Exterior of the
McGill Branch Library and
City of Burnaby Archives

The City of Burnaby Archives officially opened on Saturday, November 10, 2001. The Archives is Burnaby's first municipal archives, and is located in the McGill Branch Library at 4595 Albert Street.

The City Archives functions as a branch of the Office of the City Clerk and operates as the official repository of Burnaby's municipal records, containing records dating back to Burnaby's incorporation in 1892.

In 2007, the City of Burnaby Archives expanded its collection mandate to include private as well as public records and, as a result, signed an agreement with the Burnaby Historical Society which would see the Archives assume control of the collection of community records that had been maintained and managed by the Historical Society since the 1950s. In the Spring of 2007, these records were transferred from the Burnaby Village Museum to their permanent home in the Archives facility.

The Archives storage area can accommodate 543 lineal meters of textual and other material, and is equipped with the sophisticated environmental controls necessary to preserve Burnaby's unique archival material into the future.

Mandate
The purpose of the City of Burnaby Archives is to identify, acquire, preserve and make accessible archival material in the form of civic and private records documenting the history of the City of Burnaby.

The Archives is the official repository for all inactive civic records of permanent administrative, legal, fiscal, historical, evidential and/or informational value to the City of Burnaby. Archival material is preserved as evidence of the functions, legal rights, obligations, policies, decisions, procedures, accountabilities, and operations of the City of Burnaby.

It is the responsibility of the City of Burnaby Archives to ensure the preservation and accessibility of the City’s archival records, which are identified for permanent retention through the archival and records management process. The Archives will provide proper facilities, environment and resources to preserve the archival material in its care for as long as possible.

Private or non-governmental records that compliment the official city records and/or enhance our understanding of the history and development of Burnaby are also acquired and preserved by the Archives. Private records include those of elected civic officials, those of boards and commissions related to the administration of the City and those of other organizations and individuals that detail the history of the City.

Authority for this mandate was granted by Burnaby City Council on 18 September 2006.