Starting this Tuesday, October 6th, the facade of the Saint-Just municipal library is being transformed by artist Amélie Beral. This project, initiated by the City and supported by the association La Récré, aims to better identify this cultural facility in the heart of the village. This exterior initiative is part of a broader municipal vision to develop school visits, workshops, and new events for all ages, thanks to extended opening hours.
Located near the elementary school, the library, despite welcoming readers, families, and classes year-round, remained discreet in the public space. This observation motivated the transformation of its facade, an idea championed by Carole Sévérac, the library's manager, with the goal of "making our local library more visible and attracting the attention of those who pass by daily, making them want to step inside."
Stéphanie Garand, deputy mayor for Childhood and Youth, emphasizes that this project goes beyond the exterior: "to make it an even more identified and accessible place for all residents. The creation of this fresco gives it a true visual identity. It supports a broader ambition for our municipal library, with extended opening hours and enriched programming, to make it more than ever a place for life, discovery, and meeting."
The association La Récré is a key partner in this project, contributing financially and actively to its realization. Its president, Souhila Colomines, expressed pride in participating in this artistic project that will give new life to the place and make it even more welcoming for children and families, thanks to Amélie's talent. She noted that the project aligns perfectly with the theme of storytelling, the guiding thread for this school year.
Before the artistic intervention, preparatory work was carried out: facade cleaning and repair, wall unification, and gutter installation. Starting Tuesday, October 6th, Amélie Beral, an artist from Montpellier based in Aigues-Mortes, will work on the facade for several days, with a safety perimeter in place.
The artwork, specifically designed for the location, incorporates durable paint and an illustration that considers the facade's features and windows. Artist Amélie Beral, known for her animalistic style, envisioned "a child reading a story, lying on their stomach with a benevolent tiger listening beside them. From the open book, various worlds and characters from children's stories emerge, like in 'The Little Prince'." She described a scene "full of kindness, something very cute: this tiger that is very reassuring for the child, gentle, lying beside them. It's a scene that could come from a child's dream."
The extension of Carole Sévérac's working hours as library manager allows for enhanced public service. "The extension of my working hours by the town hall will allow me to better handle all the tasks, often invisible but essential for the functioning of a library. School group visits will also be reinforced, and I am developing new activities, such as the weekly 'À vos jeux!' (Let's Play!) starting Wednesday, October 14th. We will also resume projects like creating a newsletter with the CM1/CM2 classes."
Key upcoming events include ten slots for elementary school classes, complementing the manager's visits to the kindergarten. A newsletter project with CM1-CM2 students will be relaunched, where they will act as journalists. The adult reading workshop is held on the first Wednesday of the month, and the writing workshop on two Friday afternoons per month. The new 'À vos jeux!' event for children begins Wednesday, October 14th, featuring board games. The knitting workshop takes place every Tuesday morning.
The Saint-Just library is part of a network of 13 libraries in the lunellois area, providing access to a wider collection through weekly shuttles on Tuesdays and Fridays. Inquiries and registrations can be made at bib.stjust@lunelagglo.fr.
