Recommendations for a Guide to the Louvre

Willy, as far as maps of the museum, your best resource is the Louvre's own website, which has a TON of other useful info as well:

https://www.louvre.fr/en

Here's their printable map in English:
https://www.louvre.fr/sites/default/files/medias/medias_fichiers/fichiers/pdf/louvre-plan-information-english.pdf

Interactive floor plans:
https://www.louvre.fr/en/plan

I know you weren't asking for an "art book" but we bought the official "Guide to the Louvre" in English at the museum bookshop and were very glad we did. It was a nice reference while visiting the museum and has been used many, many times since returning home. Measures abt. 6" by 9" by 1 and 1/8th" and it's a bit heavy but, well, the small price paid for the enjoyment! :O)

http://editions.louvre.fr/en/titles/visit-the-louvre/discover-the-louvre-guides/a-guide-to-the-louvre.html

Have you downloaded Rick’s app and listened to the audio guide for the Louvre? It was excellent! If I remember correctly, it even includes maps, etc., to view on your phone while listening. I’d check that out before investing in a book.

Another recommendation for the Louvre website itself. They have highlights of the whole museum or of specific eras. We used the highlights tour and saw all the famous items, Venus, Mona Lisa, etc.

Kathy and Heather: Thanks for the recommendation. I will check the site out!

Mindy: Alas, I'm a quasi-tech dinosaur (really, more of a grouchy old man who doesn't want an electronic leash--lol), so...no phone. I will download Rick's app to the PC (and/or IPad) and use use it pre-trip.

LOL, Willy! We haven't traveled abroad with phones yet either, and I don't think you're grouchy at all. 😉
Let us know if you have any trouble navigating the website, OK? The printable map loaded pretty slowly for me so be patient with it.

Just a warning (going forward, as they say): I'm encountering more and more museums that provide Wi-Fi and depend heavily on web-based information rather than posting everything on the museum walls. I fear the time is coming when those of us wanting fairly in-depth information will have to depend on our own electronics for access.

Some museums do rent tablets pre-loaded with audio guides. The quality of the information was excellent on the few I have used, but those suckers are heavy to carry around if you're making a comprehensive visit to a museum.

None of this has anything to do with the Louvre specifically; I haven't been there for decades.

Kathy: I have purchased the guide book you recommended. Thanks. It looks to be just the thing I was looking for. It's not a big, clunky, coffee- table art book", imo, but a guide that can also serve as a souvenir. I doubt I'll take it into the Louvre, but it'll form the basis for a well-planned path of "attack" based on a good pre-trip education.

acraven: Yeah, a likely view of the future. FWIW, I don't (think I) want an audio guide--or anything else to lug around. Ain't even gonna take a back pack or a purse. My hope is that my pre-trip studies will suffice.

We're hoping to spend about four or five hours in the Louvre--broken up by a snack or light meal in one of the cafes in the museum. The plan is to arrive at about 8:30 for a 9:00 AM opening, then make a mad dash for Mona (snicker if you want), and then see a couple dozen other paintings (plus Venus and Winged Victory) and then the Greek/Roman/Persian/Babylonian/Egyptian antiquities.

I'm not sure you will need to make a "mad dash" to see Mona. My wife and I went in March a number of years ago and had no trouble standing in front of Mona for as long as we wanted. Our son and his wife were with us in December (Xmas week) last year and also had no trouble seeing Mona. We were satisfied with just the DaVinci exhibit.

There is a nice café (one of the Angelina's cafes) located on the first floor of the Richelieu wing of the Louvre near the Napoleon III apartments. A cup of their famous hot chocolate (or café or tea) and a pastry will set you back about 16 euros (lunch will be significantly more). I believe, but am not sure, that your ticket only allows you one entrance to each wing of the Louvre (Richelieu, Denon or Sully). Therefore, you cannot exit the Sully wing, for instance, and return to that wing later. I would check before planning your mid-tour break.