Exposition « La fabrique des collections » : les dons à la bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève

Discover this new exhibition in the hall of the Sainte-Geneviève library, which reveals, through a hundred books and archives, the history of donations and the precious enrichment of its encyclopaedic collections by its readers and patrons.

Heir to the collections of the abbey of the same name, which bear the imprint of significant donations and were preserved for the benefit of the Nation by the French Revolution, the Sainte-Geneviève library saw its role strengthened by the attribution of the Dépôt légal imprimeur in 1828, followed by its installation in 1851 in the custom-built setting designed by Henri Labrouste.

The administrators and curators then asserted an ambitious and coherent policy for enriching the collections thus gathered.

Alongside routine acquisitions and institutional entries such as subscriptions and other exchanges, donations play an essential role, comprising substantial collections built up over the years by collectors, scholars, or publishing professionals, as well as a few books offered by modest readers who wish to return to the library what it has given them: the widest possible access to an encyclopaedic and universal collection.

This exhibition of around a hundred books, objects, and archival pieces invites you to discover this dynamic, still at work, and these privileged relationships with a diverse readership. Free entry by reservation during the Sainte-Geneviève library's opening hours.