Bibliothèque nationale

Bibliothèque nationale, national library in Paris, France. Also a depository (a library that stores copies of most printed works, especially government documents), the Bibliothèque nationale is one of the largest libraries in Europe. Known more as a government archive than a public library, this expansive facility houses about 20 million printed volumes as well as numerous magazines, manuscripts, maps, engravings, coins, and medals. Many of the collections and manuscripts were once part of royal libraries.