An Exclusive Look at the BnF: France’s National Library

The BnF (Bibliothèque Nationale de France) is a series of libraries across France, with four sites in Paris alone. Together, these libraries have the important responsibility to preserve every document ever published on French territory, including books, statues, engravings, digital documents, pieces of art, coins, and even Voltaire’s heart (preserved in a jar).

Centuries ago, France’s royal families collected books for their own private collections, later declaring that everything printed on French territory must be preserved for eternity. Today, the BnF is in charge of following this royal decree that has been imprinted into French law. From a more practical viewpoint, this means that the BnF owns at least one copy of everything printed on French territory, no matter the language.

Two of the most well-known BnF sites are located in Paris: the BnF François-Mitterrand graces the banks of the Seine in the 13th arrondissement, and the recently renovated BnF Richelieu is a staple of the 2nd arrondissement. While each of these sites holds countless documents, artifacts, and books, each site specializes in a different type of preservation. 

The BnF François-Mitterrand

The François-Mitterrand site, comprised of four towers shaped like open books, holds a vast collection of documents, magazines, journals, newspapers, video games, and Métro advertisements. In addition, this site has a dedicated audiovisual section, rare books, and banned books.  

With over 43 million documents stored in the towers’ temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms, the BnF François-Mitterrand is the third or fourth largest library in the world (competing with the British Library for third place). The librarians, historians, and researchers who work there have the essential job of keeping every piece of material preserved in its original state.

The research rooms are located underground, accessible by card only, while the reading rooms, free study spaces, Hall des Globes, and café are located on the main floor. Each area is dedicated to a different subject, such as children’s literature, science and technology, and art. To help maximize the research rooms, the BnF asks that researchers request their desired materials before coming in, as it can take up to an hour for the transport system to safely deliver the materials to the correct room. This efficient transport system is comprised of circular shuttles and rails that span over eight kilometers in order to distribute materials. 

The Museum at the BnF François-Mitterrand

You don’t have to be a researcher, reader, or student to enjoy all that the BnF François-Mitterrand has to offer. Their museum is free and open to the public, and you can walk the long halls to explore their exhibitions. The next exhibition, Le goût de la photographie: dans la collection Jerôme Prochiantz, opens on October 22 and runs through January 12, 2025. 

Besides the museum, one of the most famous parts of the library is the Scotch pine forest nestled between the four towers. The main floor of the library creates an indoor walkway around the forest, meant to inspire meditation and calm. Terraces allow a closer look at the forest, and informational placards around the library provide audio and written explanations of the flora and fauna that live there. Unfortunately, due to climate change, several of the original Scotch pine trees have been destroyed, and the forest will likely see major updates in the years to come. However, it still provides a breath of fresh air in the city, promotes biodiversity in an urban setting, and is a sight you don’t want to miss. 

In addition, the Coronelli Globes are a popular spot for all who visit the library. These giant globes, spanning four meters in diameter, were long left out of sight of the public since they were first given to Louis XIV as a birthday gift. When the BnF François-Mitterrand opened, they had a big enough space to host the “Celestial” and “Terrestrial” Globes, which can now be seen for free in the Hall des Globes. 

The BnF Richelieu 

Other exotic and interesting items can be found in the museum at the BnF Richelieu. Renovated in 2022, the Richelieu site offers free access to its library and garden for the first time. Once inside, you can explore the famous Salle Ovale (Oval Room) for free and the museum (requiring a purchased ticket). The museum displays historical artifacts, artwork, and manuscripts from ancient times to the modern day. In addition, like the François-Mitterrand site, the library has research materials and card-only rooms dedicated to students and researchers.

2024-25 Cultural Season: “Le monde pour horizon” & featured artist Barthélémy Toguo 

This cultural season, Richelieu has opened its new thematic exhibition “Le monde pour horizon,” meaning “The World as our Horizon,” with featured Cameroonian artist Barthélémy Toguo. Trained in both Europe and Africa, Toguo has emerged over the past few decades as a talented artist who responds to various political, economical, and social issues in Africa and around the world. He works in multiple mediums, including paintings, collages, engravings, and ceramics, and his art has been displayed internationally. As this year’s theme is about rediscovering the world, Toguo is the perfect artist to bring this theme to life.  

The first work of art on display when walking up the staircase to the museum is Toguo’s installation A Book is my Hope, displayed for the first time in France, which he created in response to the destruction of the Timbuktu manuscripts. As you enter the museum’s permanent collection, Toguo’s works are scattered amongst ancient artifacts. These works honor other artists, victims of political war or poverty, leaders who fight for equal rights for the Black community, and more. 

In the Galerie Mazarin, which is the museum’s temporary exhibition space, Toguo’s works are nestled between artifacts from around the world. One of the most prominent is Bilongue, a set of bas-reliefs honoring anonymous members of an underprivileged neighborhood in Douala, Cameroon.  

Toguo’s second installation Urban Requiem is one of the key features of this exhibition. These wood-stamps resemble those used in embassies to stamp people’s passports and visas, but their words have been replaced by phrases about exile, the struggle of minority communities, and immigration. As this season’s theme is about rediscovering the world, Toguo uses Urban Requiem and other pieces of art to question the hypocrisy of a world that is globalized, while living in fear of immigrants. 

Finally, Toguo’s collection of postcards titled Head Above Water, Rwanda show messages sent to him from Rwanda, with the goal of giving voice to people who may not otherwise be able to speak their truth. This collection is part of the series Head Above Water, which involves postcards sent from other “areas of tension,” as Toguo calls them, around the world. 

Toguo’s works will be on display for the entirety of this year’s cultural season. In January 2025, the BnF will install the sculpture Caring for Memory in Richelieu’s Vivienne Garden, completing the exhibition. 

Visiting the BnF

Like any good library, both the BnF Richelieu and BnF François-Mitterrand offer free WiFi and a café. While borrowing documents is not allowed, there are millions of open-access documents and materials, as well as others that must be requested in advance. For information on purchasing a research or reading card, including day passes, please see the BnF’s website. Note that these cards grant access to the reading/research rooms across all BnF sites, and free hours to enter the reading rooms at the BnF François-Mitterrand occur from 5 pm- 8 pm.

If you are interested in visiting the Richelieu museum, please see Richelieu’s dedicated museum page. If you want to explore the BnF in general and see what makes this library amazing, check out their website for updates on workshops, cultural events, concerts, group tours, and more. 

The BnF is a must-see for anyone living in or traveling to Paris. Whatever your interests, the BnF has something for everyone and is worth a visit.