Making the best use of the library

Electronic portable magnifiers

Some electronic portable magnifiers are available at François Mitterrand Library and Richelieu Library. Upon presentation of an identity paper, they might be borrowed to be used the whole day in the exhibition areas and reading rooms.

Video enlargers

Video enlargers allow to enlarge any printed or handwritten text and allows the reader to change the contrast. They are available in rooms A, B, C, D, E, I and J of the Reference Library (Haut-de-jardin level) but also in rooms P and X of the Research Library (Rez-de-jardin level), in the reading room of the Maps and Plans Department and in the reference room at Richelieu Library. A video enlarger and a reading machine are also available at the Music department (Louvois Library) and at the Arsenal Library.

“Vocale Presse” software program

It allows to listen to or read in large characters three french daily papers (Le Monde, Le Figaro and Libération) in room A (Reference Library) and room N (Research Library) at François Mitterrand Library.

Reading areas provided with special equipment

The sound proof booths are located in room E (Reference Library) and rooms M and U (Research Library) at François Mitterrand Library. In the Research Library, all booths are equipped with a wired internet connection; they should be reserved using the seat numbers M152 or U80.

The equipment provided allows:

• to consult documents, using video enlargers and reading machines (the text is digitised and proposed in different languages);
• to consult the catalogue and connect to the Internet thanks to a monitor equipped with dedicated softwares, Jaws – Reading by voice synthesis and Zoomtext – that magnifies characters.
• to take notes (Word word-processing package)
• to make Braille and classical printing.

The library’s staff is at readers’ disposal to consult the catalogue or specific documents. The same equipment is available in the reference room at Richelieu Library.