On a recent pilgrimage, I arranged to spend time with several labyrinth manuscripts in the Bibliotecque National de France. It turned out to be a many-stepped process. I thought it might help if I reconstructed the process so that you might know what to expect and how to work within the system.

Step one:
Determine if you qualify for access to the library. The information below is from the library website.

Information and accreditation to the research library :
Entrance to the research library is limited to accredited users.

To obtain accreditation you must be over 18 years old and provide evidence that you require access to the library's collection for valid academic, professional or personal purposes.

A card is only issued after meeting with a librarian in the Service de l'Orientation des lecteurs (reader's orientation).

This department is open Mondays to Fridays (9.00 to 17.00) and on Saturday (10.00 to 17.00) on Richelieu site.

The interview allows the librarian to determine whether to provide accreditation for one or more departments and the length of validity of the pass (3 days, 15 days or annual).

Supporting documents:

1. Valid identification document with photograph.

2. Valid research purpose: an official letter from a research director, research organisation, publisher, or employer.

Gaining access to the Research  Library (in French):
http://www.bnf.fr/pages/pratic/cond_acc.htm#recherche

Step two (this is a very useful step and will help you later on):
Pre register on-line. Fill out the form and send it.

Go to http://accreditation.bnf.fr/jsp/preinscription.jsp.

This is the information that will be requested:

Formulaire de demande de pré-accréditation

S'agit-il d'une première inscription ?Oui Non
si non, numéro de la dernière carte en cours de validité :

But de la recherche * : Etudes Professionnel Personnel

Période prévue pour votre venue à la bibliothèque * : (ex : Automne 2005)

IDENTITE
M. Melle / Mme
nom d'usage * : prénom(s) * :
nom patronymique * :

nom marital :

date de naissance * :

ADRESSE
n° : rue * :
code postal : ville * :
pays* : téléphone :
e-mail : Fax :
activité professionnelle * :
BUT DE LA RECHERCHE
Etudes

études :

autre diplôme préparé :

Discipline :

nom et adresse de l'Ecole, de l'Institut ou de l'Université :

Un justificatif écrit (obligatoire) : ATTESTATION à faire signer par le professeur dirigeant la recherche devra être présenté lors de l'entretien d'accréditation.

Recherches professionnelles

Profession :

Nom et adresse de l'établissement :

Un justificatif : carte professionnelle, contrat d'éditeur ou lettre d'un employeur présentant les recherches à mener dans le cadre de votre activité professionnelle devra être présenté lors de l'entretien d'accréditation.

SUJET DE RECHERCHE
Quel est le sujet précis de votre recherche * ?

Ouvrages ou fonds documentaires à consulter * :

Autres biliothèques déjà consultées pour votre recherche* :

Accréditation demandée pour les départements suivants :

Site François Mitterrand
Bibliothèque de recherche

Site Richelieu
Cartes et Plans
Estampes et photographie
Manuscrits occidentaux
Manuscrits orientaux
Monnaies médailles et antiques
Musique

Autres sites
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal
Arts du spectacle
Bibliothèque-musée de l'Opéra

Step three:
Several days later you should receive an email back from the library letting you know that you are preinscribed. They will ask you to send a list of the manuscripts you are interested in to a librarian. They will give you the appropriate email address.

Here's the email I received in April, 2006:

J'ai etabli un dossier de pre-inscription  qui vous permettra d'obtenir rapidement un titre d'acces a la Bibliotheque nationale de France

Vous voudrez bien vous adresser le jour de votre venue (a la date qui vous conviendra) au service d'Orientation des lecteurs pour l’etablissement du dossier definitif

Sur le site Richelieu (ou se trouve le Departement des manuscrits )ce service est ouvert tous les jours (sauf dimanche) de 9 a 17h

Merci de penser a vous munir d'une piece d'identite (passeport original et non la photocopie), et d'un justificatif professionnel (carte professionnelle, lettre de presentation, etc. ...)

Je vous invite a envoyer un mail au Departement des manuscrits pour obtenir des precisions sur les possibiblites et les conditions de consultation des manuscrits qui vous interessent (certains sont peut-etre precieux et consultables certains jours seulement)

Voici l'e-mail de ce departement : manuscrits-occidentaux@bnf.fr)

I would recommend bringing a copy of the preinscription email with you to the library.

Step four:
Email a list of the manuscripts you would like to review. You are allowed access to five manuscripts per day and unlimited microfiches.

The BNF has a resource called Mandragore. It is "a database of iconographic materials from BnF's Department of Manuscripts (Department des Manuscrits). It gives access to the library's collection of illuminated manuscripts, a true visual encyclopedia of the Middle Ages."

You can find out more about it at http://www.bnf.fr/pages/zNavigat/frame/version_anglaise.htm?ancre=english.htm.

You can look up information about western manuscripts at http://www.bnf.fr/pages/zNavigat/frame/collections.htm?ancre=mssocc.htm.

You can look up information about eastern manuscripts at http://www.bnf.fr/pages/zNavigat/frame/collections.htm?ancre=mssor.htm.

Manuscripts related to labyrinths that I wanted to review included:
MS fonds latin 5371, fol 240v
Mss lat 4415 fo 35;
Ms Lat 1745 fols 30v & 40r;
nouvelle acquistrion latine 2169, fol 17r;
Ms lat 13013, fol 1v
MS lat 12999, fol 11v;
MS fr 20125, fol 158r;
MS Fr 19093, folio 14;
MS Fr 20125, folio 158;
MS Fr 168, folio 144;
nouv acq lat 635, fol 47r;
MS fonds francais 9152, fol 77

I found it very helpful to use the on-line library to make copies of many of the manuscripts ahead of time. I also brought copies of manuscripts that I had seen in other books. These helped me when I was trying to locate the labyrinths on the microfiches and in the manuscripts.

After you arrive at the library:

Once you arrive at the building(s), you will walk through a metal detector to get access to the courtyard. Once in the courtyard the Western manuscript area is in the building on the right. Go in the front door and turn right and go down the hall to the welcome area.

You will need to get your library card.

First you will fill out a form, they will check the computer for your preinscription information, and make a copy of your passport. (Be sure to bring your original passport. You will not be allowed access if you only have a copy of it.)

Next, you will be sent to pay for your library card.

Then you will be sent upstairs to the library. Once you enter, you will be asked for your yellow card and the copy of your passport (that they made downstairs).

You will be given a key for a locker outside the door where you will be asked to leave your bags. (You can bring your computer, etc. in.).

You will be assigned a desk spot and will receive a slip of paper you will need to have stamped in order to leave as well as a plastic placque that will have the number of your desk space.

You will be asked to go to the middle section of the room and use the computer to locate information about the manuscripts that you want to look at. I was a bit lost, and the librarian at the desk there was very helpful.

You are looking to find the number of the microfiche (microfilm) related to each manuscript. You are required to look at the microfiche of the manuscript before you are allowed to look at the manuscript.

The only exception is if there is no microfiche for a given manuscript.

As you find the microfiche number, you will also be told if reproductions are authorized. I did not ask for any copies to be made, but this is possible.

MS fonds latin 5371, fol 240v Microfiche: 19176
Mss lat 4415 fo 35; Microfiche: 18760
Ms Lat 1745 fols 30v & 40r; Microfiche: not available
nouvelle acquistrion latine 2169, fol 17r; Microfiche: 13980
Ms lat 13013, fol 1v; Microfiche: 20211
MS lat 12999, fol 11v; Microfiche: 24945
MS fr 20125, fol 158r; Microfiche: 9233
MS Fr 19093, folio 14; Microfiche: 2416
MS Fr 20125, folio 158; Microfiche: 9233
MS Fr 168, folio 144; Microfiche: 414
nouv acq lat 635, fol 47r; Microfiche: 2618
MS fonds francais 9152, fol 77; Microfiche: not available

Once you have the microfiche numbers you go to the desk in the back of the room and fill out a form. You are allowed to request 3 microfiches or 3 manuscripts (once you have reviewed the microfiches) at a time.

You need to fill these forms out in pencil (which they have there).

This is what one of mine looked like:

If you request a microfiche, the librarian will assign you a machine and bring your film to you there. There are instructions in English on the machines which are easy to follow.

If you request a manuscript, the librarian will take your plastic desk number and the manuscript will be brought to you at your assigned desk spot.

When you are finished with either the microfiche or the manuscript, you return it to the desk in the back of the room.

When you are ready to leave for the day, you go to the back desk and let the know you are done.

Ask for your plastic desk number back.

They will give it you, and then send you to the desk in the middle of the room where you will have your slip of paper stamped.

Then, you go the front desk where you return the stamped slip, your plastic desk marker, and locker key.

I hope these instructions will help.

If you think of other instructions that might make it easier for others,

I will add them. Thanks!