Nice – Raoul Mille Library

The city of Nice, whose public reading network is very extensive, wanted to rehabilitate the so-called «Malausséna Liberation» district. The Raoul Mille Library is part of the network of Municipal Libraries of which it is the 14^th implantation.

Originally planned in the Thiole garden, this annex of the public library finally opened its doors on 16 January 2014 in the former Gare du Sud. Located opposite the gardens of Villa Thiole, the library spans four floors and occupies most of the former passenger hall. Thus, this «passenger building» keeps its primary mission. It is always a place of travel that transports its visitors to the imagination of authors.

In tribute to Raoul Mille, the library bears his name. A man of letters who disappeared in 2012, he devoted his entire life to literature and reading. His literary work was a great success. In 1987, he was awarded the Interallié Award for Lovers of Paradise (Grasset). In 1993, he was awarded the Paul Léautaud Award for Father and Mother (Flammarion) and in 1997 the Baie des Anges award for Storm Heaven (Albin Michel). In 2008, he was elected Nice city councillor and committed himself against illiteracy by organizing contacts with writers in schools, middle schools, high schools, hospitals and the Nice prison.

The 1500 m² of library allow to propose to the public six distinct spaces. On the ground floor, it will find a large hall, located in the old hall of steps lost, a multimedia room providing screens for free Internet access and digital tablets as well as a meeting room.

On 1^er On the upper floor is a game library with a wide selection of board games and wooden games.

On the 2nd^th floor offers visitors the possibility to consult works in a large room of 400 m² housing several thousand books, DVDs and periodicals. They will also be able to enjoy in this room the many computer stations allowing free access to the Internet.

Finally, on the top floor, there is a multimedia work room with a breathtaking view of the Place Charles-de-Gaulle offering research tiles and providing about thirty computers. 

During its 28 hours of operation per week, the library offers cultural entertainment for all audiences. In addition to Internet and free WIFI access, the library organizes class visits as well as time for stories conferences, concerts and reading workshops.

Raoul Mille Library
33 avenue Malausséna
tel. 04 97 13 54 28

• Sheet produced by Charlotte Ferrari, intern at the DRAC PACA with the advisor for books and reading as part of a license of Public Management at the IMPGT, Institute of Public Management and Territorial Governance, Aix-Marseille University.