PANL is mandated, through the Archives Act 1983, to preserve those records of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador which are deemed to have enduring legal, fiscal, evidential or research value. PANL also collects records from private sources which have enduring value to the history of the province.

The third feature of PANL's mandate is responsibility for the Records and Information Management Program for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through the development and implementation of records and information management policies, procedures, and standards. Also, the management of the disposal of government records, the Provincial Records Centre, as well as records and information management training for government employees.

Background Information

There were a number of initiatives to create an archives in St. John's before 1949, however, none were successful. At that time, local government records dating back to 1749 were stored in government buildings throughout the city. The responsibility for the safekeeping of these records had first been delegated to the Colonial Secretary in 1898. With Confederation in 1949, this responsibility was transferred to the Department of Provincial Affairs.

In 1956, work began on a provincial archives at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Parade Street Campus, by a group of faculty using funds from the Carnegie Foundation of New York. The aim of their work was to gather and arrange as many government records, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and other items as possible, then catalogue the records and transfer them to a permanent archives to be maintained by the Provincial Government.

In 1959, the records were transferred to the "Newfoundland Archives" in the Colonial Building, established by the Historic Objects, Sites and Records Act. Current Legislation is: An Act respecting the Provincial Archives and Management of Public Records (also called the Archives Act).