In front of the Jacques Demy media library in Nantes, on the eve of confinement -

J. Urbach / 20 Minutes

  • There were people on Thursday in the Jacques-Demy and Lisa-Bresner media libraries in Nantes.

  • Even if the closure of libraries has not yet been formalized, many have come to refuel as a precaution.

It is not just in supermarkets or hairdressers that the French are rushing.

While a new lockdown is due to take effect this Thursday evening, it is also the rush in libraries.

In Nantes, Corinne waited an hour in front of the Jacques-Demy media library in the city center to be the first to be able to enter it, from the opening at 12 noon.

“During the first confinement, I missed it a lot,” says the retiree.

With the DVDs and novels that I came to pick up, I hope it turns out better.

Behind her, at least fifty people, equipped with shopping bags or wheeled carts, also moved.

At #Nantes, we are preparing for confinement.

Evidenced by this impressive queue at 12h in front of the Jacques Demy media library # confinementSaison2 pic.twitter.com/gWAwkZ4M4P

- 20 Minutes Nantes (@ 20minutesnantes) October 29, 2020

Once inside, the return kiosks are stormed, an essential step in order to be able to borrow again the maximum of 15 authorized documents.

Here, everyone has the same strategy: "we give back everything we had at home, then we stock up on books before locking ourselves in", explains a couple.

Among the most popular, comics, novels, and other children's books.

“We came last week but we have already read everything, smiles Pauline, mother of three children, who has taken out two subscriptions.

We are very big players at home, so it's obvious that 30 pounds will be insufficient for the entire month of November ... "Another mom, she enrolled

in extremis

 :" I wanted to do for a while, she confides, her little card in hand.

The re-containment pushed me to come… ”

The fate of libraries not yet sealed

In fact, this unusual crowd started to tumble as early as Wednesday, as the prospect of a reconfinement became more and more real.

At the Lisa-Bresner media library, Bellevue district, we even approached the maximum gauge, set at 107 people.

This Thursday, the phone keeps ringing and the crowd is always there.

Outside the door, Kristin is patient with her niece, Maria, in fourth grade.

The first is looking for novels in Russian and a grammar book to improve in French while the second hopes to find manga.

“The last time, it was difficult, admits the little girl, Naruto fan.

I played video games with my brother, but I was also a bit bored.

"

Unlike bookstores, whose closure was announced by the Prime Minister, the fate of libraries and media libraries was not completely sealed (these are places welcoming the public, but also a public service), this Thursday after -midday.

The town hall was still awaiting clarification from the Elysee to define the organizational arrangements: if the closure seems inevitable, a drive system could be put in place depending on the staff present, or not, on site.

In the meantime, that users who have not been able to return their books on time can be reassured: the duration of loans will be extended.

Digital resources (access to the press, Arte VOD, etc.) are still accessible online for subscribers.

Society

Deconfinement in Nantes: How does a “drive mode” media library work?

Culture

Containment: Cinemas, theaters, bookstores and museums close this Thursday at 9 p.m.

  • Library

  • Covid 19

  • Confinement

  • Coronavirus

  • Nantes

  • Culture