The American Library in Paris

Despite changing locations several times, the American Library in Paris (ALP) has maintained a consistent presence in the French capital. In the hundred-plus years since its founding, the American Library in Paris has embodied its motto, Atrum post bellum, ex libris lux, which translates to: "After the darkness of war, the light of books."

The library was 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fought to remain uncensored and even established an underground lending service to Jews, whose access to libraries was revoked under the Nazi regime.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.

In addition, ALP continues to be a welcoming site for influential writers in the English literary canon, including Mary McCarthy, Samuel Beckett, and Richard Wright — American authors who, at one point, lived in France. The library also attracts a new generation of up-and-coming readers and writers who seek companionship in monthly book groups, inspiration in speeches given by famous literary figures, and recognition through initiatives such as the Young Authors Fiction Festival.