Tours of the library and its exhibitions

The library regularly provides tours of its spaces, collections and services as well as guided tours of its exhibitions.

These tours are for all audiences:

•  new visitors
• adults taking professional training and their instructors
• people who use community centres or voluntary organisations and their supervisors
• students
• librarians or archivists
• secondary school students (accompanied by a teacher)
• … and all visitors, interested in knowing more about the library!

Pause Musée (no booking required)

Every Monday and Wednesday between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., the Bpi and the Center Pompidou invite you to discover emblematic works from the museum’s permanent collections free of charge in the company of a guide.

Introductory tours (no booking required)

At the start of the new academic year (September and October), every Friday at 5pm the Bpi does a free guided tour of the library in a small group. 

Tours of the library with booking

Group visits: in the morning before midday from Monday to Friday, except on Tuesdays 
Individual tour: in the morning or afternoon, from Monday to Friday, except on Tuesdays 

All tours are free of charge.

Information and bookings:

There are three options for booking a tour:

• fill in the tour request form 
• email us at: visites@bpi.fr
• phone +33 (0)1 44 78 13 83

General tours to have an overview of the library 

• how it operates
• its spaces
• its collections
• its services
• its search tools: classification, document portal…

Two formats are available: one-hour tours or in-depth tours lasting two hours.

Tours focusing on a space, service or specific collection in the library

The Independent Learning space, the Press space, the Music space, Employment-Learning / Everyday life space, documentary films, digital at the Bpi…
This presentation can be combined – or not – with a general tour of the Bpi.

Themed tours

If a user is interested in a particular subject, librarians can help them identify where they can find resources and materials related to the subject, like books, articles, records, electronic resources… These tours can also take the form of fun workshops to take part in, according to who the visitor is. 

For classes (secondary school), the Bpi also provides tours with elements that can be arranged to suit needs and interests.
To help classes get to know the library’s resources and introduce them to documentary research, the Visitor Development service can work with teachers to design tailored projects with several sessions.

Visits for people with disabilities

People with disabilities can call on the librarians for an individual or group visit in order to locate the places. For any appointment request, call during the library opening hours on 01 44 78 13 54 or contact the Reading and Handicap department by email at lecture-handicap@bpi.fr

Tours for professionals of reading spaces and services adapted for the disabled

The Bpi offers guided tours for library professionals to discover its spaces, collections and services adapted for people who have difficulty accessing reading material because of a disability, learning difficulty or illiteracy. To register for the next visit, fill in the registration form.

Visits for professionals

The Bpi offers guided tours for library professionals to discover its collections and services, understand how it is organised and operates, and discuss professional practices. To register for the next professional visit, fill in the registration form.

Guided tours of Bpi exhibitions

Each year the Bpi organises an exhibition in its spaces. For the occasion, guided tours are provided free of charge either in the morning for groups (by booking) either every day (except Tuesdays) at 6pm for individuals (no booking required). 
Documents to prepare for and complement the tour are available (tour booklet, educational file).