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Due to renovation work, the library is currently closed to the public
Library
As a leading resource for photography books, the Institut pour la photographie's library will ultimately house nearly 40,000 volumes from the 20th and 21st centuries.
“The photobook is an art form in its own right, comparable to a sculpture, a play, or a film. Photographs lose their photographic nature as objects “in and of themselves” to become components—expressed in printing ink—of an exceptional creation called a book. Publishing was the primary means of disseminating photography until it managed to establish itself within museum institutions in the second half of the 20th century.”
In 2018, the acquisition of the collection of photography historian Annie-Laure Wanaverbecq —a native of the region and former director of the Robert Doisneau House in Gentilly— was a starting point of the Institut pour la photographie's library.
In 2021, a second donation of more than 26,000 photo books from collector Lucien Birgé established this library as a global leader in photography publishing. Although the library specializes in artist monographs—a format that accounts for approximately 45% of the Institut's collection— this particularly valuable collection reflects all uses and forms of photography, ranging from commissioned or propaganda works, through documentary and press photography, to more formal and/or creative approaches.
That same year, a third donation was added to the collection: the contents of Bettina Rheims' studio, which shed new light on the artist's work.
At the same time, the collection has grown through acquisitions related to the exhibition program and the library’s commitment to making knowledge accessible to everyone, from the youngest visitors to specialist researchers. In addition, each year, the library receives individual donations from artists, publishers, institutions, and partners.
In order to promote these resources, the Institut has begun implementing a web portal bringing together the libraries of five specialized institutions in the Hauts-de-France region —united within the Hippolyte Bayard Circle . This portal, intended for the general public, promotes the digital preservation and accessibility of the collections.
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Facilitate the circulation of documents
Every year, the Institut pour la photographie makes it a point of honor to promote the circulation of its books. Thus, in 2025, the Institut’s library loaned out 66 books to support research by Institut staff, educational workshops, and loans of educational kits.
In 2025, an educational kit on Picture Puzzles was created to address inquiries regarding the use of post-production and perspective effects. It complements the six other existing themes: the coastline, sports, work gesture, images (re)appropriation, the portrait and the resemblance. Each of these kits contains between 10 and 15 books suitable for all ages, and they come with a guide that provides resources —such as a glossary of photography terms and suggestions for easy-to-organize workshops.
The Libraries' Digital Portal
Conceived as an accessible, free resource center, the Institut pour la photographie’s library has realized its vision through a digital portal shared with members of the Cercle Hippolyte Bayard: the CRP/ in Douchy-les-Mines, Diaphane in Clermont-de-l’Oise, Coquelle Castle in Dunkirk and Destin Sensible in Mons-en-Baroeul; this portal lists the works of photographers active in the Hauts-de-France region.
All the librarians at the Cercle Hippolyte Bayard meet regularly to discuss and define plans for the coming years. These dedicated sessions allow them to pool resources and expertise, optimize the portal’s offerings, and discuss how information is shared within the network.
Appropriate storage in connection with the relocation of the collections
Due to the situation at the Institut pour la photographie building, the library’s relocation began in April 2024. This process includes cataloging and cleaning the collections—essential steps to ensure the integrity of the books when they are returned to the building after the renovations.
A total of 7,299 documents were checked and cleaned. Subsequently, 4,897 books were packed and then transported, in two shipments, to the warehouses of the Northern Archives Center (CADN). A third shipment was made in 2025 to ensure that the entire collection was stored. The CADN was also commissioned to acquire and partially catalog the third donation from collector Lucien Birgé.
Promoting the Photo Book
The Institut pour la photographie is pursuing an ambitious publishing strategy through key collaborations with publishers such as delpire&co or Spector Books , in collaboration with partner institutions, such as Photo: Elysée.
This dynamic is directly reflected in the Institute’s programming. When it comes to exhibitions, the focus is consistently on the book as an object, as evidenced by A Tribute to William Klein (Spring 2023), Photography Books and Commercial Commission Work (presented that same year at the B!B in Dunkirk), The Photo Book: A Space for Visual Experimentation (proposed in 2021 as part of the Perspectives program) or, more recently, the traveling exhibition L is for Look. When it comes to events, this approach comes to life at dedicated events, such as the Book Markets, Library Nights, or workshops focused on micro-publishing.
Finally, this commitment to publishing translates into concrete support for creators and researchers. The Institut pour la photographie thus offers artistic guidance to photographers —which may take the form of support related to publishing, writing, or the publication of a book— and, since 2024, has been operating a grant program to support children’s photo books edition, enabling selected authors to bring their publishing projects for young audiences to fruition.