FYI France EXTRA: Opening of the Bib Nat.deFrance/F.Mitterrand!


French President Jacques Chirac inaugurated the new buildings of the
Bibliothe`que Nationale de France on Tuesday, December 17. The new site is
to be called the Bibliothe`que Franc,ois Mitterrand. 

The Bibliothe`que de France now will consist of 1) the non - print 
departments which remain at the old rue Richelieu site, 2) the new 
annexes at Marne la Vale'e (yes, this is near EuroDisney), 3) the old 
annexes such as Sable' and Provins, and 4) the new Tolbiac - site 
Bibliothe`que Franc,ois Mitterrand.

For those possessing both W3 access and French, there is excellent
background coverage, written by Le Monde's able Emmanuel de Roux -- he has
been both present and persistent since the creation on this one -- and
Fre'de'ric Edelmann, at,

	http://www.lemonde.fr/BFM/

(these articles appear in the Dec 17 printed issue of Le Monde, as well)

and the BNF itself has mounted a handsome new W3 homepage -- with a
"Visite Virtuelle" specially designed for the "Inauguration", containing
some impressive images -- at,

	http://www.bnf.fr


For those of us who have exulted and occasionally suffered along with the 
development of this project -- these 8 years -- the ceremonial occasion 
is significant. 

There are those who will point out that the books are not in yet: a small
collection -- 180,000 volumes -- will be open to the general public
beginning December 20, but the full collection move is expected now to
extend well into 1988. There are those who now will resurrect all the old
issues: books "french fried" under / behind glass or drowned in below -
river - level basements, too - tall towers, garden trees which might or
might not grow, the "rare woods" controversy, the "champignons", the cost.
There are some unresolved issues as well: digital access, above all -- the
extent to which the French will be able to realize, will be able to
afford, some of the most exciting digital access projects proposed
anywhere in the world so far. 

But the French did get their building built. This alone is an achievement
which puts them far ahead of the pipedreams which so often characterize
any projects of this size. Fe'licitations -- messieurs, mesdames, 
mesdemoiselles -- et Meilleurs Voeux. 


Jack Kessler, kessler@well.sf.ca.us

XXX


FYI France (sm)(tm) e - newsletter        ISSN 1071 - 5916

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        Copyright 1992- by Jack Kessler, all rights reserved.