About LAC account
A new way to sign in
As of September 2025, Library and Archives Canada is making LAC accounts more secure by implementing authentication through an Interac sign-in partner or GCKey.
A Library and Archives Canada (LAC) account is a free, personalized service to save research, track orders, and manage contributions. This page explains how to sign in to your LAC account, update your information, and get help if you have issues with your account.
On this page
Access your LAC account
Sign in to your LAC account to save records you discover using Collection or Census search, track your pre-existing archival consultation orders, view and manage contributions you have made using Co-Lab, and share your research using Public Research Lists.
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What you can do with your LAC account
While using Collection and Census search
When you discover new records, images, and descriptions through Library and Archives Canada’s online search tools, you can save individual items, files, whole collections, and fonds to personalize your experience.
Save and organize research online
My Research allows you to save copies of collection records and organize them into folders that you create. You may save any number of records and create unlimited numbers of folders.
How to add a record to a folder in My Research
- Use Collection search or Census search to find a record of interest
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Click the Add to My Research button, which you will find in two locations:
- on the search results screen at the right
- in a record description under Record Information at the right
- Add the record to the My Favourites folder, or type in the name of a new folder and click Submit
Working with your saved records and folders
Use the action buttons on the right of your screen for folders and records.
You may perform these actions:
- Rename a folder.
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Share a link to the record or folder by email. In the next screen, enter one or more email addresses. You may choose to include your personal notes.
- If the recipient does not have My LAC Account, they may click on links to see the shared collection records. Recipients may save records or folders only if they have their own My LAC Account.
- Move a record or folder.
- Delete a record or a folder from your account. This does not delete records from Collection Search. If you delete a record by accident, go to your recycling bin to restore it.
- Add or edit notes in a record.
- Publish a research list of records with others.
Public research lists
You can now share your research on the LAC website through a feature called Public research lists. This allows users to connect and share their findings with one another. You can browse existing lists created by other public users or LAC Staff or create your own.
How to publish a research list
- Log into your My LAC account.
- Select My Research.
- In your list of folders, click the Publish list icon next to the list you wish to share.
- Your submission will be reviewed by a LAC employee, to make sure it complies with our Terms and conditions.
- Once approved, others will be able to view your work.
My Co-Lab contributions
Track images of records that you contributed to (such as transcribing, translating, tagging or describing) using LAC's collaboration feature, Co-Lab. The images are organized by most recent to oldest contribution. Learn more about Co-Lab.
Track my archival order
View the status and history of your archival orders for items selected for on-site consultation at Library and Archives Canada's Ottawa location – 395 Wellington Street.
To track your archival orders, the name and email address used to create your LAC account and attached to your user card must be the same.
How to use Track my archival order
- From your My LAC Account dashboard, click on Track my archival order action button.
- Once the Track my archival order page opens, scroll down to access the list of your loan requests.
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You can filter and narrow down the total results using:
- keywords in the search bar
- limiters on the left side of the screen. You can limit by the status of the loan request, location within the building, and period.
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For each loan request, the following information is provided:
- request number; container label; container barcode; date of submitted request; current status; checkout date; pick-up location; due date; interim label.
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Other features:
- My notes – a space within each order where you can add research notes. Do not include personal information. These notes will not be seen by LAC staff
- exporting your complete order list in an CSV format
- printing your complete order list
- Contact information for archival order renewals is provided after containers are checked-out to you.
Related links
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