The definitive collection of Canadian books, government documents, think tank publications, and primary sources. All cross-searchable on one powerful platform. Formerly the Canadian Electronic Library and now with newly digitized content from McLaren Microfilm.
The details
For nearly twenty years, the Canadian Electronic Library was used by hundreds of Canadian libraries as an authoritative source.
In 2021, Trojman Corporation and Coherent Digital developed a new version, with more content and on the Canada Commons platform. A new directory of Canadian research and government organizations has nearly 5,000 entries and is growing.
At a glance
Grey Literature eBooks
22,000+
eBooks from Canadian academic presses and independent publishers.
280,000+
Documents from Canadian think tanks and other policy organizations
Publisher include
University of Toronto Press, MQUP, PUQ, Dundurn Press, ECW, Coach House Press
The details
An indexed collection of 1+ million publications, from more than 500 individual departments and agencies, lets users draw from a range of government sources in a single search.
For the first time, find federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal reports, literature from major political parties, information and data pertaining to the issues that matter in Canada—healthcare, climate, education, first peoples, and other topics.
At a glance
Grey Literature
1M+
The collection will reach 1 million pages within 2026.
500+
Coverage of more than 500 sources across all levels of government.
Full-text search
Across all reports, including the Hansard from 1901 to date.
The details
Newspapers, serials, and other publications—many extremely rare—covering Canadian art, architecture, history, culture, politics, and social movements.
Canadian History and Culture 1919–1970 traces events that led to the modern Canadian identity—the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, WWII and the emergence of new roles for women, the Cold War, the LGBTQ and other social movements, protests of the Sixties, and other transitions. More details.
At a glance
Primary Sources
Canadian History and Culture 1919–1970
The first module in the Canadian History and Culture series spans over fifty years. Bibliography
200,000+
More than 250,000 pages of rare historical and literary publications included in 1919-1970.
Canadian History & Culture, 1825-1918
Releasing April 2025. Bibliography
Canada Commons is a project to preserve and disseminate Canadian knowledge and culture
Created in partnership with Coherent Digital, Canada Commons comprises one million books, government documents, think tank publications, and primary sources from almost 5,000 Canadian organizations.
In 2024, the partnership acquired 1.5 million microfilmed pages from McLaren Micropublishing in Toronto. The extremely rare materials cover Canadian art, architecture, general history, LGBTQ history, women's history, and more.
The materials are being digitized for the first time and will form the basis of new collections available on the Canada Commons platform in 2024 and 2025.
Canada Commons is used by all kinds of libraries— academic, corporate, government, legal, and public. It brings rare, hard-to-find content from Canada that’s relevant to a wide range of studies including sociology, anthropology, business, and economics.
