Bibliothèque municipale de Douai

Bibliothèque Marceline Desbordes-Valmore
A page from one of the medieval illuminated manuscripts held by the library (BM Douai Ms. 340)
Map
Location117 Rue de la Fonderie, 59500 Douai, France
TypePublic library
ScopeBibliothèque Municipale Classée [fr]
Established1767
Reference to legal mandateCode général des collectivités territoriales, art. L 1422-2 & R 1422-2; Code du patrimoine, art. L 310-2
Collection
Sizeabout 250,000 works (including 600 medieval manuscripts and 300 incunables)
Other information
DirectorGuillaume Klaes
Websitehttp://www.bm-douai.fr

The Bibliothèque municipale de Douai, now known as Bibliothèque Marceline Desbordes-Valmore ( named after the Douai-born poet Marceline Desbordes-Valmore) is a library located in Douai, France. Founded in 1767, it was bombed on August 11, 1944.[1] The library reopened in 1955, in a new building designed by the architect Maurice Coasnes.[2]

The special collections ("réserve patrimoniale") include 607 medieval manuscripts (many of which were confiscated at the suppression of Anchin Abbey and Marchiennes Abbey during the French Revolution), over 300 incunables, a considerable number of works printed in Douai on hand-operated presses from 1569 onwards, and the literary remains (letters and manuscripts) of Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786-1859).[3]

References

  1. ^ The Medieval Bestiary, last updated Jan. 15, 2011; consulted Apr. 22, 2014.
  2. ^ Jean Bleton, Les Nouvelles Bibliothèques Municipales de Douai et de Beauvais, Bulletin des Bibliothèques de France no. 5 (1957). Consulted 22 April 2014.
  3. ^ La réserve patrimoniale Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Library website. Consulted 22 Apr., 2014.

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