Let's be honest, the news hits like a bad grade on a law exam. While the Centre Pompidou has already closed its doors for renovations, now it's the BNF (National Library of France) that might find itself forced to close its doors—partially or totally—in the coming years. For the thousands of students who daily occupy the reading rooms of quai François-Mauriac, the question is critical: where will you finish your theses?
A building out of breath
Inaugurated in the 90s, the famous...The monument shaped like books seems to be running out of steam. The facts are clear: the building is aging poorly and quickly. It’s a frustrating diagnosis, with outdated fire safety systems, an air conditioning system that is barely hanging on, and glass facades that require huge maintenance. On top of that, the cost is quite steep (as Niska would say): we’re talking about urgent renovations estimated to be over 500 million euros by 2029.
©Thierry Ardouin/BNF
The Domino Effect
After the closure of the BPI in Beaubourg, the BNF remained one of the last great bastions for studying in peace with Wi-Fi whenever it felt like cooperating. With its four towers symbolizing open books, it is the second most frequented library by Parisian students.
If it has to close, it will be a real earthquake for student life. Where will the thousands of "squatters" from the garden level go? We fear a battle for spots at dawn in front of Sainte-Barbe or the Sorbonne, and a forced to return to coffee shops. It’s a whole generation that finds itself without its favorite sanctuary.
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© Emmanuel Nguyen Ngoc / BnF
So, is the BNF really going to become a ghost town? For now, let's keep our fingers crossed that the renovations can happen in phases, without completely shutting us out from our favorite spot. Stay tuned, but in the meantime, make the most of it while the doors are still open!
National Library of France
Quai François Mauriac — 13th
Open Monday to Sunday
More info