Only particularly keen eyes will notice that the final “s” of the word books has not been cut as finely as the other letters. Apart from this oversight rectified at the last minute, the first two book boxes of the commune stand proudly at the Parc de l’Europe, in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou (Maine-et-Loire) where they were inaugurated on Monday December 16, 2024.
The opportunity, for Séverine Gaboriau, assistant for culture, to briefly recall the history of the project, which appeared in the mandate program four years ago. “For a year and a half, we have been in contact with Erea [établissement régional d’enseignement adapté] the association of residents of the Rillerie district, the communication department of the municipality, the Citizen Apiary and the secular association. »
Because it was not a question of simply having a box manufactured by the technical services. For the mayor, Dominique Bréjeon, it was a question of carrying out “a collaborative project, with the aim of bringing a lot of people around”. A cultural project too, all the more important in a context where “culture is battered by storms”.
“Folding and cutting required quite a bit of skill”
Bruno Tiberge, professor of carpentry, and Emmanuel Gallou, professor of metalwork at Erea, designed the plans for the two boxes. “For our carpentry and metalwork students, the prototype had to contain wood and metal. The challenge was for them to use our water jet cutter, specifies Nicolas Quinqueneau, director of Erea. Folding and cutting took quite a bit of skill. » The students produced the prototype in several stages, from May 2024 to the end of the year.
The original model, a central trunk which supports two boxes arranged on two levels, to be accessible to all, rather resembles a tree. Made from recycled materials, it is also environmentally friendly. Some improvements will be made to protect it from humidity. It will be tested for three months. The Ranloue media librarians will come and check the condition of the books freely made available to residents.
“The idea is that there will be a book box in each neighborhood, but that it remains collaborative, with the involvement of residents and associations,” informs Gurval Reto, the director of culture.
During the inauguration, volunteers from the secular association closely observed the prototype. Without necessarily wanting to reproduce it identically, they are the ones who will manufacture the next boxes. That of the Europe park is already well stocked.
