Some considerations

Children from some parts of cities do not visit libraries in great numbers, for reasons which have been much discussed elsewhere. However they like to listen to stories and look at books with pictures. Why, then not go directly to where they live, tell them stories, let them take books home, get used to a small library and later become readers in a larger one? The work it takes to tame a book and the library cannot be done from one day to the next; it obviously has to take place throughout the year and even cover several years.

Many municipal libraries (bibliothèques municipales) are aware of all that and have set up initiatives allowing young people to discover books through street reading sessions.

But that which makes Besançon’s street reading service original is:

• It takes place all year round, thanks to the van which removes the obstacle of bad weather;
• It takes place for several years in the same place;
• It takes place with library personnel , thus allowing for a constant link with the libraries;
• It involves both book lending and other actions, and this lets children take home a book that they have discovered and come to love;
• It’s run with modest means: a van which goes everywhere and a limited quantity of documents among which the young novice reader does not feel lost;
• Finally it does not replace the library, it’s only a step towards it and it comes to an end when the children sign up there (see history)