Donating Your Family History | Vancouver Public Library

Quatsino woman and grandson, VPL #14068, 19__, Ben W. Leeson.

Quatsino woman and grandson, VPL #14068, 19__, Ben W. Leeson.

If you've compiled a family history you may have considered donating it to a library collection so that it can reach a wider audience.

Unpublished Family Histories

The Vancouver Public Library does not collect unpublished material, also known as archival materials. If your family history manuscript or collection has a strong local connection, contact the City of Vancouver Archives to discuss a possible donation.

Published Family Histories

As a rule, the Vancouver Public Library does not accept donations of published family histories unless they are of strong local interest - for example, the story of a B.C. pioneer family. This is due to space considerations and the limited potential audience for personal family histories. But there are other options to consider:

Send two copies of your book to the Legal Deposit Program at Library and Archives Canada (LAC). In fact, all publishers (including individuals) are technically required to do so.
Send a copy to the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City. For more information, see their guidelines on Gifts, Donations, and Loans.