France: Libraries Discovering a New Lease of Life Beyond Just Books

From The Guardian:

Workshops, events, exhibitions, training courses and encouraging public participation in their management have become part of libraries’ roles. In some you may talk without whispering, use a phone, eat and even play computer games. Reading has become a source of sociability and the books on offer are supposed to encourage “social cohesion”. This trend towards greater openness, which started a few years ago, has only taken hold in a few of France’s 3,000 public libraries. But, it seems, it’s spreading.
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For local people, access to the library is free of charge, in keeping with the “third place” concept much in vogue with librarians (the first two being home and workplace). “We’re in an intermediate place here,” says head librarian Elisabeth Rozelot. “Its vocation is to teach people how to be citizens and to develop their critical faculties, with the ability to choose their own leisure activities, meet others and take part in social life.” The library organises a range of workshops, including reading, computing, basket-making and lino-cutting, readings, slide shows and concerts. But there are employment and literacy support groups too, in partnership with local associations. The resident poet stages encounters with fellow writers.

Read the Complete Article (approx. 1350 Words)
Hat Tip: Designing Libraries

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Libraries, Management and Leadership, Public Libraries