The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) has appointed Jean-Charles Bédague as Director of Collections and Deputy General Director, effective July 1. Bédague, a heritage curator and graduate of the École nationale des chartes and the Institut national du patrimoine, previously served as deputy director for archives management, communication, and promotion at the French Ministry of Culture. He succeeds Marie de Laubier in overseeing the BNF's fourteen documentary departments.
This appointment matters because the Director of Collections holds a key leadership role at one of the world's most important national libraries, which houses vast cultural heritage holdings including manuscripts, prints, and rare books. Bédague's background in archives and cultural administration signals continuity in the BNF's stewardship of its collections, while his relatively young age (41) suggests a generational shift in French cultural heritage management.