The American Library in Paris

The biggest English-language lending library on the continent and proud of it, the American Library in Paris has gone from strength to strength over the course of its colourful history. Founded in 1920 as a repository for the books sent by the US government to its soldiers in the trenches during the Great War, it has always centred on the best of American literature and culture, its remit widening with the times to take in DVDs and other audiovisual materials.

As a private organization, the library is dependent on membership fees for survival. You’ll have to shell out €110 a year (€82 concessions; day passes also available from €10); but you get a lot for your greenbacks, including access to a 120,000-strong collection of books and periodicals, a newly renovated interior stuffed with comfy sofas, special rooms aimed at kids and young adults, and the obligatory free wi-fi. Drawing on their ties to a plethora of cultural and academic institutions, including the American University in Paris, the managers also organize regular evening seminars and movie nights.

Click here for more information on how to register.