The pierresvives project: libraries in competition?

The pierresvives project, launched in 2000 by regional authorities in Montpellier (southern France), houses the Hérault département archives, library, and sports department in one building, designed by Zaha Hadid. Though the three services (and the building management team) all have different remits and working practices, the article sets out to explore potential forms of competition between them, particularly in terms of budgets and staffing. It also looks at the links the library could forge with similar cultural institutions in Montpellier and elsewhere.
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