The American Library in Paris seeks and receives the continuing support of its members and other friends in a variety of ways.

Membership fees alone support only one fifth of the Library’s annual operating budget; gifts represent nearly half. Please consider ways your contributions to the Library can make a difference in the life of this institution.

Become a Member

Open to all, with annual and short-term memberships for individuals, families, students, and seniors, the Library serves more than 2,300 members hailing from more than 60 countries.

Become a member today and enjoy all we have to offer.

Volunteer at the Library

The Library is always seeking volunteers – people with reliable blocks of time to devote to the Library as welcomers, circulation and reference desk aides, shelvers and shelf-checkers, evening program aides, and children’s department helpers.

Find out more about volunteering at the Library.

Book Donations

The Library welcomes donations of English-language books in good condition. These donations are useful to the Library in a number of ways: as additions to the collection, as replacements for books in our collection that are worn or damaged, and as candidates for sale to our members or to book dealers. Please note that the Library does not accept used appliances, computers, televisions, or other such material.

Read more about the types of materials we accept and how to donate.

Individual Gifts & Donations

Twice a year the Library appeals to its membership and nearly 1,000 other friends and supporters for gifts to the general fund. These letter campaigns, in the autumn and spring, sustain the Library’s operations – its services, its collections, its programs.

Read more about how you can support the Library.

Foundation Support

Unlike many U.S. public libraries, The American Library in Paris receives no regular government subsidies and is largely financed by membership fees, rental income, donations and grants. We are very grateful for the generous commitment of dedicated foundations enabling the Library to continue to provide books and information as well as a variety of programs for the community in and around Paris.

Read more about Foundation support.

Corporate Support

Companies that become our corporate partners not only enhance their visibility with the English-speaking population of Paris, but also support the research, education and enlightenment of the Parisian community.

Find out how the private sector can contribute to the work of the Library.

Annual Gala

Every spring the Library hosts a gala dinner featuring a soirée highlighted by remarks from a prominent guest. Proceeds from this important annual fundraiser represent a key portion of the Library's annual income.

Find out more about the Library's Annual Gala.