Preamble to the Civic Charter

The General Assembly of the Bibliothèque Communale de Saint Sorlin en Valloire proclaims this Public Reading Charter to affirm the inviolable role of written culture, critical reflection, and free intellectual inquiry within our rural communal society. Inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto, and the French Law of 21 December 2021 on public reading libraries, this charter governs all acquisitions, services, and interactions conducted by our association.

Article 1: The Principle of Republican Universality

The library is a civic institution open to every human being without distinction of origin, nationality, social status, philosophical belief, political opinion, or religious conviction. Access to the physical reading rooms, reference collections, and open study tables is completely free of charge and requires no prior administrative registration or payment of fees.

Article 2: Secular Neutrality and Pluralism of Knowledge

In accordance with the principle of secularism (laïcité) underpinning the French Republic, the library operates with absolute neutrality. Our collection development committee curates materials representing a diverse pluralism of scientific, philosophical, and literary currents. No book or media work shall be excluded, hidden, or censored due to political controversy, social debate, or moral pressures from private groups.

Article 3: Protection of Reader Privacy & Anonymity

What a citizen reads is an intimate exercise of personal freedom. The association guarantees that borrowing histories are confidential. Once borrowed works are returned in good order, the association purges the historical link between the patron and the title, ensuring that no ideological or psychological profiles can ever be constructed.

Article 4: Disinterested Public Service & Commercial Non-Interference

The library serves the public interest with total commercial disinterestedness. No commercial advertisements, private financial sponsorships that compromise editorial independence, or product sales are permitted on library premises or through this digital portal.