English main page

What is a BDP?

The BDP (Bibliothèque Départementale de Prêt or "Regional Library") is a typically French concept which can only be compared to Quebec's CRSBP or to Germany's Fachstellen.

The first BDP was created in 1945. Its number has been increasing up to 1982, and since that time the BDPs now number 96, i.e. one per region. Under control of the regional authorities (Conseils Généraux des Départements) since 1986, the BDPs establish and maintain a network of public libraries in municipalities under 10,000 inhabitants. In small towns these libraries are run by a professional staff, though in most villages they are run by volunteers. 

The BDP's main aim is to lend books and other library materials to municipal libraries, adding to their own collections, and to provide advice and proper training to municipal library personel.

Generally speaking, the BDPs are not public open access except for a few. Their mobile libraries, called "Bibliobus," are mainly used to bring books to municipal libraries, and are not open access to the public nor to school children.