Bibliothèque Nationale de France

The Bibliothèque Nationale de France, or BNF, started by King Charles V 1368, is designed as a repository of all that is published in France.

History

The National Library of France traces its origin to the library of the king founded at the Louvre by Charles V. It expanded under Louis XIV and opened to the public in 1720. Following the series of regime changes in France it became the Imperial National Library and in 1868 was moved to newly constructed buildings on the rue Richelieu designed by Henri Labrouste.

On 14 July 1988, François Mitterrand announced the construction and the expansion of one of the greatest and the most modern library of the world, intended to cover all fields of knowledge, and designed to be accessible to all, using the most modern data transfer technologies, which could be consulted from a distance, and which would collaborate with other European libraries. In July 1989, the services of the architectural firm of Dominique Perrault were retained. After the move of the major collections from the rue Richelieu, the National Library of France opened to the public on 20 December 1996. It contains more than ten million volumes.

Mission

The National Library of France is a public establishment under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Its mission is to constitute collections, especially the copies of works published in France that must, by law, be deposited there, conserve them, and make them available to the public. It produces a reference catalogue, cooperates with other national and international establishments, and participates in research programs.

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Quality Counts 2007: From Cradle to Career: Connecting American Educat
Collection of articles and data from January 2007 "track[ing] state efforts to create seamless education systems from early childhood to the world of work."Features articles on topics such as "Gauging Student Learning"and "Linking Learning to Earning,"and the "Chance for Success Index,"which provides state-by-state data on 13 individual indicators (such as family income and preschool enrollment). From Education Week magazine with support from the Pew Center on the States.

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Engineers Create Gecko-inspired, High-friction Micro-fibers
Inspired by the hairs that allow geckos to hang single-toed from sheer walls and scamper along ceilings, a UC Berkeley-led team of researchers has created an array of synthetic micro-fibers that uses very high friction to support loads on smooth surfaces without the stickiness found in adhesives. The fibers in the array, packed 42 million per square centimeter, are about 100 times thinner than a human hair.

2005 Gas Tax [Washington State]
"The 2005 Washington State Legislature voted an increase in gas taxes and other fees to pay for a 16-year plan to take care of some of Washington State's most critical transportation needs. Over 270 projects will be funded by a package."This website highlights selected road and bridge projects completed or underway in some of the state's counties. Includes a link to a complete list of projects. From the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Golden Gate Mysteries: A Bibliography of Crime Fiction Set in the San
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