Erquy dropped the fee to use its library, for residents and visitors alike
The town council made the Blé-en-Herbe library free to enter. Card fees had been about 3 percent of the library budget.
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The reporting lives at Ouest-France. Our summary is checked against it, and we link it on every story.
Erquy's municipal council voted to make the Blé-en-Herbe library free for everyone, residents and visitors. Ouest-France reported the decision on October 20, 2026.
Culture deputy Maryvonne Chalvet proposed the change so access would be universal and the library simpler to run. Income from fees had been about 3 percent of the library budget. Printing and photocopying are also free, up to five pages a day for each user. Associations are not included in that printing rule. The council gave up a 9 percent discount on its book purchases so the money supports independent bookshops. Books withdrawn from the shelves can be resold cheaply rather than pulped, except copies that cannot be saved.
For the classroom
Ouest-France reported on October 20, 2026, that Erquy, in Brittany, made the Blé-en-Herbe library free for residents and visitors. Culture deputy Maryvonne Chalvet proposed the change so anyone can use the library and the rules are simpler. Fees had been only about 3 percent of the library budget. Printing is also free, up to five pages a day for each person. Groups do not get that same free printing. The town also gave up a discount on the books it buys, so more money goes to independent bookshops. Books the library no longer needs can be sold cheaply instead of being thrown away, unless they cannot be saved.
- What changes for a child if a library card no longer costs money?
- Why might a town want visitors to use the library too?
- What is one book you would be glad to find for free?
For a teacher to read with a class. Print the story of the day · All classroom stories
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