This collection began as the institutional library of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs (CIIA) in 1928. The Library’s namesake, Canadian diplomat, teacher, administrator and scholar John Wendell Holmes, was instrumental in developing it into an unmatched specialized collection on Canadian foreign policy. The Library moved to CIGI in 2007, where it is now available for use by staff and visitors at the CIGI facilities.

The Library holds more than 7,000 monograph items, including a large number of rare newsletters and pamphlets dating back to the early years of the library’s establishment.  New publications on Canadian foreign policy, global economy, energy and environment, global security and development are added regularly. The Library also subscribes to a number of international relations periodicals, and maintains an extensive collection of newspaper clippings on Canadian foreign policy which were added over decades by members of the CIIA and Library staff.

Researchers, students and members of the public are permitted to use the John Holmes Library. Please contact libraryservices@cigionline.org to arrange access.