Support for the book economy
The Ministry of Culture’s book policy aims to maintain and develop a dense and diversified book distribution network throughout the country. As such, support for quality bookstores and publishers, who participate in the distribution of works and contribute to regional planning, is a priority of the Ministry’s action.
Support for bookstores and publishing houses
Within the DRAC, in connection with the National Book Centre (CNL), the Book and Reading advisors of the Pôle Démocratisation et industries culturelles (DIC):
- assist and support projects for the development, sustainability, takeover, extension of bookshops or publishing houses by private companies or associations;
– encourage the dissemination of a diverse and high-quality editorial offering in French and French languages;
- promote regional structuring of the sector;
- give an opinion on the granting of the LIR (Independent Reference Bookshop) labels which provide recognition of an ambition and know-how and allow support by local authorities through exemption from the CET (Territorial economic contribution). Learn more about the LIR label
- ensure information and compliance with legislation on the single price of books;
- participate in the maintenance, in the region, of the know-how of craftsmen of the trades of the book...
Aid for local independent bookstores and independent publishers in the Far East
The eligibility criteria defined by the DRAC Grand Est are based on the cultural quality of the projects and their relevance in terms of spatial planning.
Among the types of projects supported :
For booksellers and publishers : layout and expansion of premises - purchase of furniture or computer equipment (software and equipment) - creation of a website – valorization of the fund – animations around the book...
For publishers : installation aid - launch of a collection - commitment of a broadcaster/distributor at national or interregional level - creation of a new catalogue – digitization of the catalogue – promotion actions – aid for translation – reinforcement of the distribution of works at regional and national, international...
Annual calls for projects
The DRAC Grand Est, in partnership with the Grand Est Region, issues annual calls in support of the book economy.
Support for independent libraries
The objective of helping local independent bookstores is to maintain a dense network of independent bookstores in the territories and support them in the challenges they face.
Aid for independent publishers
The aid to independent publishers is part of the will to maintain an innovative and diversified editorial fabric on the regional territory, the DRAC Grand Est offers aid to the publication of books published in the region, as well as to the editorial sector, especially in its adaptation to new economic and digital challenges.
Aid for collective projects
The objective is to promote projects related to books, writing, language, literature or illustration, carried by, or in collaboration with, actors from other artistic fields that stand out in terms of innovation, attractiveness of the territory, economic development and social cohesion.
These grants are subject to annual calls for joint projects (3 sessions per year) with the Grand Est Region.
Read more on the "Grant" page "Specific aids book and reading"
Other aid for publishing and bookselling
Aid from the DRAC may be combined with other schemes such as:
Publishers:
- the National Book Centre (CNL): publication of books, translation of digital publishing...;
- the Institut pour le financement du Cinéma et des Industries culturelles (IFCIC) (whose mission is to facilitate access to credit by providing its financial guarantee);
- the Grand Est Regional Council.
Libraries:
- the National Book Centre (CNL): support for takeovers, extensions and creations, development of funds, participation in fairs, production of thematic catalogues... CNL also has a 0-rate loan for independent bookstores;
- the Association for the Development of Creative Bookshops (ADELC);
- the Institute for the Financing of Cinema and Cultural Industries (IFCIC), whose mission is to facilitate access to credit by providing its financial guarantee, to allow cash advances (FALIB scheme) or to grant medium-term loans;
- the Grand Est Regional Council.
The label LIR (independent reference library) and LR (reference library)
To maintain a network of bookstores of dense and diversified quality throughout the territory and guarantee the quality book a wide distribution and a long-term presence, the Ministry issues a label to distinguish, promote and support the qualitative work of bookstores: the Librairie indépendante de référence (LIR) label and the Librairie de référence (LR) label.
35 bookshops are labeled in the Grand Est, as of January 1, 2017.
Learn more about the LIR and LR Label
The law on the single price of books
The Law on the Single Price of Books (known as the Lang Law), promulgated on 10 August 1981 and entered into force on 1 January 1982, introduced the system of the single price of books in France: any person who publishes or imports a book shall fix a price for the sale of the book to the public.
The purpose of this Act is to:
- the equality of citizens before the book, sold at the same price throughout the national territory;
- maintaining a dense decentralized distribution network, particularly in peri-urban and rural areas;
- support for pluralism in creation and publishing in particular for difficult works.
The DRAC ensures information and compliance with legislation on the single price of books in the regions and The Book and Reading advisors are authorized and sworn to note violations of the law.
The single price must be respected by all retailers (from specialist supermarkets to traditional bookshops and online bookshops). Discounts are limited to 5% of the price determined by the publisher.
The e-book
The Finance Law of 29 December 2010 for 2011 (Article 25) extended the reduced VAT rate to the e-book.
The law of 26 May 2011 introduced the single prize for e-books.
The ordinance of 12 November 2014 adapted the provisions of the Intellectual Property Code concerning the publishing contract for digital publishing.
Facilitate access for independent bookstores to public book orders
In compliance with public procurement law, the DRAC encourages local authorities, universities... to send their orders for books to bookstores independent of their territory.
Article 30-9 of Decree No. 2016-360 of 25 March 2016 provided for an increase to 90,000 euros excluding VAT of the threshold for exemption from prior proceedings and competition for public contracts for books not in schools. Learn more.
Vade-mecum: public purchase of books for library use
In order to support the librarians of the State and local authorities in their book purchasing markets, a vade-mecum, downloadable here, was produced in 2011 by the Ministry of Culture. It is to be downloaded here (updated 2018).
To read also in the heading "Book and reading"
Support to the Development of public reading
Training of book professionals
National event on books and reading
Grant application
Grant application to the DRAC Grand Est and specific aids "Book and reading"