The 8th edition of the Rencontres Nationales de la Librairie brought the French bookselling world to Rennes on 7–8 June. Over 1,250 professionals, including 750 booksellers, met at the Couvent des Jacobins for two days of workshops, roundtables, and debate. EIBF's Director Ewelina Oksiuta was among those attending in person.
The mood was energised but the context sobering. France has over 3,000 independent bookshops, yet many are now in serious financial difficulty and in 2025, for the first time, the Centre national du livre recorded more closures than openings. Sessions tackled the economic crisis facing the sector, shifting customer behaviour, AI's implications for booksellers, and threats to freedom of expression from growing market consolidation. France's Minister of Culture, Catherine Pegard, visited on the second day, hearing proposals including a new industry levy to redirect funds toward authors, independent publishers, and booksellers.
Congratulations to Syndicat de la Librairie Française and the whole organising team!