A tripartite commitment to reading in the Amiens Métropole region
On October 19, 2024 at the Louis Aragon library in Amiens, the signing of the Territory Reading Contract (CTL) between the State represented by Hilaire Multon, regional director of cultural affairs for Hauts-de-France, the Somme department represented by Margaux Delétré, vice-president, and Amiens Metropolis represented by Alain Gest, president, marks a key milestone for public reading in the region.
This contract, lasting three years, implements concerted actions to facilitate access to Books, particularly for remote audiences. The objective is to strengthen cultural offerings in rural and urban areas, while combating illiteracya major challenge in Hauts-de-France.
The partnership provides, among other things, forenrichment of documentary fundslakecreation of innovative digital resources and the setting up traveling exhibitions. State support amounts to €35,000 per year, demonstrating a strong commitment to quality public reading.
© DRAC Hauts-de-France
“Reading is not a cultural practice like any other: it is, in a certain way, the one that can condition all the others.”
Hilaire Multon, regional director of cultural affairs for Hauts-de-France
Reading, a lever for social inclusion
The contract is part of a national strategy aimed at making reading a tool for social cohesion. The CTL strives to respond to this situation by supporting cultural projects adapted to the needs of residents.
Structuring initiatives are also supported by the Somme department, such as the authors’ residence in Saint-Riquier or the parents and babies book festivalwhich promote awareness of reading from a very young age, or even future departmental bioclimatic media libraryan innovative and sustainable project.
A modernized library network
The signing of this contract also marks a turning point for the Amiens Métropole library network. Thanks to a plan to extend opening hours over three yearssupported by national funding, libraries like that of Aragon benefit from better accessibility. Of new technologies, such as RFIDwere also deployed to facilitate loans and improve user autonomy.
At the same time, the network is implementing concrete actions to encourage reading among young people and remote audiences. Programs like “First Pages” et “Books of your own” thus aim to strengthen the link between families and reading, while promoting the available documentary resources.
A public reading focused on the future
The Territory Reading Contract opens the way to a new dynamic for the libraries of Amiens Métropole. Despite the challenges encountered, notably the fire at the Étouvie media library in June 2023local stakeholders are mobilized to maintain continuous access to books, with the establishment of temporary reading points.
This contract symbolizes a shared desire to invest in culture and knowledge, and to make libraries places of inclusion and sharing. The State, in partnership with local authorities, thus reaffirms its commitment to supporting innovative initiatives and developing a more accessible and resilient public reading network.
