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Profession: Librarian
What is the Bpi's National Catalogue of Documentary Films?
The Bpi makes available to public libraries in France a catalogue of around 1,500 documentary films, for which it has purchased the rights from producers, distributors or directors. The possession of these rights permits public showings of the films (individual viewings or projections to a group) on the library premises, as well as home loans - all free of charge.
The National Catalogue constitutes a reference catalogue, covering all fields of knowledge and in particular the most inventive sectors of cinematographic creativity (documentary essays and so-called "author" films).
The purchase of the rights in France and abroad, based on a negotiation at the national level, makes it possible to distribute to libraries a range of films that are of great cultural interest but which are not profitable for commercial cinemas. The purchases for the National Catalogue are based on selections made by a national selection committee, composed of librarians in charge of film collections, that is representative of the distribution network and led by the 'Images in Libraries' Association. The rights are purchased for a period of ten years, and each year around 100 new titles are added to the catalogue. Any public library in France that belongs to the Bpi's distribution network can borrow and show these films free of charge. If your library wishes to make use of this service, please consult the access conditions.