French independent bookstores launch national book donation drive

Independent bookstores across France are participating in the eleventh edition of the “Donnez à lire” (Give to Read) campaign. Organized by the Syndicat de la librairie française in partnership with Secours Populaire Français, the initiative encourages customers to purchase a children's book and leave it at the bookstore to be donated.

The collected books are distributed to children and adolescents who lack access to personal reading materials. The campaign is supported by writer Lola Lafon and journalist Augustin Trapenard. In 2025, the initiative successfully collected approximately 27,000 books.

Local participation includes bookstores such as L'Encre marine in Eu and Évadez-vous in Cosne-sur-Loire. The national operation continues through late November or mid-December, involving over 800 independent bookstores nationwide.