Family Christmas story time at the Phénix media library
In 16 days
An hour of reading aloud to share as a family, from age 4, at the Phénix media library. This session is a special Noël en Fête edition. Registration required.
The session
The reading centres on a theme, an author or a selection of children's books, for a moment to enjoy together as the holidays approach.
Le Phénix, a temporary library after the Jean-Macé fire
In Borny, a former municipality merged into Metz in 1961, the Jean-Macé library was destroyed by fire during the riots of late June 2023, along with some 110,000 documents. A first emergency space opened that August. Le Phénix, a 500 m² modular building, took over on 12 March 2024, close to the old site and the Bon Pasteur social centre. It belongs to the Bibliothèques-Médiathèques de Metz network, alongside Verlaine, Agora and Sablon. On Boulevard de Provence, the rebuilding project is aiming to open in autumn 2027. Until then, this temporary venue keeps a library service running in the neighbourhood.
A Noël en Fête Wednesday, from Le Phénix to the city centre
The session takes place on Wednesday 25 November at 2:30 pm: one free hour of readings, with registration one month ahead at the earliest, at a library or via servicesauxpublics@mairie-metz.fr. It is part of Noël en Fête, the year-end highlight of the Metz libraries. Le Phénix also hosts a decoration workshop on 21 November and a session on books to give on the 28th, both for ages 15 and up. For a pre-Christmas day out, the Metz market, announced from 20 November to 30 December, can fill the late afternoon in the centre. Check its hours and squares before setting off.
Reading aloud, a recognised part of a library's mission
Fostering a love of reading from an early age goes beyond the festive season. The IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto, revised in 2022, lists creating and strengthening reading habits, from birth to adulthood, among libraries' missions. The rules of the Metz libraries refer to this UNESCO manifesto as well. In France, reading was also declared a major national cause from summer 2021 to summer 2022, with a strand on reading aloud among children. An hour of stories at Le Phénix remains a modest event, yet it belongs to this everyday ambition: opening books to everyone.
Practical information
Address: 10 Rue du Bon Pasteur, Médiathèque du Phénix, 57070 Metz
Frequently asked questions
Where and when?
On 25 November 2026: Médiathèque du Phénix, 10 rue du Bon Pasteur, Metz.
Who is this event for?
Families with children aged 4 and over. Registration is required.
How do you get to the Phénix library from the station?
Take the Mettis A from the station or République towards Borny as far as the Provence stop: the former library stood on Boulevard de Provence, and Le Phénix is nearby on Rue du Bon Pasteur. Check the final walk on a map.
Where should you stay for a pre-Christmas outing to Borny?
Outre-Seille offers a good balance of charm and price, while the area around the cathedral puts you closer to the Christmas market. To compare them and look for accommodation, open Staylaro's guide « Se loger à Metz ».
