Byzantine Library

Founded in Paris in 1929 by the American scholar Thomas Whittemore and the Byzantine Institute of Boston (Massachusetts), the Byzantine Library holds a collection of nearly 50,  on Byzantine civilization, with a particular focus on early Christian and Byzantine archaeology and art, Byzantine history and literature, the history of the Orthodox Church, liturgy, and the art and history of the regions influenced by Byzantine civilization (Slavic countries, Georgia, Armenia, the Near East...), as well as Coptic art and literature.

In collaboration with its research teams, it develops specialized collections focused on Byzantine epigraphy, numismatics, diplomatics, and sigillography, as well as on Mount Athos as part of the publication of the Athos monastery archives, a project led for many years by one of the teams.

A copy of the microfilms from the Arabic, Greek, and Eastern Christian sections of the Institute for Research and History of Texts (IRHT, CNRS UPR 841), comprising nearly 3, Arabic , 9,  of Greek manuscripts, and 3,  of Eastern Christian manuscripts (Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Christian Arabic, Ethiopian, Georgian, Slavic), is housed at the Institute of Civilizations and available for consultation at the Byzantine Library. Consult the Arcadatabase to view available reproductions (check the language and classification of the reproduction  MF (IRHT)). These documents can be consulted in a reading booth equipped with a microfilm reader by providing the box number listed in the database.

It offers 58 seating equipped with Wi-Fi, including 2 and a group study room available by prior reservation.

The library also houses part ofThomas Whittemore’s archives (correspondence, miscellaneous files, photos), as well as several art objects (Coptic textiles, icons, crosses) acquired by him.

In May , the library received the Collections of designation, awarded by the Collex-Persée scientific interest group. This label identifies research-level collections that are remarkable for their scope and originality and allows the certified library to be involved in national projects for cataloging collections and digitization, or to participate in calls for projects involving researchers.

Access is restricted to faculty members, researchers, and graduate students (master’s level and above), upon recommendation by their research advisor. Undergraduate students may be granted temporary access at the request of their professor.

The library card is issued upon presentation of proof of research and is valid for one year.

Access to the collections:

The collections are freely accessible in the reading room.
Loans of materials are not permitted.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL):

This service allows registered readers to borrow items from external libraries that are not available at the Collège de France. The Department of Libraries, Archives, and Collections (DBAC) at the Collège de France centralizes requests, and any reader wishing to obtain an item is invited to write to the following address:

Additional services:

• Wi-Fi internet access, computer stations for browsing catalogs and electronic resources.
• Information available by mail, email, or phone.
• Periodicals are listed in Sudoc.
• Book acquisitions have been listed in Sudoc since 2010.
• Microfilm readers in a dedicated room.

The library is open Monday through Friday, from 10a.m. to 7p.m.