The François-Mitterrand site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is well known as one of the libraries where students, teleworkers and researchers like to come to revise, especially on Sundays since it's the only one open in the capital on that day. A veritable treasure trove, the library's collections include hundreds of thousands of books, which the general public can consult throughout the week, as well as a research library reserved for researchers.
In 1996, this brand-new site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France opened to the public for the first time: the idea behind these immense towers and numerous reading rooms was to expand and modernize the Bibliothèque nationale, which already included the historic sites of Richelieu, Arsenal, Opéra and Jean-Vilar. Designed byarchitect Dominique Perrault, the building comprises the four tall towers you can see in the distance, housing numerous offices and a huge basement housing the collections, reading rooms, café... And a gigantic one-hectare interior garden!
Unlike municipal libraries, you can't borrow books and documents from the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand: you'll have to consult them on site, in the reading rooms set aside for the purpose. With around ten reading rooms, you have free access to a wide range of collections (press, audiovisual, science and technology, law, economics and politics, literature, art, philosophy, history, etc.), and it's in these rooms that you'll find plenty of tables, armchairs, electrical outlets and wifi, essential for teleworkers and students who come to study at the BnF. If you're coming to study or work, we advise you to arrive early, especially on Sundays, as the reading rooms are overcrowded and quickly saturated (making access impossible for newcomers).
Admission to the reading room is €5 per person per day, but if you arrive after 5pm, the ticket is free. If you're a regular visitor, you'll want to take advantage of the reading/culture pass, which offers anunlimited number ofadmissions throughout the year: it costs €24 for the full rate, and €15 for the reduced rate (under 26s and students under 35s). For researchers who prefer to consult the research library, a research pass is also available: full price 55 €, reduced price 35 €.
For a coffee break, snack or lunch, the Café des Globes, the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand's cafeteria, is open throughout opening hours. You'll find coffees, hot or cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches, salads... And when the weather's nice, the café opens its terrace to the sun: don't miss out!
Free exhibitions are held throughout the year, and there's a bookshop on site to stock up on general or specialist books! Whether you're looking for a quiet place to revise, a place to study specific books or a library dedicated to research, the BnF François Mitterrand is open every day!
Apocalypse, yesterday and tomorrow: the end-of-the-world exhibition at BnF François-Mitterrand
Is the apocalypse just around the corner? BnF François-Mitterrand explores this age-old theme in an exhibition from February 4 to June 8, 2025, from the Bible to the present day. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
Starts December 17, 2024
Location
BnF - Site François Mitterrand
Quai François Mauriac
75013 Paris 13
Official website
www.bnf.fr
