Pass BnF lecture / culture © Béatrice Lucchese / BnF

Reading offer

The Public Library (François-Mitterrand site, Haut-de-jardin level)  is open to all aged 16 and up. The Research Library (François-Mitterrand, Richelieu-Louvois, Arsenal, and Opéra) which houses heritage collections, is accessible only with proof or research activities. 

The Public Library 

François-Mitterrand site, Haut-de-jardin level
The Public Library is open to all aged 16 and up. Passes are sold on site in the East Hall. The Pass BnF ‘Lecture/Culture’ can also be purchased online. 

Access to the public library is free between 5 PM and 8 PM. 

The pass and cards are valid for one year from their delivery date. They are strictly personal:
 

• The Pass BnF ‘lecture/culture’ is delivered at the Inscription desk upon presentation of a valid piece of ID. It grants you unlimited access to the reading rooms of the Public Library and to our exhibitions, concerts, and shows. 
• The 1-Day reader’s card is delivered at cash desks and gives access to the reading rooms of the Public Library. The card has no expiring date and can be used until your day of entry.
• The 5PM-8PM reading card is delivered at the Information desk of the François-Mitterrand site.It gives free access to the reading rooms of the Public Library from 5 pm to 8 PM. This card can be used for a year for the 5PM-8PM time slot.

Please note

• For the purchase of a Pass BnF’ lecture/culture’, a free 20-minute introductory visit [in French] is offered every day at 5 PM on demand at the desk. 
• Room I (youth literature): access is free for young people under 16 accompanied by an adult upon presentation of a valid pass (1-day reading  card, Pass BnF ‘lecture/culture’ or unlimited Research ppass) for a maximum of 3 children per adult on Saturday and Sundays all year long and from Tuesday to Sunday during school vacations. 
• Pass replacement is free if the pass is malfunctioning (cannot be read) or if it was stolen (upon proof of theft report).
• Personal data collected during pass creation are kept by the BnF. For all access, modification or deletion requests, you can contact our data protection correspondent.

Buy a Pass BnF ‘lecture / culture’

Exemptions: 

• Job seekers
• RSA or social welfare beneficiaries 
• People with disabilities and invalid people 
• Attendants to people with disabilities and invalid people 
• Students from École nationale des Chartes, ENSSIB, Institut national du Patrimoine  and Institut national des études territoriales (library and heritage conservation curators)
• Civil servants of State, regional and local authorities working in documentation services, scientific and technical library services, archives and heritage branches
• Engineers in research corps and contractual agents of State, regional and local authorities with scientific and technical duties in libraries, archives, museums and heritage services
• Current and retired BnF staff

The Research Library 

The Research Library comprises

• The Rez-de-jardin of the François-Mitterrand site
• The specialized departments of the  Richelieu-Louvois site
• The Arsenal sie
• The Opéra site

It is accessible with proof or research activities. Passes are sold on site in the East Hall of the François-Mitterrand site, at the Richelieu site and online. The unlimited Research Pass also gives you free access to the reading rooms in the Public Library and to our exhibitions, concerts, and shows. 

This extension of access rights is only possible by showing justificatory documents for research. The new pass will have the same expiring date as the initial pass.
 

buy a research pass

Please note: 

• Cost of a lost, stolen (without proof of theft report) or forgotten pass: 2€; Pass replacement is free if the pass is malfunctioning or if it was stolen (upon proof of theft report).
• If your reading pass gets lost or stolen, the reader’s responsibility will be lifted only after a written declaration addressed to the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
• Personal data collected during pass creation are kept by the BnF. For all access, modification or deletion requests, you can contact our data protection correspondent. 

Reduced price and exemptions

Please bring the necessary documents when purchasing an unlimited Research Pass or an extension. Without these documents, full rates will be applied and no ulterior reimbursement will be possible. 

Reduced price: 

• Students under 35
• Young visitors between 18 and 25

Exemptions

• Job seekers
• RSA or social welfare beneficiaries 
• People with disabilities and invalid people 
• Attendants to people with disabilities and invalid people 
• Students from École nationale des Chartes, ENSSIB, Institut national du Patrimoine  and Institut national des études territoriales (library curators and heritage conservation curators)
• Civil servants of State, regional and local authorities working in documentation services, scientific and technical library services, archives and heritage branches
• Engineers in research corps and contractual agents of State, regional and local authorities with scientific and technical duties in libraries, archives, museums and heritage services
• Current and retired BnF staff
•  

Cultural Offer 

* For some cultural events, a specific fee can be applied
** For more information (registration, exemption, external lecturer, etc.) please call +33(0)1 53 79 49 49.

Exhibitions tickets are valid during the whole duration of the exhibition until the day of your visit.

Exhibitions at the Opéra de Paris have different rates: 12 € (full price) and 8 € (reduced price).  
 

Please note: 

• Booking via FNAC is possible for some exhibitions; call  0892 684 694 (0,34 € TTC/mn) or go to www.fnac.com (with additional fees)
• Reduced price applies for BnF exhibitions upon presentation of a ticket of La Cinémathèque issued within the last month (and vice versa) 
• Cultural institutions in paertnership with the BnF offer reduced prices to our exhibitions’ visitors 

Reduced prices and exemptions 

Exhibitions 

Reduced prices upon showing justification:

• Students under 35
• Young visitors between 18 and 25
• Teachers
• Members of a large family (3 children and more)
• Visitors in groups (min. 10 people and max. 20)
  • Holders of  a membership card, day pass or ticket to La Cinémathèque française issued within the last month 

Holders of a Libre Pass card or of a valid membership delivered by La Cinémathèque 

Exemptions upon showing justification:  

• Holders of an unlimited pass to the reading rooms of the Public Library or to the research rooms of the BnF
• Young people under 18
• Job seekers
• RSA or social welfare beneficiaries 
• People with disabilities or invalid people and their attendants 
• Holders of a chèque Culture “exposition”
• School groups accompanied by one or more teachers
• Professional journalists 
• Tourism professionals working in the Ile-de-France region 
• Groups from charitable or social associations or organizations limited to 20 people including accompanying persons (only by booking) upon presentation of justification of activity
• Lecturers accredited by the Ministry of Culture and Communication or Tourism
• Students from École nationale des Chartes, ENSSIB, Institut national du Patrimoine  and Institut national des études territoriales (library curators and heritage conservation curators)
• Civil servants of State, regional and local authorities working in documentation services, scientific and technical library services, archives and heritage branches
• Engineers in research corps and contractual agents of State, regional and local authorities with scientific and technical duties in libraries, archives, museums and heritage services
• Members of ICOM and ICOMOS
• Current Ministry of Culture and Communication staff 
• Current and retired BnF staff 
• Members of the Association des Amis de la BnF
   

Concerts and performances

Exemptions upon showing justification:

• Holders of an unlimited pass to the reading rooms of the Public Library or to the research rooms of the BnF
• Current BnF staff

Architecture and heritage visites or guided visitsfor exhibitions

Exemptions upon showing justification:

• Children under 12
• RSA or social welfare beneficiaries 
• Job seekers 
• People with disabilities, invalid civilians and military people and their attendants
• Groups from charitable or social inclusion-driven associations or structures limited to 20 people including accompanying persons (only by booking) upon presentation of justification of activity

Buy a Pass ‘lecture / culture’ ou Recherche Pass