News Release

2001-13

Good News about Old News!

Ottawa, June 6, 2001  --  The National Library of Canada is pleased to announce a new exhibition that pays tribute to Canadian newspapers, Extra! Extra! Read All about It. The exhibition opens at the Library this evening at 6:00 p.m.

The Library has Canada’s largest and most comprehensive collection of Canadian newspapers in a variety of formats and from all regions of the country. From Confederation-era papers to currently published student and ethnic newspapers, the range and depth of the collection are a testament to the Library’s commitment to preserving our printed past for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations. The exhibition will feature highlights from the Library’s collection of original materials.

Newspapers are, indisputably, one of the most important sources of information about the daily lives of all Canadians, famous or not. They are unique in their ability to capture and reflect the large and the local concerns of their times.

According to Roch Carrier, National Librarian, "We are enormously proud of this collection and what it tells us about ourselves. But we are also concerned that we are increasingly unable to safeguard it properly in the unstable environments in which we are forced to keep it. We need a good building to keep these fragile treasures safe and sound."

The exhibition, curated by the Library’s newspaper specialist, Sandra Burrows, is free of charge and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., seven days a week, at the National Library of Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa.

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For further information, please contact

Karen McGrath