The National Library makes available to clients, and will exploit on their behalf, all types of resources appropriate to information searching, including electronic resources such as CD-ROM, remote online databases, and network resources. The Library augments its inhouse resources by accessing a wide variety of remote online systems and databases in the social sciences and humanities. Instead, requests for stacks retrieval by National Library staff are submitted through the automated catalogue. National Library material, once retrieved from the closed stacks, is available for onsite consultation only, and may not be removed from the premises. Some restrictions on consultation and copying apply to items that are part of the national Preservation Collection of Canadiana and may apply to other rare, fragile or easily damaged material.
Clients working onsite on a long-term basis are eligible for interlibrary borrowing privileges.
The National Library provides facilities and equipment to support the use of its collections. Facilities include general and special collection reading rooms, as well lockers, and study rooms for clients engaging in long-term research at the National Library. Equipment such as microfilm and microfiche readers, adaptive equipment for the physically disabled, video viewing stations, audio listening stations, a piano room, CD-ROM readers, and terminals and printers for access to online catalogues and electronic documents are provided. Public photocopiers as well as a reprography service are available during business hours. Financial Administration Act , R.S.C. 1985, Chap.