Supplementary corporate information 2025–2026
Vision, mission, raison d’être and operating context
Vision
Our vision: Discover. Understand. Connect.
As the past is constantly being rediscovered and told from different perspectives, LAC must continue to evolve. Putting users at the heart of its activities, LAC is committed to using the collections in its care to communicate a range of experiences and cultures through diverse stories and to providing access to the national collections to anyone from anywhere.
Mission
LAC helps Canadians gain a better understanding of who they are by serving as the continuing memory of the federal government and its institutions and as the guardian of Canada’s distant past and recent history.
Raison d’être
LAC combines the holdings, services and staff of both the former National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada. Under the Library and Archives of Canada Act, LAC’s mandate is as follows:
- 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; and
- to serve as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.
Operating context
LAC’s planned initiatives for 2025–26 will continue to advance its Vision 2030 to “Discover. Understand. Connect.” and its strategic goal to place users at the heart of its activities and operations. Underpinning the strategic direction is LAC’s commitment to embed reconciliation and equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility within its services, decisions and actions. LAC’s 2025–26 Departmental Plan reflects this vision with initiatives that aim to make the national collections more accessible to the organization’s diverse range of users.
The quickly approaching opening of Ādisōke, LAC’s new shared facility with the Ottawa Public Library, is a driving force behind many of LAC’s activities in 2025–26. LAC will spend 2025–26 preparing the spaces, exhibitions and collections that will welcome visitors to this inclusive and engaging facility when it opens in the summer of 2026.
In addition to its preparations for Ādisōke, LAC will continue to facilitate access to the national collections at its other service points across the country and online, following the Government of Canada’s Policy on Service and Digital and the Government of Canada Digital Standards. Continued integration of user feedback, review of its service models and new integrated approaches will be key to LAC improving both its in-person and online service delivery. Its digitization efforts and use of artificial intelligence technology for transcription will also contribute to improving access to the collections.
LAC is a critical player in access to information in Canada. Its responsibilities for requests under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act extend beyond those of other federal departments and agencies, as LAC is the custodian of billions of pages of records that it preserves on behalf of the Government of Canada. Further implementation of the ATIP Action Plan in 2025–26 will improve LAC’s ability to respond to ATIP requests and to support the federal government litigation settlements.
LAC will remain dedicated to advancing the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation. It will continue to consult with the Indigenous Advisory Circle for advice and recommendations so that the principles of reconciliation are considered and incorporated in LAC’s services and programs. LAC will also be working as part of a whole-of-government approach to increase the control that Indigenous Peoples have over documents concerning their histories.
Guided by its Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2023–27 and the federal Greening Government Strategy, LAC will also continue to contribute to the Government of Canada priority of investing in green infrastructure and technology. LAC’s new facility, Ādisōke, will target LEED® certification and a “net-zero carbon” standard.
Like the federal government, LAC has heard the calls to action to address systemic inequities and disparities—such as racism, sexism, discrimination, misconduct and violence—that contribute to marginalizing (both intentionally and unintentionally) many Canadians. In 2025–26, LAC will continue its work to make its collections representative of and meaningful to Canada’s diverse populations. It also remains committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive, diverse, respectful and safe culture and workplace.