School textbooks, biographies, art Books, essays, novels, thrillers, collections of poetry, cooking recipes, books on animals, on nature, old newspapers and magazines… As in la Samaritaine, on the stalls of the USV boxing and well-being book exchange, you can find everything.
And book enthusiasts looking for good deals are not mistaken, loyal to this meeting which has become an unmissable Vendôme fair in November.
Last year, 1,500 visitors crossed the threshold of the hall, leaving with one, ten or a box of books.
Collection of books, integration of young people and sporting solidarity
This 19e edition with free entry organized in a friendly atmosphere, always with Paco Monné at the helm, manages to keep its original philosophy: offering all types of public an encounter with the world of books at a low price.
Paco Monné and Roland Blanchecotte, former boxers, are, along with several loyal volunteers, the pillars of the book exchange.
© (Photo archives NR, Edith Van Cutsem)
Former boxer, retired street educator still close to the boxing club and its kingpin Robert Guettier, Paco Monné is the Mister book purse.
“Regularly, throughout the year, I visit the seven recycling centers of the ValDem union located in Vendôme, Saint-Ouen Saint-Amand, Morée, Naveil, Danzé and Selommes to empty the specific bins which are made available to donors. Over time, I understood what sells and what I can get back or what has no chance of selling. For example, for encyclopedias, it is increasingly difficult to find a buyer. But as my stomach hurts from having to throw away, I keep books for the following year or I add to the rural book boxes. »
Low prices
And every year, dozens of boxes of books find a second life, presented on some 80 tables lined up under the covered market hall and regularly restocked by volunteers.
Books, books and more books on some 80 tables lined up under the covered market.
© (Photo archives NR, Edith Van Cutsem)
“We started at the Clemenceau gymnasium in Les Rottes, then at the Jean-Émond gymnasium, choosing the month of March and for four years in the city center in November. We kept our loyal regulars and found a new clientele, particularly with Sunday strollers who wander randomly, discover the book market and fall in love with this or that book,” confides Paco Monné.
The desire to treat yourself is all the more intense as the prices charged are particularly attractive: €1 for a paperback book, €2 for novels such as cookery recipe books, €4 for beautiful art books.
This recovery is coupled with an action of animation and integration since the establishment of the book exchange and the reception are partly the business of fifteen adolescents monitored by the prevention service, supervised by a few adults in as part of an educational project. They join the ranks of around ten USV volunteers who take turns on site during these two days.
Last year, once the cost of printing the posters was deducted, €4,000 of revenue was donated to USV boxing, in particular to help cover the travel costs of young people during their competitions.
USV boxing and well-being book exchange, under the covered market halls Saturday November 9, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday November 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE ENTRANCE.
