There are
three reading rooms at the Arsenal Library, all in a Second Empire style decor. You can consult the documents of the Library and access the BnF electronic resources. The reading rooms are open to the people holding a BnF research pass or an Arsenal Library research pass. They are equipped with a wifi access.
Consulting the documents
To access the reading room of the Arsenal Library, you must be holding a pass. It can be delivered to you on site. If you want to access other research Library sites (François-Mitterrand, Richelieu, Arsenal), you must hold a Research Pass. This pass is available online or at the François-Mitterrand and Richelieu libraries.
Passes
These two passes grant you free circulation during your day in all reading rooms of the Research Library as well as on all our sites.
This pass additionally grants you free access to the Public Library reading rooms at the François-Mitterrand site, exhibitions and events at the BnF.
The three passes are valid for one year from their delivery date. They are strictly personal.
Before purchasing a pass
You can prepare your visit by consulting our online catalog or by using our
SINDBAD service by chat, phone or email.
Access and prices
-
You have to be at least 18 years old.
-
You need to show proof that you are conducting academic, professional or personal research work.
Heritage collections consultation is chiefly meant for extended, long-term research. It can also respond to short-term research, especially when documents are unavailable in other libraries. Readers are invited to leave their personal belongings at the entrance of the library. While consulting documents from the Reserve or especially fragile or precious items, only pencils are authorized.
Please note: A request must be made prior to any document delivery from the Reserve, addressed to the person in charge by phone or directly in the reading room.
How to get an Inscription
The conditions to get an inscription depend on our status and your specific needs
Electronic Resources
The library offers many electronic resources – periodicals, monographs, databases, Gallica and Internet Archives - which can be accessed on-site or online.
The ‘Book Trade meetings’ and the resource centre [In French]
The Arsenal Library offers a year-long conference cycle open to all, ‘The Book Trade meetings ‘. Typographers, calligraphers and book history researchers are invited to share their view on the book trade today. It also has resources available to researchers and professionals with a documentation centre freely accessible from the reading rooms, complete with a dedicated
online portal.
