Availability of aerial photography and space images; the photothèque at the IGN (F), France

The activities of the French IGN photo-library are described. This photo-library has been entrusted with archiving aerial photographs of the French territory. It holds some of the first aerial pictures, taken a century ago, together with surveys carried out at that time. Nearly 4 million items are stored within its walls, and these are being increased by an average of sixty thousand new frames every year. Any group taking aerial photographs over France has to make them available to the photo-library. Its mission has now been extended to space imagery relating to the French territory, whether the satellite providing the data is French or not, so long as the pixel size is less than one hundred meters. This library is responsible for meeting request from customers, whoever they may be, e.g., public of private producers or users of geographic information, planners, managers, engineers, teachers, students or the general public. A short overview of similar activities in some other countries is given and the conclusion emphasizes the need for a wider dissemination and use of all the aerial and space data available throughout the world.