Ottawa

Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0N4

Telephone: 613-996-5115 or 1-866-578-7777
Online form: Ask us a question

Hours

Registration desk

Day Opening hours
Monday 9 am to 5 pm
Tuesday 9 am to 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am to 5 pm
Thursday 9 am to 5 pm
Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Holidays Closed

Microform consultation room

Day Opening hours
Monday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Tuesday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Wednesday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Thursday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Friday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Saturday 9 am to 4 pm (reduced service)
Sunday Closed
Holidays Closed

Textual documents consultation room

Day Opening hours
Monday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Tuesday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Wednesday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Thursday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Friday 9 am to 8 pm (reduced service after 5 pm)
Saturday 9 am to 4 pm (reduced service)
Sunday Closed
Holidays Closed

Reference and genealogy rooms

Day Opening hours
Monday 9 am to 8 pm (no service after 4pm)
Tuesday 9 am to 8 pm (no service after 4pm)
Wednesday 9 am to 8 pm (no service after 4pm)
Thursday 9 am to 8 pm (no service after 4pm)
Friday 9 am to 8 pm (no service after 4pm)
Saturday 9 am to 4 pm (no service)
Sunday Closed
Holidays Closed

Restricted documents consultation room

Day Opening hours
Monday 9 am to 5 pm
Tuesday 9 am to 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am to 5 pm
Thursday 9 am to 5 pm
Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Holidays Closed

Special collections room

Day Opening hours
Monday 9 am to 5 pm
Tuesday 9 am to 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am to 5 pm
Thursday 9 am to 5 pm
Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Holidays Closed

Services

Collections

Don't forget to pre-order

You need to pre-order material for consultation, except for some self-serve books and microfilms.

Archival documents

  • most government records (see Vancouver and Winnipeg for their specific collections of government records) and all private archives

Publications

  • books
  • periodicals
  • newspapers
  • government publications
  • maps
  • sheet music

Reference collection

  • general reference works
  • finding aids for archival material
  • images on contact cards
  • city directories
  • telephone directories
  • statutes
  • regulations

Genealogy collection

  • reference works
  • family histories
  • indexes to newspapers
  • indexes to cemeteries
  • indexes to church records
  • specialized databases

Jacob M. Lowy Collection

Parking

A paid parking lot is located at 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, on the west side of the building.

There are also paid public parking lots and metered street parking nearby.

Prepare for your visit

  1. You must bring :
  2. Sign in at the first-floor Commissionaires' desk
  3. Put your personal items in a locker on the first floor:
    • coats
    • briefcases
    • food and beverages
    • umbrellas
  4. You may bring these items in the public rooms:
    • laptop computer, cell phone, camera (if you'd like to use a camera, you'll need to complete a Self-serve photography application form)
    • pencils and paper (pens are not permitted)
    • research material

Accessibility

Floor plan

First floor

Second floor

Third floor

Page details

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