50% off all new subscriptions (excluding short term memberships) taken out before the end of 2014!
As part of their continuing drive to encourage the English-speaking communities of Geneva and Vaud to make full use of their extensive library lending services, The Library in English located in Geneva and The English Library in Vevey have joined forces to offer knowitall.ch readers a massive 50% discount off all new membership subscriptions taken out before the end of this year (including former members whose memberships have lapsed more than two years ago).
This means that at the library in Vevey, knowitall.ch readers need pay just Fr. 45.- for an annual adult membership, or Fr. 65.- for a family membership, allowing them to borrow up to 5 books per individual and 10 per family membership. At the larger library in Geneva, the discounted rate is slightly higher at Fr. 57.- for individual memberships and Fr. 87.- for a family, including parents and children plus an au-pair. In this case, each member may borrow up to 6 books for a period of 4 weeks, so a family may borrow up to a maximum of 30 books during the same period.
Founded in 1886, The English Library in Vevey is run entirely by volunteers and now holds a stock of about 12,000 books for its 140 or so members. Each month, about 30 new books are added to the collection, details of which are posted on the library website for members to peruse. Whilst most of the new books requested by members are fiction, the library has a significant collection of biographies and a reasonable number of non-fiction books.
With no other English library to be found in Lausanne, apart from the University/cantonal library, The Vevey English Library holds the largest selection of English books for public lending in the eastern part of the Arc Lémanique. Although many international schools in the region are expanding their facilities to include large modern libraries for their students, their books are generally not available for the local community to borrow.
First established in 1930, Geneva’s Library in English has about 350 members and holds a similar number of books to Vevey. Centrally located opposite the Kempinski Hotel on Rue de Monthoux, the premises are larger than at Vevey, so the library is able to receive a steady stream of book donations throughout the year, which it stores on-site until the occasion of its twice-yearly book sales.
Taking place in Spring and Autumn, these immense three-day events have become a popular fixture in the Geneva calendar for more than three decades. Literally thousands of second-hand books, donated by members and the general public, are sorted by subject and priced very reasonably according to their condition and popularity. A small tea shop selling cakes and other home-made delicacies is also set up to provide refreshments throughout the two events. All proceeds from the events go towards the purchase of new books, details of which are published on the library website each month. Click here to see the latest additions to the library made in July and August.
In addition to its fantastic collection of books for all the family, including the very latest best-sellers and audio books from the UK and the US, the Geneva library also holds a Story Hour every Wednesday afternoon, from 15h00-16h00, aimed at children from 3 to 7 years old. Popular with young families in the region, these events are open to members and non-members alike.
To claim your special knowitall.ch discount, just print off this article and bring it with you when you visit the library to take out your new annual subscription. You don’t have to be a member to browse the books in either library, so if you’re still not sure whether to join, then why not head down anyway and get a feel for what each of the libraries has to offer. Having lived in the region for several years, the staff at both libraries are extremely helpful and can advise you not just about books, but also other aspects of daily living in your area!
If, after reading this, you still don't like to borrow books but prefer to keep a copy for your own book shelves, then head over to the Geneva library's next Autumn book sale, which takes place between 7 and 9 November, 2014. With such a vast array of second-hand books on sale, at hugely discounted prices, we guarantee you won't be disappointed!
The English Library, Vevey
Passage St. Antoine 7,
1800 Vevey
021 922 05 24
Email form: www.englishlibrary-vevey.com/contact/
www.englishlibrary-vevey.com
Opening hours
Monday: 9h30-11h30
Tuesday: 12h00-13h30
Wednesday: 9h30-11h30
Thursday: 14h30-16h00
Friday: 9h30-11h30
Saturday: 9h30-11h30; 14h30-16h00
The Library in English, Geneva
Rue de Monthoux 3
1201 Geneva
022 732 8097
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.thelibrary.ch
Opening hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 12h30–17h00
Wednesday: 13h00–18h00
Thursday: 12h30–17h00
Friday: 12h30–17h00
Saturday: 10h00–16h00
Sunday: 11h30–13h00
Autumn Book Sale
Friday 7 November:10h00-18h00
Saturday 8 November: 10h00-17h00
Sunday 9 November: 12h00-16h00
Children’s Story Hour (3-7 yr olds)
Wednesdays, 15h00–16h00
