The reading rooms are part of the BnF Research Library. Access is granted upon presentation of justificatory documents on your research. Your inscription is valid for both Bnf and INHA. It gives you access to all specialized departments at the BnF as well as to the INHA Library (Labrouste Room). You are also allowed in all reading rooms located on other BnF sites (François-Mitterrand, Arsenal, Opéra). Passes can be purchased online (see below).
Please note: during the renovation, the Prints and Photography Department (BnF) is located in the Labrouste Room.
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Viewing the documents
To access the reading room of the Richelieu 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 carry a Research Pass. This pass is available online or at the François-Mitterrand and Richelieu libraries.
Before purchasing a pass
You can prepare your visit by consulting our online catalogue or using our
Ask a Librarian SINDBAD service by phone or email.
Access and admission prices
- You have to be over 18 years old.
- You need to show proof that you are conducting academic, professional or personal research work.
The consultation of Heritage collections is chiefly meant for extended, long-term research. It can also respond to short-term research, especially in case of not being able to find a document in other libraries.
Master and postgraduate students, higher education teachers and researchers may register directly online or on-site at the Inscription desk. They will need to provide proof of research upon retrieving their pass.
BA level students or any person with a personnal or professional research project may get a Research Pass upon presentation of justificatory documents during an interview with the Inscription Service at the François-Mitterrand or Richelieu libraries.
Attention! The inscription Service closes at 7 pm. No Pass can be delivered past this time.
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 Library upper garden reading rooms, exhibitions and events at the BnF.
The three passes are valid for one year from their delivery date. They are strictly personal.
Please note
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.
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).
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.
Prices
Consult PRICES
