Founded in 1875, the Oriental Library is a heritage and research library intrinsically linked to the Jesuit mission and dedicated to Middle Eastern studies. It preserves the mission’s memory through some 3,700 manuscripts, 250,000 books, 250,000 photographs and 4,000 maps. As the true guardian of the region’s treasures, its primary objective is to preserve the written and pictorial traces of the Middle East’s history and to share them with as many people as possible, as part of an ongoing intergenerational dialogue. Supporting the BO is a way to perpetuate the past for the benefit of future generations. More specifically, it means helping in:

• • Preserving the collections in accordance with international standards;


• • Expanding the collections through ongoing acquisitions;


• • Supporting academic research and artistic creation;


• • Making the collections available through digitization, cultural programming and educational offerings to reach a wide and diverse audience;


• • Welcoming visitors by reorganizing and reinvesting the BO space to make their visit a unique and unforgettable experience.