Notes, Friends of the Anglophone Library (FOAL)

Meeting 23 June 2010

Present: Vicki Metherell, Maurice Clapison, Philippe Marchand, Edwin Hill, Emily Dupras-Carceles, Patricia Robb, Anne-Marie Habib, Françoise Fleuron, Joyce Copin, Katherine Ponthus, Giselle Célié, Chantal Boyron; Agnes Cottave .

A formal proposal to form a new association was made; the vote was unanimous. It was felt that as an association, we may carry more weight in negotiations for the library’s future; we would be able to request subsidies from the city and region that could be used to help pay a part-time librarian, for example.

No news from M Delafosse, whom Vicki contacted prior to this meeting, to request an update on the search for a new home.

There is concern over which books will be eliminated under Gilles Gudin de Vallerin’s* direction, in order to fit the collection (or some of it) in the proposed temporary space at the mediathèque Emile Zola. We want to assist in that selection, as we feel knowledgeable about English language literature and wish the collection to be in good shape when it can eventually be moved to its more permanent home, the proposed mediathèque Tolstoy/ Tolstoï, which is expected to open in 3 years.

*directeur du réseau des médiathèques de Montpellier Agglomération, président de l’Association des Directeurs des Bibliothèques Municipales et Intercommunales des Grandes Villes de France (ADBGV) ; requested by George Frèche to recommend solutions for a new home for the library.

We do not know if it might be possible for the collection to remain temporarily at Richter. It seems that most if not all of the collection is there now (the situation of the Children’s Room is unknown), though not accessible to the public. Any such decision would involve the University Paul Valery. Vicki will write again to M Delafosse regarding the possibility of staying put until Tolstoy is built.

A discussion of the statutes for the new association followed. These were agreed upon:

the name “Friends of the Anglophone Library” and the acronym, FOAL.

the role of the association will be consultative.

a possible mission statement prepared by Philippe Marchand was widely appreciated; this statement will be posted on the Google site groups.google.com/group/save-the-american-library-in-montpellier.


The board was nominated and agreed upon as follows:

Pres: Vicki Metherell

Vice pres : Edwin Hill

Treasurer : Sunshine Erickson

Vice Treasurer: Philippe Marchand

Secretary : Emily Dupras-Carcélès

Assistant: Katherine Ponthus

Cultural activities: Edwin Hill

Assistant: Agnès Cottave

As regards cultural activities: these are important to us, and we are concerned that we develop good relations with any librarian(s) involved with the collection, at Zola and Tolstoy. As a filmmaker, Edwin Hill has worked with Danielle Guy at the mediathèque F Fellini, and has ideas for possible activities in association with them or others.

Paperwork for the association will be filed in July, by Vicki with assistance from Anne-Marie.

The next meeting of the association was set for 7 Sept, 6pm, at IML.

~~~

PETITION - still time to sign

The Anglophone Library of Montpellier (Bibliothèque Anglophone Montpellier) was abruptly closed by the University Paul Valéry on Jan. 1, 2010, with no advance notice given its hundreds of users. The reaction from the community was swift and immediate: we want our library back!

The purpose of this petition is to register the number of people, both here in France and in other locations, who would like this library, used by residents and exchange students alike, to remain open and accessible to all.

If you support the idea of a lending library of English-language books in Montpellier and would like to see the existing one reopened, please sign this petition.

www.ipetitions.com/petition/savethelibrarymontpellier

Supported by WoW - THE What's on site in L'Herault



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REPORT ON DEMO

All in all, I think our presence at the C du L was well worth it. We got plenty of press coverage and lots of petitions signed (520). I worked very hard on Sunday afternoon and made it up to the number I was hoping for. People were very willing to sign and lots of them said "ah, yes, I have heard about that", so the articles in the press over the months have had their effect. Anyway, thanks to those of you who came and helped, it was hard work but worth it.

I met Mr Delafosse yesterday and he confirmed that, at present, the solution, once Mr Gudin de Vallerin has handed in his report (they are working together), would be to take part of the collection to Emile Zola médiathèque, and then, eventually, the whole collection to the new Médiathèque Tolstoy in three years time.

I suggested that, in order to speed up the agenda and simplify things, why didn't they try to keep the current location (ie. Richter) until Tolstoy. Obviously, this would involve the Town Hall and the Agglo contacting the Bibliothèque Universitaire and he said he would do this, he made a note of it in front of me.

He said we should absolutely set up a new Association whose role would be "la conservation et la valorisation du fond". Once it was set up apparently, we could ask for subsidies which would enable us to buy new books and help to pay for a (part time?) librarian. Mr Delafosse is genuinely committed to finding a short and long term solution but things can't be rushed. I honestly believe he is doing his best. He said we would meet again at the end of June.

I went to the Préfecture this morning and got the documents to be filled out in order to set up an association and I think we should plan a meeting before the end of June to get the Association up and running. A further argument is to recoup the 4000 euros that are left from the old association.

Vicki Metherell

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MONTPELLIER DEMO 28 May

1. Main Demonstration: Friday 28th at 10am at the opening ceremony. Rendez-vous at the Bookshop stand which will be near the big fountain at the start of the Esplanade at 9.40.
We have: a large banner with "sauvez notre bibliothèque anglophone" on it, two tee shirts for the banner holders with the same slogan and two quite large badges for the people getting signatures.
There will be two clipboards and plenty of petitions and flyers (hand out the latter discriminately as I haven't copied an unlimited amount). I hope we will get at least 500 signatures during the weekend. From experience I have found that if you give a brief "sales talk", people will sign but you have to make the first approach. The Bookshop has kindly agreed to keep our stuff at their stand so when you turn up to do your stint you should find the material there. It will be the rallying point. There was a good article in Montpellier Plus on Wednesday 19th and the journalist knows, as does the journalist from the Gazette, that we will be there. I am sure we will attract attention at the opening ceremony, especially if we are numerous which I hope.
2. The rest of the weekend: Ed Ward is kindly setting up the schedule and depending on the number of volunteers at any given time you will be able to wander round with the big banner wearing the tee shirts with sidekicks getting signatures or just tee shirt-wearers getting signatures. Do make use of the tee shirts and the badges and don't forget to leave them at the Bookshop stand when you leave.

For your infomation, I have advanced the money for banner, tee shirts, etc and expect to get it back when we set up a new association and recoup the money left from Foal. We shall be holding an "Assemblée Constitutive" in June.

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After meeting today, the Steering Committee has decided to hold a meeting for everyone on
11 May at l'IML which is 29 rue Maguelone, starting at 5.30pm and ending at 7pm when the Institute closes.

We shall discuss:
1. Setting up a new Association whose aims, inter alia, would be
saving the collection, keeping it intact and evolving (new books) and, obviously, gaining access as soon as possible. Of course, we will discuss other objectives that you may wish to propose.
Setting up an association involves people and we will need volunteers for posts such as treasurer, secretary, president, etc.

2. Organising some form of demonstration during the Comédie du Livre, (28th and 29th May).This will also involve volunteers for the making and carrying of banners and posters, distribution of flyers and getting signatures for the petition which, to date, counting the online petition and the paper one, must be reaching between 1500 and 2000, and generally making our presence felt.

~~~

Notes, Save the American Library// Sauver la Bibliothèque Anglophone
Meeting 2 March 2010

Present: Chantal Boyron, Ed Ward, Vicki Metherell, Emily
Dupras-Carceles, Katherine Ponthus, Janet Harvey, Anne-Marie Habib,
Marie Dominique

Agnes Cottave spoke with Gilles Gudin de Vallerin, directeur du réseau
des médiathèques de Montpellier Agglomération (and président de
l’Association des Directeurs des Bibliothèques Municipales et
Intercommunales des Grandes Villes de France (ADBGV)). Per the letter
she received from George Frèche, Gudin de Vallerin was asked to
recommend solutions for a new home for the library. Which he may have
done: Vicki was told by a journalist from the Gazette that the library
would be moved to Emile Zola until it could be housed at Tolstoï. The
journalist also said that the inventory currently taking place in the
library will be completed by the end of March.
Gudin de Vallerin will give a presentation at UPV on Tuesday, 9 March,
at 5 :30pm/17h30 - Salle Jourda - Batiment Marc Bloch, il “répondra à
François Amy de la Bretèque autour de la question de la valorisation des fonds littéraires de la Médiathèque Emile Zola de Montpellier
Agglomération. » (thank you Deming for this information.)
Marie Dominique will attend and will try to ask about the library: when will the library be re-opened, could we avoid 2 (time-consuming & expensive) moves, what kind of space is available at E Zola.
There are 888 signatures online, several petitions have been sent to
Nancy Bowles; we estimate there might be almost 1500 signatures total.
(could we get a better estimate from Nancy Bowles please?)

The list of authors coming to the Comédie du Livre is posted on their
site. www.comediedulivre.montpellier

Katharine has contacted Pete Fromm, Eddy Harris; and will contact Dinaw Mengestu, Jake Lamar, Nam Le and Susie Morgenstern.

Ed has contacted Joseph Boyden, Tim Sales, David Vann; and is contacting Gabrielle Bell.

Emily will contact Tawni O'Dell, Brian Selznick, Naomi Wallace.

So far, one of the authors, Pete Fromm, has signed.

Interesting item: A visitor to the library during the last week of
February was asked by the librarian to help pack up children’s books.

Still to do: contact Anglophone associations on Sheryl Marsden’s list;
Sunshine will write a letter…
wish list – nothing new posted.
No meeting scheduled at present; date and place will be posted.


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A heartening phone call to Vicky - see below

Ha, ha! My email to Delafosse was obviously effective as he rang me yesterday. Unfortunately, I was out so he left a long message, in fact, he filled up the whole message space!
The gist of what he said is that he, Mandroux, Frèche and Frèche's man Agnès spoke to (the conservateur des médiathèques) who are all trying to find a solution to a tricky problem since they are "collectivités locales" and the collection now belongs to Paul Valéry which means that they don't have ownership and are trying to save something that doesn't belong to them. "Les termes juridiques sont compliqués et nous n'avons pas tous les éléments en notre faveur".
However, he maintains his position (of wanting to find a solution) and they want to clear up "les errements du passé et l'incompétence dans certains departements de Paul Valéry".
He did sound genuinely upset by my email and said that the elections were not part of the equation.
He mentioned Tolstoy again but I still firmly believe that we need a short term solution (i.e. access as soon as possible). I will send him a reassuring email tomorrow and give him a ring on Monday to let him know that I appreciate that he is doing the best he can.


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Latest minutes

Save the American Library Meeting
9th February, 2010
Notes by Sunshine Erickson

Present: Ed Ward, Vicki Metherell, Emily Dupras-Carceles, Lawrence McGuire, Katherine Ponthus, Chris Butler, Sunshine Erickson

Petition
We have 880 signatures online, over 1000 total. Is there an ideal figure? When do we stop? Consensus: don’t stop. There will be a moment when we have to present the signatures but we don’t know when that will be yet. Keep going!

We have a good list of Anglophone associations that Sheryl Marsden created a couple of years ago. Sunshine will write a letter to them explaining the situation and asking for individual signers plus institutional support. 4 of us (Emily, Chris, Katherine and Sunshine) are going to split up the list and contact everyone.

Update on Maire/Agglo
Vicki has had no response from Mr. Delafosse. Agnes Cottave wrote a letter to Georges Freche and she got a very positive response. He has asked Mr. Gilles Gaudin de Vallerin, General “conservateur” of the Mediatheques of the Agglomeration of Montpellier, to do a “study” of the American Library and to meet the different actors. Following his report, Mr. Freche will make a decision.

Agnes is trying to get a meeting with Mr. Gaudin de Vallerin.

Because the local elections are in a couple of months, all administrative decisions are on hold. This may be one reason for lack of communication from Delafosse.

Wish List
At our last meeting we asked everyone to post on our Google page their wish list for what the future library will be. We only have one wish. Several people are having trouble getting onto our Google page.

We had a discussion around this subject. Ideally we would want the library to be a cultural center in addition to a collection of books. Once we have an open library and access this will lead to the creation of an association which will lead to fundraising activities which will lead to a cultural center.

We have to remember that Francoise Vilain did everything for the library. We need a librarian who is open to being more than a librarian and facilitating cultural activities but we will also need volunteers. Angers has 60 volunteers who staff their library.

We know we can’t be picky about a short-term solution for the library (location) but we do need to ask for ideally what we want from the administrators who take on the library. They need to know early on that there is a community behind the collection of books who wants to make the library a cultural center.

Association
We will wait to create an association. We need to create this in response to whoever manages the library.

Next Meeting
Our meeting place and time has changed. Chantal Thierry has kindly offered to let us use space at her office.

When Tuesday, March 2nd at 18h
Where Institut Méditerranéen des Langues, 29 Rue Maguelone, Montpellier

Rue Maguelone is the street that begins in front of the train station and follows the tram up to Place de la Comedie. You have to ring the buzzer on street level to be let in.

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We meet again on 9th February at 7.45 at the Globe, a little later than usual.

Agenda

i. Progress on petitions

ii Wish list for library (and leading from this, volunteers for activities suggested)

iii Discussion about whether we should set up a new association now or wait for developments

_____________________________________________________________________


Notes on second meeting of the Save the Anglophone library group

Save the American Library Meeting
January 26, 2010
Notes by Sunshine Erickson

Lawrence McGuire suggested that everyone introduce themselves and add any issues to discuss to the agenda. We did just that.

1) Progress report
contacts with press
Vicki Metherell passed out photocopies of all of the press about the closing of the library to date
meeting with Delafosse
Vicki and Sunshine gave an update on the meeting with Mr. Delafosse. It was a very positive meeting. He is very concerned about the closing of the library and is working on finding short and long-term solutions to find new housing and a new librarian. Vicki read an email that she had received from Mr. Delafosse that day in which he gave an update. He is still in the process of contacting people. Vicki also read an internal email from Paul Valery University that said they still planning to take books from the collection but the tone is more conciliatory.
petition on line
We have 700 signatures (780 at the time I’m writing these notes)
We have not done analysis of where people are situated. We can access the petition and other documents like meeting notes on Facebook and on the Google website too.

2) Paper petition
Nancy Bowles made the template and Vicki made copies. Everyone took about 5 petitions.
Where do we distribute? Cinemas, Irish pubs, boulangeries, office of tourism
Stars to sign the petition
Emily contacted James Elroy, Joan Baez and the Conseil Generale (Veziers?), the mayor in Louisville, KY, USA. Art Fell offered to contact the Mayor of Louisville if we have something specific to say. Emily contacted the cultural délégué in Marseille. She isn’t in a position to do anything at the moment but we should keep them updated. Art mentioned that the last time the library was in a precarious situation the U.S. consulate was no help.
Flyers
Vicki passed out flyers for everyone to take

3) The steering committee’s thoughts on setting up an Association
Vicki explained that Mr. Delafosse has asked us to set up an Association for the future to support him in his search for a new home for the collection. It is too early at this point to know what the goals of the association should be. We will wait until it is the right moment to meet with Delafosse to define objectives of the association. Vicki will check in with Mr. Delafosse from time to time to ask how we can support him. The Association is different than the current “save the library” group and work that is being done.

4) Plan of action
a) Keep petition going. Keep momentum going. We are in a very good place right now.
b) Send letters to the mayor Mandroux, Georges Freche and Anne Fraisse as citizens upset about the closing of the library. Is this stepping on toes? Marie-Dominique will create template letters in the Google group
c) Research the English-Language Library in Angers and the Maison Catalan in Montpellier. These are two different successful models. We should know how they operate. Would the head of Angers be willing to talk with us? They are housed at the university in Angers.

5) What do we want??
We had a long discussion about what we would like the library to be/look like and when do we ask the powers that be to take our wants into consideration when planning for the new library.
Where do we ideally want the collection? Emile Zola? Tolstoi (the future library), a free-standing community center?

There was some debate about whether we ask for the library to also be a community center as the American Library once was or if we should be more passive and let them decide. Does Delafosse see the library as 30,000 books or an opportunity to create a community center as well?

Ed Ward will create a Goole Group wish list where we can all say what we would like the future library to be/look like. Emily will analyze the wish list before the next meeting.


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Notes from the first SAVE THE ANGLOPHONE LIBRARY meeting
January 12, 2010
The Globe

[Disclaimer: the notes are not a word-for-word recount of the discussion. I have distilled the main issues and organized them into cohesive subject headings.]

Intro by Lawrence McGuire
Evening facilitated by Robin Hicks of WoW website, who outlined his 4 points

[Sunshine started taking notes at this point]

History of the library/Basic Info
Vicki Metherell gave a history of the library and FOAL and her assessment of why the two dissolved. There had been declining membership for years to the library and to Foal. Friction between the new librarian and FOAL plus the fact that FOAL’s treasurer had announced his retirement all lead to the disbandment of FOAL. Even though a lot of the books in the current collection were purchased with funds raised by FOAL, independent of the University budget, these books were never marked as owned by FOAL and have been absorbed into the entire collection. Vicki has been communicating with Anne Fraisse, the President of University Paul Valery, who explained that she dissolved the library because it was operating illegally (financially and regarding the statutes). Mme. Fraisse has contacted the Mairie to suggest that the city, Agglomeration, department or region take over the collection.

Action steps already taken
• There was an article in the Midi Libre on January 7th
• Vicki contacted La Gazette and there should be an article this coming weekend
• Vicki has a meeting scheduled with M. Delafosse, “l’adjoint a la culture” at the Mairie on Friday, January 15th to ask if they can help find a new home for the collection.

Issues discussed

Keep the collection together? Or no?
Anne Fraisse has said that the English professors at the University will take about 1/6 of the collection to be incorporated into the existing collection at the University. There was debate about whether we should relinquish these books or ask that the University consider keeping the collection in tact. Some people felt that we should ideally keep the collection together if possible and as representatives of the community who use the library we can negotiate this point. Others thought that we should not begin a negotiation from this point as the University owns the books.

Anne Fraisse
There is general consensus that the President of Paul Valery University does have the interest of the collection at heart. She has said that she will let go of the collection to a municipal group and we have every reason to believe that this is true.

Approach
There was talk of the approach to take as we move forward. Several people expressed the importance of entering into a discussion with the University and to not offend nor polarize the powers that be. Ideally, Delafosse, or the future contact at a municipal organization who is interested in the collection, will be the intermediary between the university and our group.

Comedie du Livre
The 55th Annual Comedie du Livre on May 28, 29, 30 2010 will celebrate the literature of the United States. This is another argument to keep the library going. The Mayor of Louisville, KY will be here. It would be contradictory to celebrate the literature of a country and at the same time close a library of literature from that country. M. Delafosse organizes the Comedie du Livre.

Steering Committee
It was unanimously decided that we should create a steering committee who will act on behalf of the greater community concerned about the former Anglophone Library.
Seven people signed up to be on the committee to carry out the wishes of the larger community:
Mavis Mercoiret 06 86 93 24 91 mavismercoiret@wanadoo.fr
Emily Dupras-Carceles 04 67 59 07 16 edupras@club-internet.fr
Vicky Guyon 04 67 86 81 77. vguyon@bbox.fr
Agnes Cottave 04 67 60 23 73 agnes.cottave@wanadoo.fr
Vicki Metherell 04 67 72 00 39 victoria.metherell@dbmail.com
Janet Harvey 06 20 18 02 12 barbetty@free.fr
Sunshine Erickson 04 67 73 45 74 sunshineerickson@wanadoo.fr

Objectives of group/Talking points
1. Keep the collection together, ideally 100%
2. Find a new home for the collection outside of the university, closer to the center that is open and accessible to everyone. (La Mairie, La Maison Internationale, La Mediatheque

What should the group do?
The following are suggestions by the attendees of the meeting:

1. Contact the American Library in Paris to ask for advice
2. Contact the American Library in Angers. Get them on board. They have a smooth operation
3. Ask for the names and current mailing list for the library.
4. Start by asking for 100% of books until the community decides.
5. Insist that the future library be open to as many people as possible (accessible to everyone, longer hours, and better location)


NEXT MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
JANUARY 26TH AT 7:30PM AT THE GLOBE

~~~

Online petition - see

www.ipetitions.com/start-petition?q=GoogleEurope

Supported by WoW - THE What's on site in L'Herault


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The story so far:-

THE CLOSURE OF THE ANGLOPHONE LIBRARY IN MONTPELLIER - which used to be known at the American Library.

Lawrence McGuire, of Le Globe Bookshop in Montpellier, recently hosted a meeting of around 30 people who gathered to discuss ways of keeping this valuable resource alive in one form or another.

Ed Ward has started a Google group - details below

Here is the group's description:

This group will attempt to work out a solution to saving the collection and the community which has formed around the American Library in Montpellier and investigate alternatives to this abrupt end to an institution many of us have come to cherish.

Visit this group on the web by using this URL:

groups.google.com/group/save-the-american-library-in-montpellier?hl=en

The facebook site is here

www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=240352623210&ref=mf

And the open listserve is here

groups.google.com/group/save-the-american-library-in-montpellier?hl=en



A "working group" of 7 volunteered to put together a proposal and some ideas to preserve and enhance the library in Montpellier.

It will come forward with ideas for the next meeting of the Library Supporters on the 26th of January at the Globe bookshop.

Meanwhile meetings have been scheduled with a range of possible supporters including the Montpellier deputy Mayor with responsibility for Culture.

You might also care to go to Le Book in Montpellier (used to be Book in Bar) to sign a petition - the more support the better for the future of this important English language resource - the second largest in France after Paris.

Le Book - Montpellier
Rue de bras de fer
04 67 66 09 08

How to find it - see website below
www.monnuage.fr/point-d-interet/38878


If you would like to help or have ideas which would help secure the library please write to me and I will forward your email to the group

My email address is - hicks-france@wanadoo.fr

More info below:-

~~~

Save the American Library of Montpellier!

Book Lovers Unite! The American Library of Montpellier has been shut down under ambiguous circumstances... please join our group to protest this shut-down, help clarify communication between the Friends of the American Library and the University Paul Valery! Your presence and support are invaluable to us.

(Sponsored by American Folk en Languedoc, Association 1901)

Contact Details

american.folk.en.languedoc@gmail.com

~~~

MORE INFO on the library

American Library in Montpellier Shuttered Abruptly
Users Mount Protest

Montpellier, Jan. 8, 2010

Users of the Bibliothèque Anglophone Montpellier were shocked to receive an e-mail from the librarian, Françoise Flouret, on Monday, January 4, stating that the library had been shut down by the Université Paul Valéry III Montpellier as of January 1, 2010.

The library, which began in 1954 as an adjunct of the American Library in Paris, was integrated into the Montpellier University system in 2001, after many years of independent existence, and since then its collection of over 30,000 books, films, and magazines, housed in the building of the University’s law library, has been a unique resource for Anglophone residents not only of Montpellier, but the surrounding area.

The reason for the closure is not fully known at this time, but it may be the University’s reaction to the decision of Friends of the American Library (FOAL) to dissolve late last year. FOAL had, for many years, been responsible for partially funding acquisitions and equipment for the library through subscription fees and book sales.

Reaction to the decision by the library’s users was swift and unanimous, and a protest was drafted and sent to numerous officials both at the university and the city government. The president of Paul Valérie III, Anne Fraise, assured the users Thursday that the collection would be held intact for the moment. Also on Thursday, a Facebook page and a Google group were formed for planning the future of the collection.

At one time, France had numerous English-language libraries, most under the umbrella of the one in Paris, but as grants dried up and funding was cut, most of them closed, leaving the Montpellier library France’s second-largest.

Meanwhile WoW readers might be interested to read about the American Library in Paris to see what a valuable asset Montpellier library could provide for Anglophones in Languedoc Roussillan Region

www.americanlibraryinparis.org/