France Rates Top Indie Bookshops Like Wine
By Olivia Snaije - Publishing Perpectives

Independent bookstores in France-much like the country's wine-can now qualify for a label indicating high quality. The long-awaited "Librairie Indépendante de Référence" ("Recommended Independent Bookshop") label, which was part of a 2007 "plan livre" launched by former culture minister Christine Albanel, is now a reality and, as of September, 406 of France's 3,000 independent bookstores qualified for the designation.
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Bonus Material: France's 406 Top Indies
By Edward Nawotka

A total of 640 bookstores applied to be designated as a "Librairie Indépendante de Référence" ("Recommended Independent Bookshop"), but only 406 made the cut. The stores come from 234 municipalities, representing the full geographical range of French bookselling.
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