Libraries Paris

At the foot of the famous four open book towers, the BnF's reading rooms provide access to countless books. Just about everything that appears or has appeared in France can be found here. Impressive, isn't it? The rooms of the Library for the general public (Haut-de-jardin) are open to everyone, provided they are at least 16 years old. It is the place where you will find encyclopedic collections with free access (books, periodicals, audiovisual). The rooms of the research library (Garden Floor) are open to academics and to anyone, professional or not, who explains why it is necessary for them to immerse themselves in the specific collections of the library. All year round, major exhibitions, meetings, screenings, concerts, guided tours and workshops are organized in this temple dedicated to books.

Housed in the Hôtel de Lamoignon, which alone is worth a visit, the Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris (BHVP) houses a collection of over a million documents on the history of the capital and the Ile-de-France region, including manuscripts, old maps, drawings, postcards and photographs from the ^16th century to the present day. The archives of Parisian families, autographs, scholarly papers, topographical documents, archaeological surveys, correspondence of famous men and manuscripts preserved in the library are remarkable. Among the most precious documents are some of Voltaire's correspondence, manuscripts by Michelet, Flaubert's notebooks and the manuscript of his Education sentimentale. The BHVP is designed for researchers, but also for anyone with a passion for the destiny of the most beautiful city in the world! Consultation is on site only, after free registration and presentation of proof of identity and a photo. The Renaissance-style building, which is well worth a visit in any case, also hosts exhibitions on Paris. All in all, it's a place where you can get caught up in the discoveries and readings, and one that every Paris lover, and indeed every curious person, should discover at least once. And don't forget that the library is open from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday: plenty of time for a moment out of time!

Part of the Direction des Affaires culturelles de la Ville de Paris, the Archives de Paris has been collecting, preserving, inventorying, communicating and promoting documents of historical interest gathered by the departments of the Mairie and Département de Paris for over two hundred years. They also preserve private archives acquired by gift, donation, bequest or purchase. Since 1990, the Direction des services d'Archives de Paris has been housed in a building at Porte des Lilas. Opening hours vary according to the day you choose.

The library occupies the entire third floor of the Maison de la Culture du Japon. Two reading rooms are available for consultation. The library's mission is to meet the needs of a wide range of readers, from the general public to researchers. Members can borrow 5 books for a period of 3 weeks. Part of the collection can be borrowed: around 9,000 books.

A popular local library, the Georges Brassens Library offers a pleasant setting for browsing a newspaper, reading a book, surfing the Internet and taking part in the cultural life of the area. On the second floor, large bay windows let in plenty of natural light and reveal a wealth of books. The shelves include foreign-language books, large-print books and comic strips.

The Germaine Tillion Library is a local library offering a peaceful setting for its users. Within its walls, 2 levels spread over almost 2,000 m², offering books, magazines, CDs, DVDs for all publics and a digital space. Outside the walls, a garden is open to all, where you can enjoy a book in the open air. It also organizes cultural events to encourage exchanges between local residents (workshops, meetings, readings).

Next door to the Forum des images and the UGC Cité Les Halles multiplex, the Bibliothèque du cinéma François Truffaut strengthens the presence of cinema in the aisles of the Forum des Halles. A specialized library covering 1,200 m², it offers only documents relating to cinema, television and the video arts, making it the only library in Paris to offer books, magazines, film music, DVDs and press reviews on a single site.