GATINEAU, QC, July 14, 2017 /CNW/ - The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Preservation Centre in Gatineau is offering guided tours for the public. Beginning on July 18, members of the public will be able to discover the wealth of treasures in the building at 625 Du Carrefour Boulevard in Gatineau.
Tours will take place once a month. The public will be able to register on the LAC website (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx) for guided tours in English or French. In the past, these tours were provided for dignitaries and public figures only. Now, as the Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary, LAC has decided to provide tours for the general public. However, since the Preservation Centre is first and foremost a place of work, the number and size of groups will be limited. Interested persons should act quickly to reserve their spot. Anyone who cannot obtain a spot right away is encouraged to visit the website later on for other available dates.
Participants will visit the vaults, including the art vault, and the preservation laboratories. Each tour will last about 90 minutes.
Forty-eight vaults
Officially opened in June 1997, the LAC Preservation Centre was built to preserve Canada's documentary heritage. Everything has been done to guarantee optimal preservation conditions. The building houses 48 storage vaults, each 350 m2, on three floors. The vaults were designed to protect the collection from all threats and are equipped with a technologically advanced fire detection and suppression system.
The restoration laboratories are directly above the three floors of vaults. Organized in "villages" with architecture inspired by the Canadian Prairies, the laboratories bring LAC's preservation experts together under one roof to carry out their work in an optimal environment.
Quick facts
- The LAC Preservation Centre in Gatineau is now organizing guided tours for the public.
- The tours will be held in English and French once a month.
- Anyone interested should register on the LAC website: www.bac-lac.gc.cahttp://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx.
- Participants will tour the storage vaults and the preservation laboratories.
Quotes
"We have a unique opportunity to show off a gem in the National Capital Region: the Preservation Centre. I believe that these guided public tours align perfectly with our vision to 'democratize' our archival collections. Our recent doors-open experience proved to be a logical first step in this new initiative."
Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada – Library and Archives Canada
Associated link
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/about-us/events/Pages/book-tour-preservation-centre-gatineau.aspx
About Library and Archives Canada
The mandate of Library and Archives Canada is to preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations, and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, thereby contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge, and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions. Follow Library and Archives Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.
SOURCE Library and Archives Canada
Richard Provencher, Media Relations, Library and Archives Canada, 819-994-4589, [email protected]
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