This old fund, a heritage treasure accessible in the Eure

The municipal media library of Verneuil d’Avre. Consequently, Iton (Eure) to the particularity of containing a fund of old books within its walls. Meanwhile, A discovery for the head of the media library Jean Colombani when he took office in 2022. For example, “Very few public reading libraries have a heritage background. Moreover, I was not trained. In addition, it is indeed a profession difference from mine, but I knew that it was necessary to be very interested in the conservation and the valorization of this heritage. »»

4. 000 works before 1810 – This old fund, heritage treasure

This ancient fund is rich in handwritten archives, newspapers and nearly seven thousand works this old fund, heritage treasure of theology, Greek, Latin or French literature, atlas, geography books or travel accounts, classified by format (in folio, in Octavo ..), by theme and identification number. Four thousand of them date from before 1810.

The Diderot. Alembert encyclopedia – This old fund, heritage treasure

Among other things, we discover, stored on sixteen spans, more than three hundred volumes of Diderot encyclopedia et from Alemmbert, Major work of the XVIII^e century and first French encyclopedia of sciences, arts and trades.

The old fund also retains documents on the history of Verneuil. its monuments but also on local personalities such as the painter Maurice de Vlaminck, the historian Jérôme Carcopino or even books, documents and letters of the poet Louise Colet.

A long job

If this fund is listed. available in the “heritage of the collective catalog of France”, it still requires long work on the origin and the legal statutes of documents: this old fund, heritage treasure purchases, private donations, confiscated heritage or transmitted after the French Revolution …

Each book must have a title of provenance which determines whether it is owned by the State or the library.

A well -protected fund

Another major project, cleaning and conservation. For this purpose. Jean Colombani has undergone specific training at the National Book Center (CNL), addressed the Assistant Aid Group (GASP) and the Patrimonial Fund for Médiathèques & written heritage of Évreux.

During her visit. the curator Alexandra Gueroult Suspected a mold attack on twenty documents that have been put in quarantine rooms to avoid contagion.

But depending on the inventory made by the various instances, the fund is well protected ensures Jean Colombani.

The room is healthy with an acceptable temperature winter. summer, with very little exposure to light and no possibility of water infiltration.

The problem remains that this heritage. which is part of the cultural property safeguarding plan, has never been “cleaned” for forty years.

A fund to clean

According to uses. documents must be dusted once a year with a particle vacuum cleaner and the greatest precautions.

It is a titanic work that will require at least two years of work to start from scratch.

“Few libraries have the human resources necessary for this full -time task. So we will advance little by little. With the agreement of the municipality, we will recruit a trainee in a master’s degree this old fund, heritage treasure in heritage in 2026 ”.

An upcoming valuation work

The last aspect is a work of valuing the existing heritage. which could be enriched by new acquisitions or to highlight a theme, an era or a collection like that of Louise Colet, recently consulted by the association of Friends of Flaubert and Maupassant in anticipation of an article on the poet, which rests in the cemetery of Verneuil.

Practice The old fund can only be viewed on site and by appointment. Information at 620 rue de la Madeleine in Verneuil d’Avre and Iton or by phone on 02 32 32 30 76.

Follow all the news in your favorite cities and media by registering for my news.