France

Bibliothèque nationale de France / National Library of France

How to find us

The BnF services are distributed over 5 locations / sites.
François-Mitterrand: Quai François Mauriac, 75013 Paris (https://www.bnf.fr/fr/francois-mitterrand)
Richelieu: 5 rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris (https://www.bnf.fr/fr/richelieu)
Arsenal: 1 Rue de Sully, 75004 Paris (https://www.bnf.fr/fr/arsenal)
Opéra: 8 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris (https://www.bnf.fr/fr/opera)
Maison Jean Vilar: 8 Rue de Mons, 84000 Avignon (https://www.bnf.fr/fr/jean-vilar)

Phone

33 (0)1 53 79 59 59

Email

https://www.bnf.fr/fr/contacter-la-bnf

Director

Gilles Pécout

Architect

The architect who designed the François-Mitterrand building in the 90s is Dominique Perrault.

Year founded

The Library goes back to the 14th century and a royal collection but the first legislation regarding Legal Deposit was enforced in 1537 as the king Francis the First signed the Ordonnance de Montpellier. In 1994, it became the Bibliothèque nationale de France and its missions were redefined.

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is one of the largest heritage, public and research libraries in the world. Throughout its history, it has always performed the task of collecting and preserving national and global collections in its care, in any form, for the benefit of all. Its digital library, Gallica was launched in 1997.

Featured

Exhibition “À nous les stades ! Une histoire du sport au féminin » (The stadiums are ours! A history of women’s sport)

To celebrate the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the BnF is presenting an exhibition on the history of women’s sport in France since the end of the 19th century.

Read more

Library news

Annual reports