Nova Scotia Archives acquires, preserves, and makes available the province's documentary heritage — recorded information of provincial significance created or accumulated by government and the private sector over the last 300 years.
One of Canada's oldest archival institutions, we maintain a strong tradition of client service. Each year we assist thousands of researchers and general-interest visitors, both onsite and online. We look forward to helping you!
We are located at the corner of University Avenue and Robie Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
6016 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1W4 map
The Archives is closed on Sundays, Statutory Holidays, and Holiday Weekends — see Holiday Schedule
Three designated parking spaces are available for visitors on a first come, first served basis, in the small lot behind the Nova Scotia Archives, off Robie Street. Please see security staff for a temporary parking pass which must be displayed in your vehicle’s window.
Nova Scotia Archives is fully accessible to the physically challenged. Designated parking is available in front of the building.
Free WiFi is available in all public areas of the Archives Building.
After registration as an Archives user you may access internet-access workstations which are available on the research floor. To help with your research each workstation has free access to Ancestry.ca and to the Archives’ electronic resources that are not on the internet.
Public washrooms are located behind the elevators on the first and third floors.
Smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere within the Nova Scotia Archives building, nor outside within 5 meters of any entrance.
Food and drink of any kind are strictly prohibited on the research floor. You may eat and drink in the first floor lobby area only.
Nova Scotia Archives strives to be a scent-free environment. Please do not use scented personal products which may cause serious problems for some people, especially those with asthma, allergies or environmental illness.
Les Archives de la Nouvelle-Écosse participent au programme Bonjour! commandité par le gouvernement provincial de la Nouvelle-Écosse et peuvent offrir des services en français aux visiteurs en personne, par téléphone, par courriel et par la poste.
Upon arrival, all visitors and researchers are required to register at the first floor Reception Desk. Those intending to conduct research will be issued a Researcher’s Card, which must be visible at all times. Registration is a brief process which includes reading the Information and Procedures for Researchers, filling out and signing a Researcher Registration Form, and providing appropriate personal identification such as a driver’s license or other photo and address-bearing official identification. Researcher cards do not expire, and we request that you inform us of changes to your contact information.
Researchers must leave coats, briefcases, handbags, purses, and other belongings in secure lockers provided on the first floor. You will be issued a lock and key which must be returned when leaving the building. Lockers are checked and emptied at the end of each day and Nova Scotia Archives assumes no responsibility for articles left behind. Researchers may take paper, pencils, laptop computers, personal communication devices, and research notes with them to the research floor. For convenience transparent bags are available to carry permitted personal materials to the research floor.
The research floor is located on the third floor of the Archives and provides access to all reference services. As a courtesy to other researchers, please refrain from unnecessary noise when consulting with staff or other researchers. Mobile phones should be set to silent or vibrate at all times. If necessary, please conduct your phone conversations in the area behind the elevators on the research floor.
Staff are available to assist researchers in completing request slips for the retrieval of original records or closed stack library items. Please note that retrieval of materials ceases 30 minutes prior to closing time and is limited on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays.
Researchers may only work with one box of original material or three files or items (e.g., maps, photographs) at any one time.
Access to or use of the following kinds of archival records may be delayed or restricted because of their physical condition: oversized items; fragile material; documentary art; special media (film and sound). Additionally, some materials, particularly Government Records may be governed by access restrictions or require review before release to a researcher. Every effort will be made to accommodate retrieval requests with limited delay. Nova Scotia Archives reserves the right to restrict retrieval of material previously available, based on the current physical condition of the records. All material must be returned 15 minutes prior to closing time.
Microform holdings include Nova Scotia Archives collections copied for preservation and copies of materials held elsewhere. Microfilm and microfiche readers are available in the research floor. Most microfilm is stored in numbered boxes on self-service shelving. Microfilm is shelved two-deep with even numbers on the outside. Original material available on microfilm will not be retrieved. Red bands on a microfilm box indicate that the contents may not be digitally saved or printed. You may make notes for personal research.
On busy days, researchers may be asked to restrict their use of microfilm machines to a 30-minute session. Equipment may be used only for microfilm held by the Nova Scotia Archives or ordered through the Nova Scotia Archives Inter-library Loan Service. Researchers may not bring in their own microfilm or microfilm obtained from other institutions.
When you are finished using microfilm, please rewind it and return it to the reference desk.
Reproduction and use of archival and library materials held by the Nova Scotia Archives are subject to Canadian copyright law, donor agreements, and the physical condition of the material. Researchers are responsible for all questions of copyright that may arise in the provision or use of reproductions. Please see the Copying Services for further information on the copying services we provide and information regarding the use of Archives’ materials. No public photocopying facilities are available. Hand-held scanners and similar scanning devices are not permitted.
Nova Scotia Archives allows researchers, in consultation with staff, to photograph material from its holdings for the purpose of personal research. Any use of the digital copy for a purpose other than personal research will require authorization from the Nova Scotia Archives or, if copyright is not vested in the Archives, authorization from the copyright owner is required. Obtaining this copyright authorization is the responsibility of the researcher. Requests to photograph material will be reviewed by reference staff and permission will be based on condition, preservation restrictions and physical size of the material; copyright restrictions; and donor agreement restrictions. Materials must be handled carefully in accordance with the Archives’ care and handling guidelines. Cameras, smart phones, and tablets are permitted. The use of flash and/or lighting equipment, scanners, tripods, or video recorders is prohibited. Original material available on microfilm, our Beamish digital delivery tool, or our website will not be made available for researcher photography.
Archival material is unique and irreplaceable. Regrettably, people pose the most constant threat to archival material. In order to assist the Archives in the preservation and security of our archival holdings, you must observe the following rules:
banner image: Len Wagg - Wagg-7053 Nova Scotia Archives by Len Wagg
Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/visitor-information/
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