When did King Charles V establish the royal library within the Louvre Palace?
King Charles V established a royal library within the Louvre Palace in 1368. This collection began with manuscripts received from his predecessor John II.
Questions about Bibliothèque nationale de France
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was the first recorded librarian of the Bibliothèque nationale de France and when did he serve?
The first recorded librarian was Claude Mallet, who served as the king's valet de chambre. He created an early catalogue of these holdings while serving under Charles V.
What happened to the royal library collection after the death of Duke of Bedford in 1435?
The books dispersed after Bedford died in 1435. Charles VII did little to recover the lost volumes during this period.
On what date did the National Library of France officially open its doors to the public?
The library opened its doors to the public on the 2nd of May 1692 under Abbott Camille le Tellier de Louvois. Jean-Paul Bignon succeeded him and exploited the collapse of John Law's Mississippi Company in 1721.
When did Joseph Van Praet virtually control the library and how many items were in the archive at his death?
Joseph Van Praet virtually controlled the library from 1800 until 1836. At his death, the archive contained more than 650,000 printed books and approximately 80,000 manuscripts.
On which dates was the new facility of the Bibliothèque nationale de France announced and officially opened?
President François Mitterrand announced construction of a new facility on the 14th of July 1988. The National Library of France officially opened on the 15th of December 1996.