Jardin des Plantes Libraries

Around the central library, in the heart of the Jardin des plantes, twelve specialised libraries are located in the different departments.

This network illustrates the unique character of the Museum, which is a centre of scientific excellence, a place for raising awareness and popularising knowledge, and a heritage conservatory.

The Multimedia Library offers free access to works on botany, zoology, ecology, prehistory, the history of science, gardening and landscape art. Reference works are available alongside guidebooks, exhibition catalogues and comic books. The youngest visitors can enjoy a very playful and colourful area. Marvel at Joseph Bonnier de la Mosson's extraordinary cabinet of curiosities, a listed historic monument. You can borrow up to ten books for free for three weeks with a reader's card. 

Make way for the specialised collections for which the Museum is renowned! Some 2 million documents of all kinds await researchers and students, as well as every natural science enthusiast: printed or electronic books and journals, geographical maps, manuscripts, scientific and institutional archives, drawings, photographs, works of art and artefacts. The most fragile documents, such as the 7,000 watercolours in the prestigious Vellum Collection, can be viewed via the digital library. All you have to do is register for free to access this unique collection. Enjoy your reading!

Access the library's document portal