Note: This tour has passed, for more upcoming tours make sure to check out the main page here

The 2019 edition took place from May 31st to June 6th, in conjunction with the opening of the annual congress of the Association of Libraries of France (ABF).

Starting from Le Havre, participants traveled through Honfleur, Pont-Audemer, Rouen, Vernon, Poissy, and finally arrived in Paris for the ABF Congress seven days later.

Throughout the journey, the group of library aficionados and professionals visited various types of libraries such as university libraries, municipal libraries etc and participated in some fantastic knowledge-sharing workshops on diverse topics including, sketch-noting, improvisation, communication, photography, music in libraries.

Each librarian had the opportunity to develop their skills actively for six days, writing articles, giving speeches, interviewing officials, creating videos and photos, and discussing their profession with colleagues and library users along the way.

Participants on this adventure came primarily from France, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Latvia, representing public libraries of all sizes, as well as university and institutional libraries.

Registration for the HaPar tour (Le Havre-Paris, May 31 – June 6, 2019) opened on Monday, January 28th at 10 am (the form was available on the website) and it sold out quickly.

Those interested were encouraged to make arrangements and inquire with their institutions about possible financial support as soon as possible, as these processes can take time! The tour was limited to 50 participants on a “first-come, first-served” basis, but a waiting list was also established, and later, day registration was offered without accommodation and meals for those comfortable with self supporting.

REGISTRATION FEES

included accommodation, lunches, and four dinners

  • 250 € for salaries < 1500 €
  • 300 € for 1500 € < salaries < 2000 €
  • 350 € for salaries > 2000 €
  • For local authorities: 150 € flat fee + 350 € per person (e.g., 1 person: 150+350 = 500 €, 2 people: 150+350+350=850 €, etc.)

Supporting documentation was provided for participants to request financial assistance from their local authorities.

The route and stages of the itinerary:

Friday, May 31 – Le Havre

  • Le Havre University Library
  • Oscar Niemeyer Media Library, Le Havre

Saturday, June 1 – Le Havre => Honfleur via Pont de Normandie => Pont-Audemer

  • Maurice Delange Media Library, Honfleur and participant workshops
  • La Page Media Library, Pont-Audemer and participant workshops

Sunday, June 2 – Pont-Audemer (BM) => Rouen

  • Hector Malot Media Library, Bourg-Achard and presentation of BDP Eure
  • Saint Sever Library, Rouen and participant workshops

Monday, June 3 – Rouen (BM de Rouen) => Louviers (BM) => Saint-Marcel

  • Simone de Beauvoir Media Library, Rouen
  • Andrée Chedid House, Alizay and participant workshops
  • Boris Vian Media Library, Louviers
  • Le Val d’Hazey Media Library

Tuesday, June 4 – Saint Marcel (BM) => Vernon => Giverny => Villennes-sur-Seine

  • Saint-Marcel Media Library and participant workshop
  • Les Mureaux Media Library and Intermédia presentation
  • Verneuil Media Library and participant workshops

Wednesday, June 5 – Villennes-sur-Seine => Malakoff / Paris

  • Multimedia Library, Saint-Germain-en-Laye
  • Médiadix, Saint-Cloud and participant workshop
  • Jeanne Chauvin University Library, Malakoff (Paris Descartes)

Thursday, June 6 – Paris-Porte de Versailles (arriving in the morning for the ABF Congress): visits to Parisian libraries in small groups (BU Descartes, BnF, BM de la Ville de Paris).

  • In the morning, participants visited in four subgroups (BIUS, Museum of the History of Medicine, Forney Library, BNF, Marguerite Yourcenar Media Library, Aimé Césaire Media Library, Paris Descartes Researcher Services). In the afternoon, visits continued in two subgroups (workshop, bicycle and health conference, BU STAPS Paris Descartes, and a visit to La Canopée Media Library in Paris).

Who participated?

Librarians, as well as all those who love libraries, were invited to join. The maximum number of participants was set at 50. In the spirit of Cycling for Libraries, the tour was open to librarians from all countries!

Day registration was also offered, which did not include accommodation or meals. For day registration, attendees were asked for insurance purposes to be a member of the association, which cost them just 10 euros.

For more upcoming tours make sure to check out the main page here