Public libraries and schools

The children's services of the French public libraries have been expanding since the 60'. On account of their specific history, these services intend to play a pedagogic role that is different from the one played by school, advocating free choice of books by the children, and stressing the importance of pleasure in the building of reading habits. The cooperation between school and library had been characterized by this gap ; but, however reluctantly, school and library had willy nilly worked together. The deep evolution within the school system, over the last ten years, and the aftermaths of « decentralization » (the cities play an increasing part in settling cultural, educative and social policies), bring about new orientations for this cooperation and, indeed, on a more positive basis.
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