Claude Sallier facts for kids

Claude Sallier (born April 4, 1685, in Saulieu, France – died September 6, 1761, in Paris, France) was a very smart French scholar. He was an ecclesiastic, which means he was a church official, and also a philologist. A philologist is someone who studies languages and old texts very carefully. Sallier was also a professor of Hebrew at the Collège royal and managed the important old books and papers at the Bibliothèque du Roi, which was the King's Library. He is best known for creating France's very first public library.

A Big Idea: Libraries for Everyone

Claude Sallier had a truly amazing idea for his time. He believed that knowledge and books should not just be for a few rich or powerful people. Instead, he thought everyone should have a chance to learn and read. This was a very modern way of thinking in the 1700s!

France's First Public Library

From 1737 to 1750, Claude Sallier worked hard to make his dream come true in his hometown of Saulieu. He gathered many books and made them available for anyone in the town to use. This special collection of books became known as France's first public library.

Why Was This Important?

Before Sallier's efforts, most libraries were private. They belonged to kings, churches, or wealthy families. Ordinary people rarely had access to such valuable collections. By opening a library for the public, Sallier helped more people learn and discover new ideas. This was a big step towards making education and culture available to everyone, not just a select few. His work in Saulieu showed that public libraries could be a great success.