Our registration staff is often asked the following question:

“I have just registered for a user card at the registration desk on the main level (which is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday) but before I begin my research, I need help. I see that the orientation and genealogy service desks open at 10:00 a.m. I have some time until then and I am wondering if there is anything I can do while I wait?”

There are several things you can do while waiting to speak to one of our experts.

PUBLIC ROOMS

You may begin your day in our public rooms, on the second and third levels at 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa. These rooms have computer stations and Wi-Fi, so you can begin browsing our website or others’ sites. You may also wish to visit the cafeteria on the 5th floor where you can watch television while you enjoy a snack.

Opening Hours for the Cafeteria are Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

REFERENCE SERVICES

You can also browse our collection of photographs, or look through historical atlases, city directories and phone books in our Reference Services Room, located on the second level. Additionally, in our Reference Collection Room, you will find parliamentary proceedings (Hansard), journals from the House of Commons, session papers up to 1925, annual federal government reports up to 1930 and original, as well as revised, statutes.

Opening Hours for the Reference Services Room are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday/Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.*

GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY

If you are coming to Library and Archives Canada to research your family history, head up to the third level and visit our Genealogy and Family History Room. As you enter the room, there are several Info-pages that may be of interest. These provide useful information to help you begin your research.

• The Info-page called Genealogy Services – Book Collection explains how the books are arranged in the room. You can find books that have
  indexes to church records, cemeteries and other records.
• The Info-page called Websites for Genealogy Research directs you to our Genealogy and Family History website. You can use the public computers or your
  laptop to search our databases in Ancestry Search or other websites.

Beside each of the computers in the Genealogy and Family History Room, you will find a sign that explains how you can log in to http://www.ancestryinstitution.com/, the free library edition of the popular http://www.ancestry.ca/ website.

If you are a beginner, you will find a display with pedigree charts that you can use to start recording the names of your ancestors.

Opening Hours for the Genealogy and Family History Room are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Saturday/Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.*

(*) Consult our website for more details about opening and service hours.

Visit LAC’s website to find more information.

Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you!