Paris, the capital ofFrance, has many of the country's most important libraries. TheBibliothèque nationale de France (BnF; in English "national library of France") operates public libraries in Paris, among them theFrançois-Mitterrand, Richelieu, Louvois, Opéra, andArsenal.[1]
In the 2nd arrondissement, the BibliothèqueRichelieu is to a design byHenri Labrouste with nine domes; it opened in 1868. There are three public libraries in the 4th arrondissement. TheBibliothèque Forney, in theLe Marais district, is dedicated to the decorative arts; the Arsenal Library occupies a former military building, and has a large collection on French literature; and theBibliothèque historique de la ville de Paris, also in Le Marais, contains the Paris historical research service. TheBibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève atSorbonne-Nouvelle University is in 5th arrondissement; designed byHenri Labrouste and built in the mid-1800s, it contains a rare book and manuscript division.[2] TheSaint-Germain-des-Prés Library atUniversité Paris Cité is associated with the national public library as a mixed service unit in theLatin Quarter. Situated in the 6th arrondissement,Bibliothèque Mazarine is the oldest public library in France. TheMédiathèque Musicale Mahler in the 8th arrondissement opened in 1986 and contains collections related to music. The Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand (nicknamedTrès Grande Bibliothèque i.e. very large library; and part of the BnF) in the 13th arrondissement was completed in 1994 to a design ofDominique Perrault and contains four glass towers.[2] In the same arrondissement,Bibliothèque Marguerite Durand opened in 1931 and holds a collection on feminism. The children's library,Petite Bibliothèque Ronde, opened in 1965.
There are several academic libraries and archives in Paris. TheSorbonne Library atPanthéon-Sorbonne University in the 5th arrondissement is the largest university library in Paris. In addition to the library on theSorbonne site, the other university bearing the same name,Sorbonne University, also has several humanities libraries throughout Paris with itsSorbonne University Library: the Malesherbes Library, the Clignancourt Library, the Michelet Library-Institut d'Art et d'Archéologie, the Serpente Library, and Institut des Etudes Ibériques.[3] Situated in the 7th arrondissement, TheAmerican Library in Paris opened on 20 May 1920 and is part of a private, non-profit organisation.[4] It originated from cases of books sent by the American Library Association to U.S. soldiers in France. Other academic libraries includeInteruniversity Library of Health atUniversité Paris Cité, Paris School of Mines Library.[5]Opened in 2009, theSainte-Barbe Library atSorbonne Nouvelle University is an inter-university library located in the buildings of the former College of St. Barbara.
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