The American Library of Montpellier is a branch of the American Library in Paris.

Since 1954, the American Library has been the meeting point for thousands of students and other Montpellier residents who have an interest in American civilization and literature. The American Library has grown considerably since its establishment in Montpellier and now has about one thousand members in good standing.

As an American institution in the capital city of the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, the Library serves patrons of all kinds--bilingual families seeking current reading materials for their children, businesses in need of reference works, students studying for exams, scholars conducting research, and patrons simply looking for a place to find a good book or to meet friends.

The Library also maintains close relations with civic groups and institutions of all kinds: the United States Consulate General in Marseille, the City of Montpellier, the Sister Cities Committee of Louisville, Kentucky, the many schools and universities located in Montpellier and, in particular, the University Paul Valéry of Montpellier (humanities) which generously houses the Library in a convenient center city location and provides vital support.

As the demands of Library patrons have grown over the decades, so have the Library's resources.

THE COLLECTION
The works in the Library's 25,000-volume book collection have been carefully chosen to support the Library's continuing role as an American cultural center. The collection is composed primarily of works by American and other English-language authors, and features significant holdings in American history, literary criticism and poetry. The library also offers the best of classic and contemporary fiction and an extensive collection of reference materials.

There is also a special children's room. Bilingual families and American families temporarily based in Montpellier appreciate this facility which introduces children to an American-style library and teaches them how to look for, check out and use books.

The Library possesses an extensive collection of about seventy-five periodicals covering a wide variety of subjects. Members may borrow magazines in addition to books.

The Library also has a growing selection of audio-visual materials. Nearly one thousand cassette tapes featuring music, poetry, novels, short stories, speeches, interviews, stories and songs for children.

Members may use the library's microcomputer facilities. CD-ROM's are available for consultation at the library (multimedia encyclopedias, cinema guides, American history, literature and civilization).