Libraries of Paris
Subtitle: Where to work while studying or traveling
By Olivia Geen, MD, MSc, FRCPC
| 3 min read |
During my recent trip to Paris I visited 3 different public libraries to get some research done on my dissertation. I wasn’t using the books, just enjoying the inspiring and quiet spaces.
There are lots of other places you could choose to study, and I have to admit, I was enticed by the comfort and familiarity of the idea of working at a nearby Starbucks. It’s much harder to go and try something new (especially when you have no idea how the process works in Paris) but I’m really glad that I did it in the end.
Plus, now I can give you the inside scoop on 3 library options so you won’t need to be as nervous as I was if you decide to work-remote in a Parisian library. Enjoy!
OPTION 1: Bibliothèque Mazarine
Location: 23 Quai de Conti, 75006, Paris, France.
What you’ll need: ID (passport photo is fine) to get a library card inside.
Bibliothèque Mazarine (you don’t enter here; follow the signs to the library entrance).
This was the first library I visited. I had researched a list online, but I was a bit nervous. Luckily, Mazarine turned out to be a good first option; you can access the library to study for 5 days for free.
Here’s what you do: Follow the signs for the entrance, and ask for the library. The guard will point you inside to a courtyard, with the library “up the stairs and to your left on the first floor”.
Courtyard of Bibliothèque Mazarine; the library entrance is behind me in this photo
Once you’re inside the library DO NOT SIT DOWN. Instead, go to the Librarian desk and ask for a library card. They’ll need your ID (passport photo suffices), and you’ll be given a little paper card that’s good for 5 days. If you’re staying in Paris for a while, it’s a good idea to space out your library cards (Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal also gives you a card for 6 entrances, which can be used at any time).
Library card - great souvenir!
After that, you talk to another librarian at the same desk who gives you an assigned seat. They’ll take your library card, and you must sit down in the numbered spot that they give you (I messed this up twice - had to move around - you gotta love being an awkward tourist!).
Wifi number is on the desk. Et voila - time to study!
Inside Bibliothèque Mazarine.
OPTION 2: Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Richelieu Site)
This was by far the easiest library to get into and work in. There is a massive oval space that is stunning, and you don’t need a library card or a specific seat assignment. I simply asked the woman at the information desk if I could study there (pourrais-je étudier ici?). Plenty of charging space.
There’s also some sort of museum attached to the library, which I did not explore, but you could make a half-day trip out of this location all on its own. Or, it’s only a 6 minute walk to the Place de Valois and gardens, and even Galerie Patrick Fourtin (where Emily in Paris’s office is filmed), and 9 minutes to the Louvre.
Perfect way to spend a morning and afternoon!
Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Richelieu Site). The Oval Room.
Place de Valois; Palace-Royal.
Jardin du Palais Royal.
Galerie Patrick Fourtin, where Emily in Paris is filmed!
OPTION 3: Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal
Location: 1 Rue de Sully, 75004 Paris, France
What you’ll need: passport photo to get a library card
Up the main flight of stairs, after passing by a security guard.
Close to the end of my trip I checked out this library in the 4th. It’s nearby Place des Vosges and my favourite shopping district (Rue des Francs Bourgeois).
Similar to Bibliothèque Mazarine, I had to get a library card and a seat number. To be honest, the space is not nearly as impressive as the others, but the nearby shopping might make up for it!
Follow the flight of stairs and enter the Salles de Travail.
You also can’t bring any bags into the room with you (similar to Duke Humfrey’s at Oxford), but there are little lockers provided to store your things. The library card is good for 6 entrances, which can be used at any time.
Inside the Salle de Travail
SUMMARY:
I hope you enjoyed the tips and photos for 3 libraries in Paris. My final recommendation would be the BNF Richelieu site (it’s central, easy to get into, and the most stunning!) followed by the Mazarine (cool to see a real library and get a card!).
Enjoy your studies in Paris!
xoxo
Olivia
Dr. Geen is an internist and geriatrician in Canada, working in a tertiary hospital serving over one million people. She also holds a masters in Translational Health Sciences from the University of Oxford, is widely published in over 10 academic journals, and advises digital healthcare startups on problem-solution fit and implementation. For more info, see About.