The École des Ponts ParisTech Library was established at the end of the 18th century from donations by the School’s first directors or inspectors.

From Rue des Saints-Pères…

 Located at the heart of the historic Rue des Saints-Pères site from 1845 through to 1997, it would adapt to the School’s changing educational needs: originally a “Library”, in the 1980s it became a “Pedagogical Documentation and Communication Centre”, and then, until 2003, a “Contemporary and Historical Documentation Centre”.


In the 1990s, with the emergence of large scientific and technical databases, the Cistre (Scientific and Technical Research Information Centre) was created, specifically for the laboratories.

... to the Cité Descartes campus

In 1997, the School moved to Cité Descartes, and the Library acquired facilities more in keeping with its functions. In 2001, it became an associate arm ; de lof the National Library of France (BnF) for civil engineering: 5000 old photographs digitised with the assistance of the BnF formed the resource for its future digital library. In 2002, the library catalogue became accessible on the Internet. In 2003, a single documentary service was created through the merging of the Contemporary and Historical Document Centre and the Scientific and Technical Research Information Centre.

... to Paris-East University

In 2007, the Paris-East University PRES , (research and higher education cluster) was created, and the Library became an active partner.
It is also involved in the work of the ParisTech documentation committee.