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)
33 (0)1 53 79 59 59
Gilles Pécout
The architect who designed the François-Mitterrand building in the 90s is Dominique Perrault.
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 has been the national library in charge of legal deposit in France since the XVIth century. Its vast collection are stored in five locations, including four in Paris (Richelieu, François Mitterrand, Arsenal and Bibliothèque Musée de l’Opera) and one in Avignon (Jean Vilar). A sixth location will soon be opening in Amiens.
The BnF ‘s mission, under the responsibility of the French Ministry of Culture, is to collect, catalogue, preserve, enrich and communicate on the national documentary heritage. The BnF ensures that as many people as possible have access to its collections, both on-site and remotely, and develops national and international cooperation.
The National Library of Armenia successfully hosted the International Conference
“France – Arménie : Dialogue historique et culturel” on 29-30 April 2025. Prominent academics and scholars examining the two nations’ centuries-old relationship came together for this significant occasion.
