First National Meetings of Cooperative Libraries

On October 25 and 26, 2026, Montpellier will host the first National Meetings of Cooperative Libraries. Organized by the library La Cavale, this event will bring together professionals and volunteers from across France, with the aim of preparing the creation of a national network.

Cooperative libraries in France

France has 56 cooperative libraries, mainly in Brittany, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Occitanie. About half are SCOP (Cooperative and Participatory Societies), where associated employees own at least 51% of the capital and 65% of the voting rights.

Structure of cooperative libraries

The others are SCIC (Cooperative Societies of General Interest), which bring together at least three categories of members, including employees and beneficiaries of their activities. Volunteers, associations or local authorities can also participate.

La Cavale’s involvement

La Cavale, in Montpellier, states it has nearly 520 members, including its employees. About fifty members participate in committees responsible for programming, communication, and maintenance of the library.

Purpose of the meetings

The idea is now to share these experiences with other cooperative libraries and to reflect on what they could build together. Two days to exchange and create a network.

Location and participants

The meetings will take place at the Françoise Combes school, in the Beaux-Arts district of Montpellier. The participants will exchange on their practices, their economic and cultural models, as well as the role of libraries in their territory.

Expert involvement

University professors and specialists in social and solidarity economy will also take part in the discussions. Four themes will structure the exchanges: The functioning of a cooperative library - The cooperative as a cultural and political project - The dynamics of the collective - The territorial role of these businesses.

Key issues addressed

Access to books will be one of the main issues addressed. On Sunday, October 25, the participants will exchange on their experiences and the difficulties encountered in managing a cooperative library.

Workshops and evening event

Several workshops will also allow discussion of their economic model, their place in the local community, and their role in access to books and social inclusion. The day will end with a festive evening and an artistic performance.

Creation of a national network

The next day, the creation of a national network will take place. The booksellers and volunteers will reflect on its operation, the objectives they could share, the necessary means and possible partnerships.

Origins of the initiative

The initiative was led by La Cavale. Originally the project, the Montpellier cooperative library La Cavale, established seven years ago.

Consultation and interest

In the autumn of 2025, it consulted all French cooperative libraries to gauge their interest in creating a national network. The responses received confirmed their desire to meet and multiply exchanges.

Benefits of the cooperative model

Beyond the sharing of experiences and the emulation they will generate, these first meetings will highlight the concrete effects of the cooperative model on the lives of libraries: involvement of members, strengthening of local anchoring, and collective participation in cultural projects.

Role of cooperative libraries

Integrated into their neighborhood, cooperative libraries constitute a possible way to keep independent businesses alive, run by passionate people, while promoting better working conditions.

Supporting organizations

Several organizations are supporting the initiative, including the General Confederation of SCOP and SCIC and its Regional Union Occitanie Mediterranean, the University of Montpellier Paul-Valéry, the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) Occitanie, the Occitanie Pyrénées-Mediterranean Region, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, and the City of Montpellier.

SCOP Movement overview

The General Confederation of SCOP and SCIC, also known as the SCOP Movement, represents 4583 cooperative structures and 94,745 jobs. It coordinates a network of nine regional unions and four trade federations, in construction, industry, communication, and CAE.

Event details

The first National Meetings of Cooperative Libraries will take place on Sunday, October 25, and Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Françoise Combes school, 4 rue du 81e Régiment d'Infanterie, in Montpellier.