After three years of work, the venerable library of the Sorbonne (the University, not the hotel) has just reopened (it was already closed when we did our photo report at the end of 2010).

With 500 seats, 2,100 m² and over 2 million items, the library is an incredible resource for Parisian students and researchers. Here are a few photos, a film and even a virtual visit of the site.

The 19th century building is now up to 21st century standards for a modern library. With its new lifts and corridors, it is also – finally – accessible to people in wheelchairs and has proper spaces where users can take a quick break and get their mental strength back.

Of course, this sort of huge renovation has a price, In this precise case, the price is 25.5 M€, payed entirley by the Paris council who has owned the building since the early 1800s.

Below, French-speakers can enjoy a short film while the work was ongoing. For the virtual visit, click here.

To see all  the photos of the renovated Sorbonne library, click here.