OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; Bibliothèque des Grands Moulins | BU Paris Diderot

Les anciens Grands Moulins de Paris, construits entre 1917 et 1921 par Georges Wybo, ont été transformés en bâtiment universitaire par le cabinet de Rudy Ricciotti en 2006. La bibliothèque des Grands Moulins, qui occupe aujourd'hui une grande partie du bâtiment, a ouvert au public en 2007. Au cours de la réhabilitation, l'architecture industrielle a été préservée et mise en valeur. Samedi 17 septembre 2016, à l’occasion des Journées européennes du patrimoine, deux types de visites commentées permettent de découvrir la bibliothèque et le campus. Les visites sont animées par le personnel de la bibliothèque des Grands Moulins et du service des archives de l’université. Dans le hall de la bibliothèque, les visiteurs pourront voir en photos l’installation de l’université Paris Diderot dans la ZAC Paris Rive Gauche. Source: Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication

WHATS UP TO DATE, PARIS (ME) Date and Time: Wednesday, 18th February - Tuesday, 2020; From all day till 6pm Location: Today the Bibliothèque des Grands Moulins | BU Paris Diderot

AT the Grands Moulins library today; while further developing my website https://voicebohxonline.wixsite.com/directory; and in the process of nstalling additional pages that will be available for Members Only listing local businesses in Paris; still haven’t finished and was stationed at PC ID SCDBCPUB306 all day.

Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with a staff member who approached me at approximately 11:50am, while I was using the computer on the third floor (at same table as today - PC ID: SCDBCPUB301), and she told me NOT to occupy the space with books in front of the computers next to me mounted on the same desk. I was using the internet on the desktop computer stationed in the middle of two computers that were switched off and not working, both with signs stuck to the screens by library staff that read; ‘cet ordinateur est en panne’.

I often see students do the same as me on this particular desk, not just with books but with bags as well because the neighboring computers aren’t working and therefore, it’s not unreasonable to assume that nobody would want to sit here.

The librarian who aproached me told me to clear the space in front of both computers (one to my right and one to my left), despite them not working. I showed her my computer screen and the several tabs open at once and politely explained that I am doing some research and that I was using several books as a point of reference and didn’t have anywhere else to put such large heavy books - I needed them open on the pages I was referencing - and further added that this is not a small library and during the day, especially at that time, a lot of students are sitting lectures and don’t normally start filling the library till after 2pm.

She wasn't willing to allow it and tried to challenge my useage of their public access resources within the library and asked me, 'are you a member of this library?'. I was breaking no rules. The library staff all know that this is the only public access library that has all the books I am using dailly in English, books that I require information from in preparation for the exam I intend to sit at the end of this year to study a BA in Psychology in PARIS, a three year degree (and then one extra year after that for my masters).

This Librarian tried to tell me that 'they have been good to me?'. In response to her initial question, I replied with 'NO, I am not a member of the library but the Ministry of Education in Paris, upon making some inquiries in person last year before entering, informed me that this library in 2007 was open to the public and that memberships are only optional’ and added, ‘that many homeless people use this library without memberships’.

I could that see that this conversation was about to get out of hand, as it presented two problems. The first is that I have every right as a member of the public to use their facilities, which she tried to disagree with, and the second is that her statement of ‘how they have been good to me’ was not correct and to support that, I could have reminded her, of how I was prevented by staff, from using an old computer on the first floor because of their last minute rules; the only computer in the whole building in English, and the only one that plays Portable DVD’s, which is what all all my study material is stored on.

I used to sit on an isolated desk on the first floor, next to the staff/reception desk, which had (before they removed it), an old computer on it that can not be hacked because it has no Bluetooth and no internet access, however, it’s good for compiling documents on Ms Word and it’s all in English; for some unknown reason, staff banned me from using that isolated desk on the first floor (they did not give me a reason), and so I asked to move the old computer, the only one in English that sits on it, onto another table so that I could use it to at least access my study material. Staff said ‘NO’. Since then I’ve had my USB and HEADPHONES stolen, and also my printing card with credit on it - that I can not afford to replace. There was also an attempt to steal my kettle. My email was also hacked that I had to reset using my touchpad/tablet and a different internet connection. I have been effectively prevented from accessing my study material that is stored on my DVD; I was only asking for the use of a resource that NO BODY EVER WANTED TO USE and the isolated desk it was on, was big enough to fit all my books and also used in the same way by other students who had their own lap tops. In addition to my study material, I have not been able to play back the French lessons a kind student saved for me on a CD because the resource has been removed.

Theft of my belongings is becoming a problem with foreign students not with the French and certainly not a problem with the homeless who use the library daily. It may constitute neusence harrassment through petty theft.

Furthermore, when I tried to negotiate the use of the isolated desk and the PC (in English) that were both on the first floor, I was told to produce a membership card and sit in a formal interview with a staff member to discuss my continued use of their facilities. I refused given that I didn’t do anything wrong, and that I didn’t think it was necessary to go through all that trouble just to do what everyone else is allowed to do. Again, I was breaking no rules!

In the spirit of resolving the matter, instead of detailing where they have NOT been so good to me (as described above), which would only have resulted in an argument going no where, I decided to negotiate and strike a fair compromise; and I was successful in coming to a joint agreement to occupying only one side of the desk with books, instead of both sides, given that the computers are out of order; the books I was using did not fit on one single station and the computer next to me was not working anyway, as I did not agree with her initial suggestion to put the books on the floor.

In addition that what I have already said, there is really no reason with a library this size (four floors and fully facilitated), why anyone would want to by force sit next to me and in front of a computer that is not working, given that students who have their own lap tops usually take a desk with lots of power points and space and preferably next to a window with good light.

I really wasn’t asking for too much. I shook her hand as a peace offering after a successful negotiation, as I really do like the French but this situation was a little unfortunate, and I didn't appreciate the attempt to exclude me from a public access facility by way of manipulation, when I haven't done anything wrong.

Today, however, while seated at the same desk working quietly on the computer all day and keeping to myself, as I usually do, bothering no one, a foreign student decided to mount her lap top and mobile phone on the same computer station/des that I was using, with all the vacant space in the library, she wanted to sit next to me. Within minutes my email account was hacked. She suddenly packed her lap top and disappeared down the stairs and out the front door, as I watched her leave. I asked around to see if anyone knows who this foreign student is, I just assumed she was foreign by her presentation and accent while briefly conversing with staff before chosing her station next to me. She certainly didn't present like a student of this University, she was more like a professional and her appearance definately foreign. A polite black man unknown to me, told me that she is from Malta and was seen at the cafeteria this morning by him, talking to a security guard of Arab decent. If this was some kind of a calculated attempt, I can only assume the tax-free funding has come from the same representatives of the European Union that are responsible for Malta's Political Corruption.

A FREXIT IS NEXT BECAUSE GOD ALWAYS WINS!

Have a great day and thanks for reading. The Author - EDITED on Wednesday 19th February, 2020.