Book and reading in the Pays de la Loire

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Development and modernisation of municipal, inter-municipal and departmental libraries.

Since 1986, the DRAC has supported construction/extension/restructuring, furniture and equipment, computer and digital equipment, heritage preservation and collections development, Extension of opening hours within the framework of the special competition created within the general decentralisation grant for libraries (DGDs).

The simplified version of circular NOR MCCE1235052C explains the eligibility criteria and modalities for supporting projects in the Pays de la Loire.

Particular attention is paid to the specificity of each territory, to the writing of a scientific and cultural project, to the architectural and functional quality of the buildings, to the modalities and means of operation of each equipment. State aid shall be proportionate to the characteristics of each project.

Support for the acquisition of heritage documents

By agreement with the Region, the DRAC also supports the acquisition by municipal libraries of rare and valuable heritage documents through the Regional Library Acquisition Fund (FRAB).

DEVELOPMENT OF READING

Territory-Reading Contracts (CTL)

With the establishment of Territory-Reading Contracts (CTL), the DRAC develops a policy of contractualisation with local authorities and public institutions of territorial cooperation to promote a structuring of public reading networks and the development of partnership actions between actors cultural, educational, social and economic aspects of books and reading in the same territory.

Communities interested in a CTL approach are invited to take up the DRAC.

Arts and cultural education and public mediation

Operations to broaden or strengthen reading practices are among the priorities of the Ministry of Culture. The actions supported are generally the result of partnership projects conducted with local authorities, other State departments (Health, Justice, National Education, Youth and Sports, etc. ), groups of works councils (CEZAM, Centre for Popular Culture and associations working in this field. In this area, the Book and Reading service works in close collaboration with the territorial and public service.

The National Book Centre can also supplement these aids with a device geared towards audiences away from reading.

BOOK ECONOMICS

Aid to the economic book sector: publishing houses and bookstores

Alongside the DRAC, other actors can support publishers and bookstores: the National Book Centre (CNL), theassociation for the development of creative bookshops (ADELC) theInstitute for the Financing of Cinema and Cultural Industries (IFCIC) on Regional Council of Pays de la Loire.

Bookshops may apply for the LIR (independent reference bookstore) label, which, if necessary, opens the possibility of a tax exemption for the territorial economic contribution (CET) or obtaining higher discount rates from certain broadcasters. They can also search for the LR label (reference library).

The book mediator is responsible for the conciliation of disputes concerning the application of the law on the price of books. He is also involved in resolving disputes concerning the editorial activity of public publishers.

SUPPORT FOR LITERARY LIFE (WRITER’S RESIDENCIES, ANNUAL PROGRAMMING, etc.)

The DRAC focuses its assistance on literary structures in the regions that set up a literary project over the whole year and on writer residencies with aspects of literary creation and cultural action.

Alongside the DRAC, the National Book Centre writer’s residencies and of literary events of scale and quality.

The Regional council supports literary structures in the regions.

STRUCTURING THE TERRITORY AND COOPERATION BETWEEN BOOK AND READING STAKEHOLDERS

To promote a balance of actors and actions at the regional level and the strengthening of collaborative work between the various links in the book chain and within each link, the DRAC supports the activity of three regional associations:

Mobilis, regional centre for cooperation between book and reading stakeholders in the Pays de la Loire, ALIP, association of independent bookshops in Pays de la Loire and COLL-LibrisCollective of publishers in Pays de la Loire.