New catalogue !

The new catalogue (Title Alphabetical Order) is now online. To download it, just click Here.
Also available : Author Alphabetical Order Here.

Click on “télécharger avec votre navigateur” (download to browser) and then on “ouvrir” (open) or "Enregistrer le fichier" (to save it on your computer).

The History of Foal

As membership is increasing I thought it would be a good idea to write a brief history of Foal for our collective memory

THE HISTORY OF FOAL & INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LIBRARY IN MONTPELLIER

The association “The Friends of the Anglophone Library” (FOAL) was set up six & a half years ago once it became clear that we were not going to be able to save the former American Library in Montpellier. We fought long & hard & got a lot of press coverage. Our petition gathered 2200 signatures. Sadly to no avail. The new association wanted to provide a library, not to replace the old one, but at least to offer a good selection of books to English speakers in Montpellier and surrounding areas.

We started out very small in the premises of a language school, then we moved to a member’s flat where we stayed for two & a half years, then we had to move again to a member’s house where we stayed another two years. We believed in the enterprise but it was tough going at times since it was difficult to increase membership with no permanent address. But we persevered thanks to a dedicated Chair Person & Board. We also set up a blog (foal34.blogspot.fr) & Facebook page (Friends of the Anglophone Library)

We have been in our super new premises for a year with well over a thousand books (and counting). For our new acquisitions we concentrate on recent publications and we are very much up to date with what goes on in the publishing world. Right at the beginning we completed a project to collect the 100 Best Novels of the XX century using various lists from internet. We also have the 10 Best Novels of the XX1 century. We have added a Children’s Section in the new premises which we have wanted for a long time but were not able to supply through lack of space. We also have a permanent Book Sale thanks to donations from members. We ask people to send us a list before we accept donations (email to foal34@gmail.com ) Our lending policy is pretty flexible, normally it is 2 books for two weeks, especially new books which need to have a quick turnover. (older books can be taken out for longer)

Annual membership dues: 40 euros family membership 30 euros active member, 20  students.

FOAL also organizes events for members and non-members, we have our famous Book Quiz (February). Regular “Book Chat” meetings for members enable participants to talk about books they have read and exchange recommendations. For more info about this, send an email to mishex@wanadoo.fr Thanks to volunteers we also offer English conversation sessions

Chairperson  Vicki Metherell   Secretary   Daphne Schoenhals  Treasurer  Mike Davison

Venue 23 rue Lakanal Montpellier  Opening hours: every Wednesday 3-6pm & 1^st & 3^rd Saturday 10-12.30am

OCTOBER 2017 NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 2017

 

 I don't seem to be able to copy the images that are in the newsletter. This time there were several teddy bears which explains the first sentence

 

Why teddy bears one wonders ! Because our Children’s Room has gained more fluffy toys, more books & some Beatrix Potter posters. It is a lovely space for small children & we hope to have more & more kids reading books both on the cushions and at home. If you have any children’s books to donate, do bring them along

 

ANTIGONE DES ASSOCIATIONS  We had a stand & a lot of people came up to ask for information. We have had several sign ups since. The conversation sessions are a great attraction but we need to make clear that they are the icing on the cake thanks to volunteers & might be stopped any day for various reasons. People are joining the library, not signing up for conversation, otherwise they might be disappointed if the sessions stop.

 

CHRISTMAS PARTY We have decided to have a change this year ; our party will take place on Saturday 6th January to celebrate Twelfth Night at Lakanal so that we don’t have to turn anyone away for lack of space. More details nearer the time. Just a reminder for new members : you bring along savory or sweet finger food or something that is easy to manage & FOAL provides the drinks. This will be the first time we hold the party in our own home & I would like to thank the Claringbulls & the Grassets for hosting the party in the past

 

RAFFLE We shall soon be selling tickets for our FAMOUS RAFFLE, prizes, collected by board members, have started coming in (if you have anything you would like to donate send an e-mail to : foal@dbmail.com ) The tickets will cost 1 euro with 10 tickets for 8 euros. This is a good way to support the library & of course, you can sell tickets to your friends too. A list of prizes will be drawn up as they come in & will be regularly updated. The draw will take place at the party

 

QUIZ  We can’t fix a date yet for our FAMOUS QUIZ, but it will be either the 2^nd or the 9th February depending on availability of venue

 

NEW BOOKS  They have arrived & will be on the shelves for the Wednesday 18th opening. Thank you to the dedicated team which does the covering. 40 new books this time, you have seen the list, another great selection, nearly all published in 2017 plus some back ordering

Antigone des Associations 2017

We had a stand again at the Antigone des Associations & lots of people seemed interested. they particularly like the idea of the conversation sessions. These are held for paid up FOAL members & are a plus but obviously not the main reason to join the Library. The sessions are hosted by volunteers who may, at any time, for whatever reason be unable to continue. We don't want people thinking they are not getting their money's worth if the sessions cease.
We are gaining more subscribers little by little. A large order will be arriving soon

Photos AGM 2017

PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE AGM (thank you Marcel)  It was a very, very hot day but we survived thanks to all the lovely food you brought & some nice cool white & rosé

 

 

June catalogue

The new catalogue (Author Alphabetical Order) is now online. To download it, just click Here.
Also available : Title Alphabetical Order Here.

Click on “télécharger avec votre navigateur” (download to browser) and then on “ouvrir” (open) or "Enregistrer le fichier" (to save it on your computer).

SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2017

We held a most successful AGM & party in spite of the great heat. The library is doing well, we have quite a lot of money in the bank so shall be doing some serious ordering in the autumn.

So please send lists of books or authors you would like to find in the library. We don’t want to be dogmatic about an author (who have their ups & downs) but there are additions to be made. Send an email to foal34@gmail.com   but consult the catalogue first. This is easy if you go to the Foal blog (click on link at the bottom of the email). The lists will be sent to the Selection Committee.

I  have put the above paragraph in italics because I have copied it from the last Newsletter. I have had practically no feedback, only from the Bookchat members. I do sometimes wonder if the newsletter is read…….

SUMMER OPENING

We shall be open on Saturday 1st July with a Grand Book Sale

Wednesday 5th

Wednesday 12th

Wednesday 19th

Saturday 22nd

Then we shall be closed until 2^nd September from when we shall be open as usual (1st & 3rd Saturday & every Wednesday)

You are allowed to take out more books for your summer reading (6 per person),  & you will need to leave a guarantee deposit in the form of a cheque for 60 euros made out to FOAL (we will, of course, not cash this & give it back on return of books)

HAVE A SUPER SUMMER

I WILL BE POSTING PHOTOS OF AGM ON FACEBOOK & BLOG

 

The following books are  on order & will be in the library before we close for the summer

Anne Tyler                             Vinegar Girl

Julian Barnes                          The Noise of Time

Damien Lewis                         Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Nicci French                           Saturday Requiem

Harlan Coben                         Fool me Once

Philippa Gregory                    The Taming of the Queen

S J Parris                                Conspiricy

W Shaw                                  The Birdwatcher

Dennis Lehane                        Live by Night

Camilla Lackberg                   The Ice Child

Georges Mikes                        English humour for Beginners

Mary Higgins Clark                As Time goes by

Hilary Mantell                        Wolf Hall (replacement)

C.J. Sansom                            Revelation

Alan Judd                               Deep Blue

 Most recent donations

David Nicholls                       Starter for ten               PB 2004  GF

Maria Lewycka                       The Lubetkin Legacy     PB  2016  GF     

Tana French                             The Likeness                 PB  2008  Crime

Alison Weir                             The Lady Elizabeth       PB  2008  Historical Fiction

John Harvey                 Darkness & Light   PB  2006 Thriller

Amitar Ghosh               Sea of Poppies     PB 2008  Historical fiction Trilogy

Tash Aw                       The Harmony Silk Factory   PB  2005 Historical fiction

D Moggach                   The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel   PB 2005  GF

A Doerr                       All the light we cannot see    PB 2014  Historical Fiction

Ford Madox Ford        The Good Soldier                   PB 1915   GF

W Boyd                        Brazzaville Beach                   PB 1990  GF

G Orwell                       Down & out in London & Paris    PB  1933  NF

Robert Stone                 Outerbridge Reach                  PB 1992  Adventure  GF

Adeline Yen Mah          Falling Leaves               PB 1997  Historical Memoir  

Marilynne Robinson     Gilead                           PB  2004   GF Literary

A McCall Smith            Love over Scotland       PB 2006   GF

A McCall Smith            Sunday Philosophy Club  PB  2004   GF

A McCall Smith            N° 1 Ladies Dectective agency  PB  1998  Crime

Sue Grafton                    V  is for Vengeance                PB 2011 Crime

Sue Grafton                    U is for Undertow                            HB  2009  Crime

Lee Child                       Never go back                        PB 2013  Crime

José Saramago              Blindness                                PB  GF  1997  GF

Owen Sheers                 I saw a man                                     PB 2015  Crime

Owen Sheers                 Resistance                              PB 2007  Crime

Tana French                  The Trespasser                       PB  2016  Crime

Harlan Coben                Missing you                                     PB 2014  Crime