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| DITEC Qik 80 barriers lead the way into the BNF technical centre  For the French, their National Library is part great institution, part patriotic monument and the rest of the world can learn much from their attachment to their culture as well as their attention to the scrupulous way in which they archive documents and, therefore, original historical sources which underpin quality research. Any university student who has ever needed to consult the archives knows how important it is that they are sensibly organised, efficient and spacious because a lack of space is often an early sign of financial strain. There is no space when there are no funds; funding is not made available for things that are not seen as important; and archive-keeping is a low priority when there is little interest in culture in general...In France, though, they are rightly proud of their centuries-old tradition for keeping the archives and registries in good order. Indeed, the radical changes brought by the Revolution of 1789 and the Napoleonic era include the secularisation of the monasteries and dioceses. In just a few decades, first in France itself and then in the Italian Jacobin Republics, there was an unprecedented influx of documents – that were once kept by the religious orders – into the municipal and national archives, thus stimulating applied scientific research into historical manuscripts. Nowadays, the National Library of France – or the BNF (Bibliothèque nationale di France), as it is often called at home – has four centres in the heart of Paris which are open to the general public: the futuristic François-Mitterrand space at Quai François-Mauriac, with over 10 million books; the Richelieu-Louvois Site for maps, prints, papers, medals, photos and manuscripts; the old Arsenal on Rue Sully, with the literature department; and the Bibliothèque-Musée de l'Opéra, specialising in music and dance, with the archives of the Opéra National de Paris. There is also a public collection in Avignon, accommodating the personal archives of the actor and director Jean Vilar and those of the local Cinema Festival of Avignon. There are two further Conservation centres, which are open only to a select group of technicians with special permits. One of these is in Sablé-sur-Sarthe – a north-western town between Le Mans and Rennes – where fragile documents are restored, while the other is the Centre technique de Bussy-Saint-Georges in Marne-la-Vallée, which shares its home with the Centre technique du livre de l'enseignement supérieur. The site is used both for restorations requiring ample space or specific materials (such as parchments or large maps) and as a research centre for document conservation and to store further specimens to those already held in the legal deposit. It all sounds like a real centre of excellence, doesn't it? And indeed, excellence shines through in every detail. So, to open the doors to culture, while deterring those just looking for a parking space, guess which barriers were chosen for the BNF at Marne-la-Vallée. The new DITEC Qik 80, of course. With their high performance and smooth, elegant lines that beautifully complement the architectural setting. They are clearly a perfect fit. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Construction News :: home page |