Historic National Library in Paris

According to the website bnf.fr, the BN-Richelieu is open to the public on Saturdays. The reading room is not accessible, but the rest is. It also said tours were available but gave no details.

Here is it is in English:
http://www.bnf.fr/en/bnf/reading_rooms_opening_hours/s.reading_rooms_opening_hours_rich.html?first_Art=non

Ok, I’m now in Paris reading through l’officiel des spectacles, which has info on all activities, including the BN. The public areas of the Richelieu site are now open. You need accreditation to get into the reading room, which Is not always easy (personal experience) but l’officiel says the reading room is open to individuals on (visites individuelles) on Thursdays at 3:30. What exactly that means isn't clear. 75020 or chexbres, what do you think? No matter, the collections, coins, nobles’ donations or confiscations, are fascinating to see no matter what.

Yeah, I saw that too, but didn't know if it meant the lovely huge basilica style reading room I remember from a visit on les journees du patrimoine. Seems if that were open, the picture would be on one of the websites. I wondered if "lesser" reading rooms were meant. I'm not familiar with the Richelieu library except my view of that reading room

Thank you all for your replies about getting into the historic National Library. I have copied many items from the internet, but each one either has conflicting information about when and how to get into the library or no information at all. I am an architect and have tried and failed to get into the building - primarily Labrouste's famous great reading room - two times over the last decade. Does one of you who are in Paris now plan to go to tour the Library? If so, I would love to get a first-hand report of what and when is required for admission. One of you mentioned getting into the main reading room with "accreditation." If you could also find out what is required there, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, I would appreciate any other tourist information sources in Paris that would have any of this information. Thanks so much.

Apparently information isn't readily available because the Labrouste section belongs now to another authority. The INHA. The link below will take you to their webpage on the Labrouste. My French reading skills are not anywhere near the 100 percent level , but according to How I'm reading, by registering ahead you can stand at the door of the reading room and peek in. See what you think

http://bibliotheque.inha.fr/iguana/www.main.cls?p=74469586-3948-11e2-a8f1-ac6f86effe00&v=01a8c3aa-f1db-11e6-8633-5056b21d9100

I’ll go by this week (not Thursday due to the strike) and mention that you are an architect. Watch this reply for an update. I love that place and haven’t been for a few years, obviously, so it’s a pleasure to go over there.

Edit: I went there today. First, the Labrouste Reading Room is open. You can go inside to a point about three feet beyond the metal detector and guardian, both inside the glass door to the vestibule. There is a little wooden barrier but you can stand there as long as you want. A sign in French says photos are ok, but do not get patrons in your shots. I took shots, aimed above the researchers.

Next the tours: they do fill quickly ( 15 max), need to be reserved well in advance, are only in French, not geared to tourists. They aren’t happy about people who don’t understand signing up. It’s more than the Reading Room, visiting the parts of the complex that are open. (Example, the Collections Room , my fav, will be closed another 3 years.) Tours are only on Thurs. at 9:30 am or Sat at 5:30 pm and can be reserved only at 01-53-79-49-49 (from US add 011-33-drop the 0 infront of the 1) and reserve only in French. 75020’s website is up to date and says you can stand inside, the way I did. Accreditation is for bonifide researchers, French and international. You have to have paperwork to be accredited. It’s not a slam dunk. When I said architect, she said to go see the library Ste. Genevieve near the Pantheon—Labrouste, too.

Finally: the limestone that’s been cleaned is gorgeous. You can visit different areas that are now open on your own. I wandered into a small exhibit. The Reading Room knocked my socks off. Lady at the front desk is tired, has to deal with everyone, so might not be the friendliest. English is not the language of communication anywhere there. If you want more info, send me a private message.

It's so worth going to visit! I love it!

Thanks from me too, Bets.

Thanks to all of you - very detailed and helpful comments. I do plan to go to the St. Geneviève as well as the Richelieu, and it now sounds the Richelieu is possible if you go at the right times. My son lived in France a couple of times, so I might get him to make the call for me and pursue the “accredited” direction. I have been and will be taking short trips, but I may contact you again, although somewhat sporadicly. Thanks again.

I might be wrong about this, but it seems that you have to have a letter of introduction from a college to do this, in French.
You can't just drop by and claim to be an "architect". There will be a form at the "accueil", for example, and the agent will want to know which books you specifically want to take out.