Supplementary corporate information 2026–2027
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 its collections to communicate the range of experiences, cultures and stories that are part of the Canadian identity and to providing access to its 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 is committed to the vision and goals articulated in its Vision 2030: to “Discover. Understand. Connect.” and place its users at the heart of its activities and operations. Reductions to LAC’s operating budget announced in Budget 2023 and Budget 2025 will impact how LAC delivers on this vision. Working within this financial reality, LAC is advancing its mandate and strategic priorities with initiatives that aim to make the collections more accessible to its diverse range of users.
Canadians are increasingly seeking to access the stories, experiences and histories that comprise the nation’s collective memory and contribute to our Canadian identity. LAC is continuing its work to facilitate better access to the national collections. Its new facility shared with the Ottawa Public Library, Ādisōke, will be key in the transformation of LAC’s services, offering visitors new and varied ways of engaging with the many stories that shape Canada’s rich culture. Recognizing the increasingly digital nature of the world, LAC will also transform its online experience through digitization and improved systems, following the Government of Canada’s Policy on Service and Digital and Digital Standards.
As the custodian of billions of pages of records preserved on behalf of the Government of Canada, LAC’s responsibilities for requests under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act extend beyond those of other federal departments and agencies. With the demand for access to information growing annually, LAC will continue to implement its Access to Information and Privacy Action Plan to help meet its legislative obligations and provide Canadians with timely access to records.
The Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples will continue to be reflected in LAC’s operations. LAC will continue to engage with Indigenous stakeholders to advance its efforts in this area.
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 marginalize (both intentionally and unintentionally) many Canadians. LAC will continue to be guided by the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in its work to make its collections representative of and meaningful to Canada’s diverse populations.