Label LIR - Independent reference library and LR - Reference library
A label set up by the Ministry of Culture to recognize, value and support the commitment and qualitative work of booksellers.
Maintain a dense and diversified bookstore network on the territory
The maintenance and development of independent bookstores is one of the priorities of the book policy conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Communication.
In neighborhoods, in urban areas, as in rural areas, independent bookstores contribute to the access of all to culture, development and cultural animation of territories.
In a context where the offer of books, each year more important, makes the mediation of professionals essential to allow the meeting of authors and their readers, booksellers play a decisive role in the promotion of editorial diversity.
In order to maintain a network of bookstores of dense and diversified quality throughout the territory and to guarantee to the book of quality a wide diffusion and a presence in the duration, the Ministry issues, since 2009, a label allowing to distinguish, enhance and support the qualitative work of independent bookstores.
It opens the possibility of benefiting from a tax exemption on the part of local authorities who choose to join this support approach to local businesses identified by the richness of their assortment, the availability of their staff, their animation program and their involvement in local cultural life.
A label awarded for three years
This label is granted for the three calendar years following that of the application by the Minister for Culture, on the proposal of the President of the National Book Centre, after the opinion of a commission composed of professionals representing the entire chain of the book.
Certified bookstores in the Great East
27 bookshops are labeled, at 1er January 2023, in the Grand Est region. The list is available on the National Book Centre website.
Consult the list of certified bookstores
The LR label (reference library)
Since 2011, the device, under the name Reference bookshop label, is expanded for the benefit of bookstores in medium and small towns with a view to cultural development of the territory. This label can also concern bookshops without capital independence but enjoying real autonomy of choice and management, allowing quality work (some bookshops publishers, for example) or bookstores that do not meet all the conditions to benefit from the LIR label. These bookstores do not benefit from the exemption from the Territorial Economic Contribution (CET).
The advantages of the label
- enhance the quality of the reception, services and range;
- benefit for bookshops (meeting the conditions of Article 1464I of the General Tax Code) from an exemption from the territorial economic contribution (CET), subject to a deliberation to this effect by local authorities (1) for the LIR label only;
- benefit from more favourable commercial conditions on the part of certain suppliers (higher discount, shorter return credit periods...);
- apply for a grant for this institution under the CNL (National Book Centre) support scheme for the development of library funds (VAL support) (2).
(1) Each community shall make its decision independently of that of the others.
(2) Bookshops that have not yet applied for the label but meet the eligibility criteria for VAL assistance may apply for this assistance.
Calendar of application for labelling
The deadline for submitting label applications (to be sent to the Centre national du livre, under registered mail, with a copy to the DRAC Grand Est - Advisor book and reading of your sector) is April 30 of each year.
Applicants are informed of the Ministry of Culture’s decision in September.
Application deadline for exemption from territorial economic contribution (CET): before 2e working day following 1er may.