A letter from the President
“The public library is a product of modern democracy and a practical demonstration of democracy’s faith in universal education as a life-long process. Though primarily intended to serve the educational needs of adults, the public library should also supplement the work of the schools in developing the reading tastes of children and young people, helping them to become adults who can use books with appreciation and profit.”
In: [1st] UNESCO [manifesto on public libraries], The Public Library, a living force for popular education. Paris, 16.05.1949.
„For some time now, there has been a movement away from reliance on public funds and towards independent sources of income.“
In: The libraries and museums of Europe in times of change / Council of Europe, Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media. – Strasbourg, 15.02.2016. – (Doc. 13984). – p. 13
Dear all,
the association “Fir Ëffentlech Bibliothéiken” (Engl.: For public libraries, abbreviated FëB) was founded by four librarians in Luxembourg-City in November 2009. It changed its name to “For public libraries, Luxembourg” in 2016, abbreviated FëBLux, when it got the official accreditation by the National Cultural Fund (Fonds culturel national).
It was obvious, that it couldn’t just be a part of the national librarians’ association ALBAD (founded in 1991) or the Union of Public Libraries ULBP (founded in 2007) for statutory-legal reasons, like obtaining a tax deductibility status. So, it had to become an independent and non-governmental non-profit-organisation, created to evolve from a social-professional or libraries’ organisation to a serious philanthropic player at national level.
Its goal consists in the creation, development and maintain of public libraries in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. In a nutshell: raise funds and financially help the poorest category of libraries, the public library, open and accessible to all people.
In 2016 FëBLux added a European mission to its initial national one: helping financially democratic organisations promoting public libraries on a European level. Because so many library-related legislation comes from Brussels. And efforts to strengthen or improve legislation affecting the daily work of librarians on a national level should be promoted.
Like the Endowment fund of the American Library Association (ALA), FëBLux is still entertaining tight relations to the other library related national organisations and is ready to subsidise projects in an unbureaucratic way, especially if public funding is lacking.
We started with only 20 Euro. We are used to tiny amounts, and we are enjoying every donation however small it might be. So, don’t hesitate to donate! We don’t employ any staff. Since 2009, our administrative expenses are representing less than average 1% of our total expenditure.
We hope to count you among our donators in a near future, for the sake of public libraries, for the benefit of a better educated society, for democracy and civilisation.
This website contains a lot of very detailed information material (reports, balance sheets) you will not find in such transparent way on websites of similar charity organisations.
Yours sincerely
Jean-Marie REDING
founding member and FëBLux-President