SCOP Librairie Les Volcans

SCOP Librairie Les Volcans is an independent bookshop located in the city centre of Clermont-Ferrand, France. Founded in 1974 by a couple of independent booksellers, it has grown into one of the country's leading independent bookstores, ranking 18th in France by book revenue in 2019. The shop has a sales area of 1,683 m² and operates a branch in Riom. It is known for its ambitious cultural programming, hosting authors, exhibitions, and events, and has been a cooperative and participative company (SCOP) since 2014 after a employee-led buyout. The bookshop is deeply rooted in its local community through socio-economic and cultural partnerships. In 2025, major renovations transformed the Clermont-Ferrand site, adding a café and updating the retail space.

La Librairie Les Volcans was created in 1974 by a couple of independent booksellers who ran it for 15 years. After the founders retired, the bookshop joined the Privat bookstore network, and later came under the Chapitre group. From 2005 to 2010, the Bertelsmann group owned it, followed by the American pension fund Najafi. These ownership changes led to poor decisions and ultimately to judicial liquidation in December 2013. Facing no buyer, the employees decided to form a cooperative and participative company (SCOP). With support from local residents through an association of friends of the bookshop, public authorities, and two banks, the financial round was completed. A documentary was dedicated to this founding episode. In 2017, the bookshop acquired Librairie Horizons in Riom. In 2022, Boris Surjon and Philippe Pelade succeeded Martine Lebeau, the emblematic manager from the early SCOP years. In 2024, for the 50th anniversary, managers announced a revamp of the online store and the upcoming opening of a restaurant space with a terrace. After several months of work, on 25 June 2025, the new bookshop opened a café highlighting quality local products, envisioned as a friendly gateway to this cultural third place.

• 2025

  Café opens on 25 June after renovations

• 2024

  50th anniversary; announced revamp and café project

• 2022

  Boris Surjon and Philippe Pelade become managers

• 2017

  Acquired Librairie Horizons in Riom

• 2017

  Won Trophée des Entreprises du Puy-de-Dôme

• 2014

  Employees form SCOP cooperative

• 2013

  Judicial liquidation in December

• 2010

  Acquired by American pension fund Najafi

• 2005

  Acquired by Bertelsmann group

• 1989

  Joined the Privat bookstore network after founders' retirement

• 1974

  Founded by a couple of independent booksellers

Independent, community-oriented cultural third place with a cooperative business model.

• Books

• Stationery

• Cultural objects

• Music records

1. 1Wikidata entry for SCOP Librairie Les Volcanswikidata.org
2. 2French Wikipedia article on Librairie Les Volcansfr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Official websitelibrairielesvolcans.com