, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has entered into a collaborative arrangement with Ancestry.ca to make accessible selected records including census, military and immigration records held by LAC for the benefit of Canadians and others throughout the world...

New Online Finding Aid: Operational Records of the Penitentiary Branch

10 Dec 2008 17:16:23 GMT

Library and Archives Canada Celebrates International Human Rights Anniversary with Important New Collaboration

10 Dec 2008 14:03:48 GMT

Library and Archives Canada - Human Rights Fact Sheet
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/whats-new/013-367-e.html

New Educational Resources: I Do. Love and Marriage in 19th Century Canada

8 Dec 2008 15:25:24 GMT

Based on the Web exhibition entitled I Do: Love and Marriage in 19th-Century Canada,: this series of activities engages students' writing and research abilities while exploring the 19th century. The target age range is 14 to 18 (grades 8 to 12 or secondary 2 to 5).

National Strategy puts information access on the agenda for people with print disabilities

2 Dec 2008 21:09:00 GMT

On December 3, 2008, representatives from the library community and the publishing sector are coming together with consumers and consumer groups in a unique forum to discuss the progress of the Initiative for Equitable Library Access (IELA) in addressing the present state of access to information and the future needs of people with print disabilities. The event is being organized by Library and Archives Canada on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities...

Notice - Building Closure

2 Dec 2008 13:24:45 GMT

On Saturday December 13, 2008, from 06:00 to 23:00, all electrical power will be shut down at 395 Wellington Street in Ottawa ON. This power shut down is necessary to perform the inspection and preventive maintenance of the electrical components of the building. The building will not be accessible while work is being conducted.

We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any comments, please contact Duc-Chi Tran, Director General, Services Branch at 613-992-0698 or duc-chi.tran@lac-bac.gc.ca.

Political Junkie Caf�

19 Nov 2008 18:26:45 GMT

November 26, 7 p.m., Room A.
Free

Get your fix at the Political Junkie Caf�, where the hot topics of the past and present are on the table for discussion and debate. The theme is "Pin-Up Prime Ministers, Part 3: Robert Borden" presented by the Library and Archives Canada Forum on Canadian Democracy. Our guest: Dr. Jack Granatstein.

New Database: Immigrants to Canada before 1865

3 Nov 2008 20:28:34 GMT

For the period before 1865, a number of lists have been identified and indexed by name in this database, formerly known as our Miscellaneous Immigration Index. Many of the records relate to immigrants from the British Isles to Quebec and Ontario, but there are also references to settlers in other provinces. The database also includes other types of records such as declarations of aliens and names of some Irish orphans.

Friends of Library and Archives Canada

7 Nov 2008 14:27:33 GMT

We help Library and Archives Canada to celebrate the past, honour the present and ensure the future of Canada's remarkable documentary heritage.

Library and Archives Canada Partners with Ancestry.ca

10 Nov 2008 14:21:43 GMT

Partnership allows unprecedented online access to Canadian historical records

New Virtual Exhibition: In Quarantine: Life and Death on Grosse �le, 1832-1937

3 Nov 2008 14:18:00 GMT

In the 19th century, an increasing stream of people was leaving Europe to rebuild their lives in North America. Around 1830, an average of 30,000 immigrants arrived annually in the City of Qu�bec, the main port of entry to Canada...

Give us your views on future programming!

3 Nov 2008 14:23:09 GMT

Survey on Future Programming.

LAC Launches Flickr/YouTube Project

30 Oct 2008 19:45:54 GMT

Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce that in anticipation of the 2008 Irish Studies Symposium, that will be presented on November 3 and 4, 2008, a selection of digital images related to Irish-Canadian documentary heritage are now available on Flickr.com, a popular photo-sharing community. A selection of video presentations from the upcoming Symposium will also be added to YouTube.com in November 2008...

New Virtual Exhibition: William James Topley: Reflections on a Capital Photographer

27 Oct 2008 21:06:39 GMT

The William James Topley photographic collection is one of the most important visual records of Canada during the first 50 years after Confederation. The photographs produced by the Topley Studio provide a vivid documentation of the political, social, cultural, economic, technological and architectural changes during the first fifty years of Canada after Confederation...

New Online Finding Aid: Office of the Governor General of Canada fonds - Numbered Files

24 Sep 2008 19:49:50 GMT

Event: Seats are still available for the 2008 Irish Studies Symposium on November 3rd, 4th 2008

15 Oct 2008 13:23:40 GMT

New Online Finding Aid: Cabinet War Committee

24 Sep 2008 15:11:05 GMT

New Database: Second World War Service Files: Canadian Armed Forces War Dead

2 Sep 2008 16:25:53 GMT

Over 1,159,000 men and women served in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War (1939-1945); 44,093 lost their lives. This research tool provides access to references to their service files in the Department of National Defence Fonds (RG 24).

Updated Virtual Exhibition: Eight New Biographies Celebrate Women's Achievements

4 Sep 2008 21:38:39 GMT

On this site you will find a selection of exceptional Canadian women who have made outstanding contributions to Canadian society and the world. Each woman's life and achievements are described, following by a list of suggested readings.