Founded in 1965, the National Centre for Children`s literature – La

publications
Founded in 1965, the National Centre for
Children’s literature – La Joie par les livres
has become a service of the BnF’s Literature
and art department since January the 1st, 2008.
collections available in Room I
Haut-de-Jardin Reference Library
Publications and various documentary resources such as magazines, monographs, reference books and exhibitions aim to propose reference points and food for thought to library professionals, teachers, people dealing with book industry, but also to the
general public and all persons willing to increase their knowledge
about youth and children’s literature.
its missions are
La Revue des livres pour enfants
• to encourage children’s access to books, reading and culture;
• to pick out the best of children’s literature in the wide range
of books published each year and to promote quality children’s
literature;
• to ensure preservation of and access to the whole production
of French children’s literature;
• to offer professionals working in the field of children’s literature,
particularly those who promote books and reading, pieces
of information and training opportunities they might need.
offers every two months a critical overview of recently published
books, information resources, interviews, news, thematic articles and
files about books and reading for children and young people.
A special issue provides a selection - nearly 800 books - among the
best books published during the previous year.
Takam Tikou
actions
is an annual digital magazine focusing on books and reading
in sub-saharian Africa, the Arab world, the Caribbean and
the Indian Ocean.
• Documentary resources available onsite and off-site,
via a documentary portal: http://lajoieparleslivres.bnf.fr
• Publications: La Revue des livres pour enfants, Takam Tikou,
reference books, bibliographies, selections of books...
• Thematic training sessions intended for librarians, teachers
or any person interested in youth and children’s literature.
• International initiatives to promote children’s books
and reading.
reference books
• Proceedings of symposiums
Rencontres européennes de la littérature pour la jeunesse,
Traduire les livres pour la jeunesse : enjeux et spécificités,
L’univers de Roald Dahl.
• Monographs
Faire vivre une bibliothèque pour la jeunesse,
Le roman pour adolescents aujourd’hui
• Collection « Lire en VO »
Selections of children’s books in foreign languages (Italian,
Arabic, English, Spanish)
tools to find one’s way through the whole
production of books for children and young people
• critical presentations of recently published books
Critical lists, fortnightly published on review, provide
a selection of best books. The lists are presented and commented on during public meetings.
The service is subject to charges and available via subscription.
• thematic selections of children’s books
• bibliographies, directories...
The bibliographies are available for free via the website.
Bibliographies about specific themes might be established
on request.
over 20,000 documents available in open access
• A showcase for youth literature published in France
and around the world, a choice of classics of children’s
literature. Collections of popular tales, reference books,
magazines intended for children and adults, documentary
dossiers...
• Consultation on request of the collections kept
in closed stacks after preliminary registration
in Room I
documentary portal
http://lajoieparleslivres.bnf.fr
It necessarily complements the series of collections
available on site and provides access to:
• the online catalogue
• an ideal library
• a digital library
• online access to digitized versions of La Revue
des livres pour enfants and Takam Tikou (except
the latest issues)
• a directory
• a personalised workspace and a selection of information
resources
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Children’s books at the BnF
The BnF is the main cultural institution housing children’s books
in France. These collections have been divided between the
François-Mitterrand site and Richelieu site among the following
departments: literature and art; rare books reserve; philosophy,
history and human sciences; law, economics, political science;
audiovisual; prints and photography.
The National Centre for Children’s literature – La Joie par
les livres houses and makes available a unique collection
counting over 250,000 documents. The collection includes:
• all children’s books published in France since the 60’s,
• a wide range of French-language children’s books,
in particular books published in sub-saharian
African countries and the Arab world,
• a collection of books in foreign languages,
• a collection of reference books,
• a special collection devoted to tales,
• a collection of ancient, rare or precious books.
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training
international actions
Practical information
Bibliothèque nationale de France
François-Mitterrand
discovering and analysing the editorial production
A way to discover the different types of children’s books
or to go deeper into the matter: exploration of children’s
literature, critical analysis of books for young people,
meetings with artists (“Visiteurs du soir”).
Bibliothèque nationale de France
international partnerships
• Counseling in the management and the organisation
of libraries as well as librarians’ training.
• Initiatives for promoting books published in the country
and editorial counseling.
• A network of partnerships associating a hundred libraries
in Africa and the Arab world focusing on the analysis
of children’s literature.
• Activities of the French section of IBBY International
(International Board on Books for Young People):
involvement in initiatives led by IBBY International
(Andersen Award, IBBY honour list, Asahi Reading
promotion award); promotion of foreign children’s literature
in France; promotion of French children’s literature abroad.
• Involvement in the IFLA (International Federation
of Library Associations) section of Libraries for Children
and Young Adults.
reference material for children’s literature professionals
from books to readers
How to develop appropriate professional behaviours:
management of collections intended for young people,
cultural initiatives, knowledge of different types of readers,
storytelling, use of the Internet and multimedia services.
tailor-made training sessions
The training sessions cover thematic fields such as:
• picture books, novels, documentaries, tales,
• history of children’s books,
• critical analysis and enhancement of children’s
literature,
• management of collections (documentary policy,
weeding, preservation)
• cultural initiatives...
• Reference material and documentary dossiers about
children’s literature and reading in the different countries.
• Publications and reference material:
Takam Tikou, Lire en V.O., L’édition africaine en français
pour la jeunesse, L’édition pour la jeunesse dans les pays
arabes, L’édition caraïbéenne pour la jeunesse, Livre
et lecture dans l’Océan Indien
François-Mitterrand
Quai François Mauriac
75706 Paris Cedex 13
Haut-de-Jardin
Literature and art department
National Centre for Children’s literature –
La Joie par les livres
Room I
Collections are available in Room I,
Haut-de-Jardin Reference Library
Tuesday – Saturday
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday
1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Closed-stacks collections are available on request
Tuesday – Saturday
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
information
33 |0|1 53 79 53 79
http://lajoieparleslivres.bnf.fr
metro
exhibitions
• Kan ya ma kan
The Arab world through 100 children’s books
• 34 African illustrators for children’s literature
and other travelling exhibitions for rent
Line 14 and line C of the RER
Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand station
Line 6
Quai de la gare station
bus
Line 62, 64, 89, 132, 325
january 2010
Literature and art department
National Centre for Children’s literature
La Joie par les livres
exploring the cultural heritage
Seminars focusing on cultural heritage (“Matinées du
patrimoine”), workshops about the history of children’s
books, workshop about preservation issues and book
weeding.
International actions are carried out by the National Centre
for Children’s literature – La Joie par les livres to promote
children’s books and reading in foreign countries. This is
achieved through:
BnF/délégation à la Communication, illustration © Chen Jiang Hong
Each year, the National Centre for Children’s literature
- La Joie par les Livres proposes a programme of seminars,
study days and workshops intended for librarians,
teachers, storytellers aand other book professionals
or childhood specialists but also for any person interested
in children’s literature. The National Centre for children’s
literature – La Joie par les livres also provides tailor-made
training sessions to answer specific requests of institutions
or associations. Training within first degree university
courses might also be provided. The training programme
is centered around three themes.