The old National Library of France (by k2)
Jan 16, 2017 17:05:43 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 17:05:43 GMT
In the future, libraries will no longer outgrow their sites because nearly everything will be digital. But the old repositories of books are often bulging at the edges, so France built a new National Library to replace the old one. The decision was taken in 1988 and the new library opened in 1994. It contains 14 million printed works, and the paper items are still increasing by about 670,000 every year. Yikes!
However, I visited the old library yesterday since it partially reopened after several years of renovation (which will continue for several more years). Although it is still part of the "Bibliothèque Nationale," its main purpose from now on is to be the National Institute of Art History. It contains the largest collection of art and archeology books and periodicals in the world. Original manuscripts, etchings, prints, photographs, etc. are accessible to researchers and students at 400 reading stations.
Just so you won't accuse me of not telling you, the collection began in 1368 in the Louvre with the collection of King Charles V. It had a grand total of 917 manuscripts, which was pretty damned good for the time. Each sovereign collected more and more stuff, and the library moved all over the place -- a lot of it was lost in England during the British occupation (1424) and they pretty much had to start over under Louis XI, even though they got about half of the stuff back. The library was transferred to Amboise, then to Blois, and finally to various palaces around Paris. It moved to the historic building in Paris around 1833 which was expanded over the next century. And so that is what I visited, after standing in a queue for about 90 minutes. The library fills a large city block, and the queue went three quarters of the way around the building.
However, I visited the old library yesterday since it partially reopened after several years of renovation (which will continue for several more years). Although it is still part of the "Bibliothèque Nationale," its main purpose from now on is to be the National Institute of Art History. It contains the largest collection of art and archeology books and periodicals in the world. Original manuscripts, etchings, prints, photographs, etc. are accessible to researchers and students at 400 reading stations.
Just so you won't accuse me of not telling you, the collection began in 1368 in the Louvre with the collection of King Charles V. It had a grand total of 917 manuscripts, which was pretty damned good for the time. Each sovereign collected more and more stuff, and the library moved all over the place -- a lot of it was lost in England during the British occupation (1424) and they pretty much had to start over under Louis XI, even though they got about half of the stuff back. The library was transferred to Amboise, then to Blois, and finally to various palaces around Paris. It moved to the historic building in Paris around 1833 which was expanded over the next century. And so that is what I visited, after standing in a queue for about 90 minutes. The library fills a large city block, and the queue went three quarters of the way around the building.
The inner courtyard is not all that impressive, but once you get inside it is a bit different.
I remembered some of the old microfilm machines from my own university library in 1970.
I remembered some of the old microfilm machines from my own university library in 1970.