Libraries: practical information

Service

Updated on 03/06/2025

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Assia Djebar Library
Crédit photo : Joséphine Brueder / Ville de Paris

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Find all the practical information you need to access the city's library resources.

Register with a library

A single registration allows you to borrow from all Paris libraries. Borrowing prints (books, magazines, comics, sheet music), audiobooks, language methods, e-reader loans, Internet access and multimedia services is free of charge. CDs and DVDs may be borrowed on a subscription basis (see rates and special cases below).
Registration is open to all, adults and children, Parisians and non-Parisians alike.

Where can I register?

You'll find one or more registration desks and staff to welcome you at every library in the network.

With what supporting documents?

A valid ID is all you need.
The library card is valid for one year from the date of registration. Every year, remember to renew your card by presenting a valid ID and your user card.

This card enables you to consult your user account, extend your loans, make online reservations, etc. To log in, once you're on the library website, click on "My account".

In case of loss

Don't forget to report any loss or theft of your card to the library of your choice as soon as possible. A new card will be returned to you 15 days after your report. On presentation of the loss or theft certificate from the police station, your new card can be offered to you on the same day.

Borrowing rates

Prints (books, magazines, comics, sheet music), reading materials, language methods, e-readers, Internet access and multimedia services are free of charge. CDs and DVDs are available on a 1-year subscription basis, except in special cases (see below).
Please note that this subscription is non-refundable.
  • 30.5 for CDs
  • 61 for CDs and DVDs / year
You don't have to pay on the spot; the treasury will send you a payment notice at a later date.
The package is free for minors and those on minimum social benefits

If you're under 18, or receiving minimum social benefits, you can borrow CDs and DVDs free of charge from the municipal libraries, on presentation of proof of entitlement less than 3 months old.

Register in a specialized library

Access to the City of Paris' specialized libraries is open to anyone of legal age or holding a baccalaureate who wishes to research the collections.
Registration is by presentation of :
  • valid proof of identity (national identity card, passport, driver's license, residence permit)
  • family record book for minors
  • a professional card for City of Paris employees registering with the Bibliothèque de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHDV)
  • a passport photo is also required
Minors can be accommodated in certain establishments…
Please note: if you wish to visit the Town Hall Library, please bring your identity card with you.

Reader's card

This card gives you access to the entire network of specialized libraries in Paris.

Document consultation

Part of the collections are on loan from the following libraries:
Center de Documentation sur les Métiers du Livre (CDML), Forney library, François Truffaut cinema library.
Other establishments offer on-site consultation. To find out about loan and on-site consultation conditions:
Making life easier for you
Library registration is part of our Simplifying your life in Paris approach: we are committed to providing you with clear, relevant information at every stage, and to a warm welcome.

Give us your feedback on your library registration.

Opening hours and exceptional closures

Find library opening hours and closing days.

What can you borrow?

Once you have registered, you can borrow from any of Paris's lending libraries, which boast a collection of over 3.5 million documents (books, CDs, DVDs, etc.).
  • 4-week loans: 40 documents in any format (books, magazines, comics, sheet music, language methods, CDs) in the library(s) of your choice. Music CDs and DVDs can only be borrowed with a valid subscription. See special cases; minors and minimum social benefits
  • 1 week loans (new items): limited to 3 printed items and 3 CDs

Document return

Can I return books borrowed from a library other than the one I borrowed them from?
No, documents are returned to the library from which you borrowed them. There may be exceptions in the event of closures (see specific information on closures on the pages of each library or on the "all opening hours" summary).
Extending a loan
Documents loaned for 4 weeks are renewable 2 times if they are neither overdue nor reserved. Documents loaned for one week are not renewable.

Documents may be extended up to the end of the loan period, except in the following cases:
  • the document is reserved
  • your account is blocked (other document overdue, NPAI, card expired…) To extend your loans, access your user account here or bring the documents concerned to the library.

Reservations

You can reserve 10 documents in any format, online or in the library. Documents from the Central Reserve can be collected from any library in the network.
Did you know?
You can suggest the acquisition of documents in all our establishments via a suggestion book. Your request will then be answered in the same booklet.

In case of delay

Late payment penalties :
  • 0.15 per day overdue and per document (adult)
  • 0.07 per day overdue and per document (minor) or loan suspension for 2 weeks
The card is blocked for any delay of 7 days or more.
Penalties for late payment must be paid to the Treasury as soon as the sum reaches €15.
  • For your information, the first overdue notice is issued after 2 days and sent on the 3rd day, if the user has a valid e-mail address and the mailbox is not full.
  • the 2nd notice is sent after 20 days' delay, by mail or e-mail
  • 3rd notice after 40 days' delay, by e-mail only
  • and the 4th notice after 70 days' delay.
Lost or damaged documents must be reimbursed at the public purchase price by the library concerned.

For groups (classes, teachers, accompanying adults, etc.)

Find out about the specific conditions in the youth sections or from the school managers.

Libraries on the Internet