Library and archive
Our library and archive exist to help people answer questions about Labrador.
That includes students writing papers, faculty working on their research, local people wondering about their family history…any questions at all.
Our library is a collection of over 5,000 published books, journals, videos, music, and other items.
Most of this material can be borrowed (whether you’re part of the Memorial community or not), and all of it can be viewed on-site. We also provide on-site access to the Memorial Libraries’ extensive electronic holdings: materials the public can’t access online from home.
To search the library, use the Memorial University Libraries Online Catalogue
(tip: filter your results using “Labrador Campus” in the left-hand pane)
Our archive collects unpublished materials, which we’ve produced or acquired during various projects, which donors have given us for conservation, or which we’ve inherited from other institutions.
To date, processed holdings include over 11,000 photographs, 150+ hours of audio recordings, 750+ hours of video, and several metres of text. Much of this has been digitized (particularly the AV material), and we have additional born-digital content as well. Everyone is welcome to consult our archival materials, but they do not circulate.
Find materials at the Labrador Campus Library and Archive using OneSearch. Emailing Chelsee Arbour (c.arbour@mun.ca) is also a good idea, as many materials have not yet been fully processed.
Library and archive projects and resources
Encyclopedia of Labrador
The Encyclopedia of Labrador is made up of short articles on some aspect of Labrador’s natural or social history, written by staff members or others in the University community or the Labrador area with knowledge on a given subject.
Find the Encyclopedia of Labrador, from A to Z, here.
Labrador and the Census
Labrador and the Census was the culmination of a Library research project led by Morgen Mills, former Program Coordinator at the Labrador Institute. It is a free, online digital resource providing access to government census data for Labrador, going back to 1857.
The data have been compiled, standardized, quality-checked, and structured in a user-friendly workbook format for independent use by communities, researchers, governments, and individuals interested in the demographic history of Labrador or its sub-regions or communities.
Access the full dataset here (right-click and select "Save As" to download).
The dataset is designed to be self-explanatory, but an accompanying 40-page report is also available, containing a prose introduction, sample charts showcasing Labrador population trends, pull-out maps of the region’s historical communities and sub-regions, and a guide to the structure and uses of the dataset.
Copies of the report are available from the Labrador Campus for $10.
When, where, who
For all inquiries, including reference services, contact Program Coordinator Chelsee Arbour (c.arbour@mun.ca).