Today is 2nd edition of Biblis en Folie, a French national day of libraries and médiathèques. It's the second year of this initiative, with which the French government aims to celebrate these institutions and their programming, their services, and their presence in the region. It's cool because with this initiative the French government recognises libraries as essential public service ! :) Imagined as a major public festival, Biblis en folie joins the Ministry of Culture's major national events like Nuit des musées, Journées européennes du patrimoine etc.
Finally we have a national library day in France!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
French government is sharing some interesting numbers. It seems there are more than 15 500 libraries, médiathèques and reading places across the country and that 97% of the population lives within 10 minutes of a library. That's awesome! If it's true ! :D They also mention that 35,000 professionals work daily. That's little less awesome, since it means that it's 2 persons per library, and that's definetly not enough!
The good thing is that the government recognises libraries as the country's leading local cultural facility that provide equal access to culture, education, and information for all citizens, particularly in rural areas.
Médiathèque where I work didn't organize anything in cadre of this event. I proposed something in September, but it was already too late. I hope for the next year we will do something! Long live Biblis en Folie! :)