The American Library in Paris

Despite changing locations several times, the American Library in Paris has remained a consistent presence on the international stage. In the decades since its founding, the American Library in Paris has consistently embodied its motto, Atrum post bellum, ex libris lux, which translates to: "After the darkness of war, the light of books." The Library was originally established in 1920, following World War I, to collect wartime books sent to American soldiers and allies who fought during the War. During World War II, the Library fought to remain uncensored and even established an underground lending service to Jews, whose access to libraries was revoked under the Nazi regime. Since then, the Library has remained a hopeful symbol of American and French relations, as well as a reminder of the past century's deeply complicated history.

The American Library in Paris has been, and continues to be, a welcoming site for many of the most influential writers in the English literary canon. A few of these past high-profile members have included writers Mary McCarthy, Samuel Beckett, and Richard Wright – American authors who, at one point, moved to France. The Library continues to attract not only established authors, but also members of a new generation of up-and-coming readers and writers. These aspiring authors and literary connoisseurs come to the Library to find companionship in monthly book groups, inspiration in speeches given by famous literary figures, and recognition through initiatives such as the Young Authors Fiction Festival. Through this variety of programs, the Library keeps the influential spirit of the written word alive for generations to come.