The American Library in Paris

(In Person Full) (Hybrid) The US Presidential Elections: Journalists Look at What’s Ahead
2024-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 (Europe/Paris) | The American Library in Paris
The US presidential race has provoked intense anxiety, not only among voters but also around the world. The results could have profound implications on almost every front: immigration, the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, NATO, Russia, the Supreme Court. Join us for an extended, 90-minute media panel moderated by Vivienne Walt, in partnership with the Overseas Press Club of America, to discuss how the campaign is going, what to look for in the months ahead, and to answer your questions.
Please note the early start time of this event.
Please note that while in-person registration to this event is now full, registration to attend on Zoom is still available.
About the speakers:
Vivienne Walt is a Paris correspondent for TIME Magazine and Fortune Magazine. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, BusinessWeek, and more. She is governor of the Overseas Press Club of America.
The Washington Post’s senior national political correspondent, Ashley Parker has covered the White House since Trump’s 2016 election, a campaign she also covered. She has shared two Pulitzer Prizes, one for Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, the other for the January 6 insurrection. Ashley will Zoom in from the campaign trial to talk about Biden’s strengths and weaknesses, and a Trump victory might bring. She recently described the feeling in the Democratic Party: “There’s a deep concern Biden may not be the best candidate to beat Trump…There’s a desire among some for a plan B.”
The New York Times chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe, Steven Erlanger has covered about 120 countries. He’s been bureau chief in eight cities, including London, Moscow, Jerusalem and Paris, and has also served as the Times’ chief diplomatic correspondent in Washington. He has shared two Pulitzer Prizes for the New York Times, one for covering Al Qaeda after 9/11, the other for coverage of Russia in 2017. Steve will talk about how the U.S. elections will impact the world. Recently he wrote: “For most European governments, the prospect that Trump could return to the White House is a prime topic of private discussion. Mr. Trump’s victory in 2016 gave a major boost to European populist politics, and another victory would almost surely do the same.”
Guillaume Debré, Deputy Editorial Director of TF1, France’s biggest TV news network, was based in Washington for 16 years, working for CNN and French TV, covering the Obama and Trump presidencies. He’s the author of several books on US politics, including on Obama and Trump, and a book titled “How Money Ruined American democracy.” Guillaume will talk about how the elections are being covered by the rest of the world, from his Paris perch, and how the stakes are truly global.
For years, Cuban-American illustrator Edel Rodriguez has captured the dark absurdity of US politics on the covers of TIME, the New Yorker, and others. His “Meltdown” and “Total Meltdown” TIME covers became iconic representations of the Trump presidency. He will join the panel on Zoom to talk about how to portray the election’s epic importance amid media overload and voter dissatisfaction. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions. Please note the early start time of this event.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Story Hour: Dinosaurs Galore (ages 3–5)
2024-04-24 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, we’ll read nonfiction books and fictional tales all about dinosaurs, including Dinosaur vs. the Library by Bob Shea (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and rhymes together. Check out the our recommended reading lists in the Children’s Library—Early find books about dinos, and prehistoric creatures.
This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. This Story Hour will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer. They will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. This activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

(Hybrid) Looking to Art, At Home and Abroad with Benjamin Moser
2024-04-24 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
In 2002, at the age of twenty-five, Benjamin Moser moved from New York to the Netherlands. In search of places to anchor him in his new home, he began paying visits to Dutch art museums, where he developed a fascination with the “Dutch Masters” (a term given to a group of 17th-century Dutch painters, including Rembrandt and Vermeer, who developed distinctive styles and produced works that continue to inspire viewers). In his new book, The Upside-Down World, Moser delves into the details of the lives of the Dutch Masters, drawing from scant historical records to generate speculative musings and biographical accounts of these beloved painters.
Moser has also produced several other award-winning biographies and translations. His 2009 biography of the Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector has been instrumental in securing Lispector’s rich literary legacy among global audiences. His 2019 biography of Susan Sontag was widely praised and won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography. Through his biographies and his translations, Moser bridges both linguistic and cultural gaps, deftly introducing the complexities of foreign literature and the lives of international artistic figures to the English-speaking world.
Moser will be joined in conversation by Pamela Druckerman, a cultural writer and journalist. Druckerman has published five books and has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Le Monde, among other publications.
About the speakers:
Benjamin Moser is the author of Why This World: A Biography of Clarice Lispector, a finalist for the National Book Critics’ Circle Award and a New York Times Notable Book of 2009. For his work bringing Clarice Lispector to international prominence, including through publishing her complete works in English, he received Brazil’s first State Prize for Cultural Diplomacy. For Sontag: Her Life and Work, he won the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book, The Upside-Down World: Meetings with the Dutch Masters, was published in October 2023. He lives in the Netherlands and France.
Pamela Druckerman is a journalist and the author of five books including Bringing Up Bébé, which has been translated into 31 languages. She won an Emmy for The Forger, a New York Times documentary about a French teenager in WWII. Her op-eds, essays, articles and reviews have been published in the The New York Times, The Economist, The Atlantic, Le Monde and many other publications. Learn more:
Moser recently translated an interview with the renowned Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector from Portuguese to English. You can read his translation, and listen to the original Portuguese recording, in a piece for The New Yorker. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes. Read along with the Library! If you want to prepare ahead of this event, copies of The Upside-Down World will be on sale one week in advance, as well as after the event. Stop by Member Services to purchase your copy. Books are generously provided by Smith&Son.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their copy signed following the conversation.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

(Hybrid) Lunar Horizons: To the Moon with NASA Experts
2024-04-25 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
NASA’s upcoming crewed mission to the Moon, Artemis III, is currently scheduled for 2026, marking humanity’s first return to the lunar surface in over 50 years and the first-ever visit to the lunar South Pole. During this mission, two crew members will descend to the Moon’s surface, near its South Pole, for approximately a week. The astronauts’ objectives will include conducting scientific research and performing a series of moonwalks.
Scientists Ryan Zeigler, Lunar Sample Curator at NASA, and Christine Shupla, responsible for scientific engagement at the non-profit Lunar Planetary Institute, will share the latest and greatest advancements in lunar research. They will share ideas on science education and literacy, and how we can make learning about lunar science accessible to all.
This event is organized in partnership with Ephémerides, the organization founded by French astrophysicist Fatoumata Kébé.
About the speakers:
Christine Shupla manages the Lunar Planetary Institute Science Engagement staff, with 16 years of experience in NASA’s planetary science education community and 15 years of experience in informal science education. She also leads the Lunar Planetary Institute’s scientist engagement efforts, providing professional development and resources to assist planetary scientists in their efforts to share their science with public audiences.
Ryan Zeigler is NASA’s Lunar Sample Curator in the Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division at the Johnson Space Center. The principal focus of Ryan Zeigler’s research is the geochemistry and petrography of lunar samples to better understand how the Moon formed, how it differentiated and how impacts have subsequently altered its surface. Learn more:
Ephémerides founder Fatoumata Kébé spoke at the American Library in Paris last year about her book Lettres à la Lune, which explores how humans across history, from astrophysicists to poets, have about the moon. Rewatch the conversation on the Library’s YouTube channel.
With Artemis III, humankind will return to the surface of the moon. Discover the mission and explore the scientific innovation behind it. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

History Tour at the Library
2024-04-26 11:00, 2024-05-03 11:00, 2024-05-17 11:00, 2024-05-24 11:00 | The American Library in Paris
The American Library in Paris invites you to register for a History Tour. Come visit us in person at 10 rue du Général Camou and discover:

Our origin story, when our Library warehoused a collection of books donated to the Doughboys fighting alongside Allied troupes in WWI
The establishment of the American Library in Paris as a private library
The famous writers of the Lost Generation (Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, and more) who explored our stacks during their time in Paris
Our Paris Library School, which brought American innovations to French libraries in the 1920s
The true stories of the brave Librarians who kept the Library open during the Occupation of WWII
How the Library has evolved over its 103-year history into the largest English-language lending library on the European continent

All tours are on Fridays at 11h00, last one hour, and take place in person at the American Library in Paris.
Tours are free of charge and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Please email us if you are reserving for 4 or more people. (Do not reserve through the site.)
Please email tours@americanlibraryinparis.org with any questions.
This initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Florence Gould Foundation and the American Center for Art and Culture.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.

Teen Night: Book-Binding (ages 12–18)
2024-04-26 19:00 - 21:00 | The American Library in Paris
Have you ever wondered how a book is put together? Take a look at published books, and learn about how they are constructed, then create your own simple book using supplies provided by the Library. This workshop will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer.
Snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Saturday Series: Basket Weaving (ages 6–12)
2024-04-27 11:00 - 12:00 | The American Library in Paris
Learn basic weaving techniques, then create your own woven paper basket using only recycled items. Supplies will be provided by the Library.
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer with the help of Library volunteers. The activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. All participants must be able to understand and speak English in order to participate in the program. Children between the ages 6–12 may participate in Library programs on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library.

Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Writing A College Admission Essay with Cathy Altman Nocquet (ages 14–18)
2024-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 | The American Library in Paris
Platitudinous droning, however polished, will not get you into the college of your choice. University admissions officers want to know who you are and how you think, not read your affirmation that “music is the universal language.” Finding your own voice and unique content for your essay will not only help your application rise to the top, it will improve your writing overall. Join writing coach and author Cathy Altman Nocquet for insights and writing exercises that will help you craft a strong college essay.
About Cathy Altman Nocquet: Cathy Altman Nocquet graduated from Barnard College/Columbia University and made a career of creative thinking while working in international advertising as a writer and strategist. Her workshops feature original exercises designed to conquer writer’s block and facilitate written expression. In addition to working with students from dozens of schools in the US and Europe one-on-one or in groups, she has led workshops at libraries and for the English Language Schools Association as well as other non-profit educational groups. Her work has been shortlisted and nominated for Editorial Prizes in national and international writing competitions. Her books, Write Outside the Lines: A Creativity Catapult and Write a Bad College Essay, Then Write the One That Gets You In, and her novel, Near Misses, are available at the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

25 Great Value Programs, Degrees, and Experiences in Education with Richard Montauk (ages 14–adult)
2024-04-28 14:00 - 16:00 | The American Library in Paris
In seeking the best opportunities for your child’s university education, it’s hard to know where to look. What in education is of far greater value than the price you’ll pay for it? We’ll examine 25 prime examples, from short courses to full degrees, ranging across the globe.

About Richard Montauk: Richard Montauk is the author of a series of best-selling guides, all published by Prentice Hall, including How to Get Into the Top Colleges and How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs. His most recent books include College Interviews: The Definitive Guide and Getting into Brown: Successful Applicants’ Essays, Resumes, and Interviews. He received a BA in literature from Brown University, an MA in government from Harvard, an MS in finance, and a JD from Stanford Law School. Pursuant to a graduate fellowship, he also studied at the London School of Economics and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (University of London). After graduating from Stanford, Richard worked as a corporate lawyer for Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles, then as a corporate strategy consultant for Bain & Co. in London, before devoting himself full-time to admissions consulting. Since 1991, he has consulted to candidates for the world’s top universities, for both undergraduate and graduate programs. He can be reached through his website: www.richardmontauk.com. Important information: This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per person for non-members, and advance registration is required. All Library users are expected to familiarize themselves with the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

(In Person Full) (Hybrid) Annie Ernaux & Photography with Lou Stoppard and Lauren Collins
2024-04-30 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
French author Annie Ernaux, winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize for Literature, writes of her desire to “describe reality as through the eyes of a photographer and to preserve the mystery and opacity of the lives I encountered.”
Curator Lou Stoppard’s exhibition “Exteriors—Annie Ernaux & Photography” (at La Maison européenne de la photographie, now through 26 May) traces this close relationship between Ernaux’s autobiographical prose and the medium of photography. She juxtaposes passages from Ernaux’s book Exteriors—a collage of observations and reflections on the streets, shops, and public transportation networks of Cergy-Pontoise—with an array of photographs from the museum’s collection.
Stoppard will appear in conversation with writer and journalist Lauren Collins.
The program is produced in collaboration with la Maison européenne de la photographie and art book publisher MACK, which has released a book accompanying the exhibition.
Please note that while in-person registration to this event is now full, registration to attend on Zoom is still available.
About the speakers:
Lou Stoppard is a British writer and curator. She has written for The Financial Times, Aperture, The New York Times and The New Yorker. Her books include a survey of the work of street photographer Shirley Baker, published by Mack in 2019, ‘Pools’, an exploration of swimming in photography, published by Rizzoli in 2020, and Exteriors: Annie Ernaux and Photography, published by Mack in 2024, to time with an exhibition of the same name at MEP, Paris.
Lauren Collins began contributing to The New Yorker in 2003 and became a staff writer in 2008. Her subjects have included Michelle Obama, Donatella Versace, the graffiti artist Banksy, Emmanuel Macron, the refugee crisis, and equal pay. Since 2015, she has been based in Paris, covering stories mainly from France. She is the author of “When in French: Love in a Second Language,” which the Times named as one of its 100 Notable Books of 2016. She is working on a second book, about a coup d’état perpetrated by white supremacists in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1898, and its effects over the past hundred and twenty years.
This event is in partnership with the Maison Européenne de la Photographie.
Learn more:
You can check out Stoppard’s exhibition on Annie Ernaux & Photography yourself by visiting the MEP before 6 May 2024.
In 2020, Stoppard edited a photography collection called Pools, bringing together a dazzling array of contemporary photographs featuring poolside parties, submerged swimmers, and other pool-related objects and events. You can peruse a preview of the book (or order a copy of your own) here.
Lauren Collins has appeared at the Library several times, both as a guest and as a moderator for our programs. You can watch a recording of her presenting her memoir When in French: Love in a Second Language at the Library here. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Toddler Time (ages 1–3)
2024-05-02 11:00 - 11:30 | The American Library in Paris
Our Toddler Time is for children ages 1–3 and their caregivers, and features 30 minutes of stories, songs, and rhymes. Stories featured during our Toddler Time programs include short picture books and board books, such as You Matter by Christian Robinson which will be included in this 2 May event. This session will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads.
The program is entirely in English, as are all of our events for children and teens. No translation will be provided. Each child must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, and chaperones are required to remain with their children for the duration of the program. Parents and caregivers are expected to sit with their children beside them, or in their laps, and participate in the program. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers! Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

(Hybrid) The Anatomy of Privilege: Nick McDonell on Quiet Street
2024-05-02 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Nick McDonell has written eleven books, ranging from novels (the first of which he wrote at the age of seventeen) to nonfiction accounts of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With his latest book, a memoir called Quiet Street, McDonell turns his gaze inward, taking his own upbringing in a wealthy New York family as his subject. Among other institutional contexts, he considers the private all-boys school that he attended in Manhattan, his time as a student at Harvard, and his summers spent at the Devon Yacht Club. Across these accounts, McDonell reflects upon the machinations of privilege, using his own life as a prism through which to understand larger dynamics of class, race, and inequality. He will appear in conversation at the Library with photographer and filmmaker Roopa Gogineni.
About the speakers:
Nick McDonell has published eleven books. His work has been translated into 23 languages and appeared on bestseller lists around the world. He is the author of the novels Twelve, The Third Brother, An Expensive Education, and The Council of Animals, as well as a work of political theory, The Civilization of Perpetual Movement, and five books of reportage on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including The Bodies in Person. He has contributed reporting and essays to Harper’s Magazine, The London Review of Books, Libération, The Paris Review, newyorker.com, and TIME, among other publications. He has also written for film and television.
As a reporter, McDonell has covered the wars in Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine. He helped found The Zomia Center, which is dedicated to the study of ungoverned and semi-governed regions known as non-state spaces. He grew up in New York City and studied literature at Harvard and international relations at St. Anthony’s College, Oxford.
Roopa Gogineni is a filmmaker, photographer and curator from West Virginia whose work considers historical memory and modes of resistance. After a decade in Nairobi she is now based in Paris. Suddenly TV, her latest film about magical thinking and revolution, was nominated for the IDA Awards and earned jury prizes at SXSW, IndieLisboa, and Kasseler Dokfest. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Oxford and teaches at Parsons Paris. Learn more:
You can read an extract from Quiet Street here.
A review of Quiet Street in the Chicago Review of Books describes the book’s success in tracing the “violence” of the “one percent.” Read the review here. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes. Read along with the Library! If you want to prepare ahead of this event, copies of Quiet Street will be on sale one week in advance, as well as after the event. Stop by Member Services to purchase your copy. Books are generously provided by Smith&Son.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their copy signed following the conversation.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Teen Night: Create a Quest (ages 12–18)
2024-05-03 19:00 - 21:00 | The American Library in Paris
Have you ever wondered what makes an epic story? Join us as we explore classic tales of the hero’s quests, then begin our own stories. This workshop will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer.
Snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library.
Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Fact-Finding Scavenger Hunt (ages 5–12)
2024-05-04 11:00 - 12:00 | The American Library in Paris
Who wrote that? Who built that? How old is the Library? How tall is the tallest building in Paris? Receive tips and tricks for navigating the Library and seeking out accurate information before heading into the stacks to discover the answers to these questions and more.
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services staff with the help of Library volunteers. The activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. All participants must be able to understand and speak English in order to participate in the program. Children ages 5–9 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone for the duration of this event. Children between the ages 10–12 may participate in the programs on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library.

Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Music Together with Stacey Pavesi Debré (ages 0–5)
2024-05-04 16:00 - 17:00 | The American Library in Paris
Today, it’s common for us to simply listen to music rather than create it ourselves. But actively making music—with our voices and our bodies—is important to children’s overall development. Since 1987, Music Together, has introduced millions of children, parents, and teachers to the joys of music-making and the powerful benefits of having music in their lives. In our family workshops children and parents learn together through active exploration and live, meaningful interaction. So, take out the earbuds and pick up the instruments we were all given at birth—ourselves! Each child (aged 0–5) should accompany one of their favorite grownups.
About Stacey Pavesi Debré: An American in Paris since 2014, Stacey has been passionate about music and learning her whole life. She studied piano and string bass, joined choirs, orchestras, a capella groups and musical theaters, and worked as a vocalist in Japan and a singing bartender in NYC. In 2017, Stacey founded Bébé Music Box to bring Music Together’s award-winning music and movement classes to families and schools in Paris. Our weekly mixed-age family classes are a fun, dynamic, and inspiring way for families to connect through music. Plus, because music learning supports all learning, the benefits for our young music-makers extend well beyond class. For more information about Bébé Music Box family classes or to contact Stacey, visit www.bbmusicbox.com. To read more about music’s magical effects on children, visit www.musictogether.com. Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Caregivers must remain with their children for the duration of this program. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Painting and Planting (ages 12–18)
2024-05-05 15:00 - 16:00 | The American Library in Paris
Meet other teens in the community as you design your own decorations for a pot, paint it, and plant a seedling to take home. Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Lucie will host this event. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

(Hybrid) The Examined Life with Scott Hershovitz and Sarah Bakewell
2024-05-09 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
The Library will be closed on this day for the Ascension holiday.
Library services will not be available.
Doors will open at 19h00.
Event will be followed by a reception. In Nasty, Brutish, and Short, Scott Hershovitz, co-writing with his two young children, uses the child’s sense of curiosity and simplicity as a starting point from which to investigate ethics, existence, religion, identity, and justice from fresh perspectives. In his latest book, Law is a Moral Practice, Scott Hershovitz approaches the relationship between moral action and the law with refreshing frankness and levity, uncovering a very human history of setting, breaking, and remaking rules for good living.
Sarah Bakewell’s work is similarly engaged with the idea of ethical living. Her latest book, Humanly Possible, masterfully recounts the long history of humanism and freethinking. Join these two professional philosophers to discuss the big questions of life: the nature of goodness, the possibility of ethical living, and the meaning of being human.
Join the two authors as they consider philosophy’s most fundamental questions, the eternal urgency of philosophy, and the necessity of making philosophical thought accessible to all.
About the speakers:
Scott Hershovitz is director of the Law and Ethics Program and professor of law and philosophy at the University of Michigan. He holds a BA in philosophy and politics from the University of Georgia, a JD from Yale Law School, and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Professor Hershovitz served as a law clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court. He is the author of Nasty, Brutish, and Short, co-written with his two young children. He is married to Julie Kaplan, a social worker, whom he met at summer camp. They live in Ann Arbor with their two children, Rex and Hank.
Sarah Bakewell is the author of several works of biography and philosophy, including At the Existentialist Café and How to Live: a life of Montaigne. Her latest, Humanly Possible: 700 years of humanist freethinking, enquiry, and hope, was a New York Times bestseller in 2023 and was named by Barack Obama as one of his favorite books of the year. Learn more:
Hershovitz’s first book, Nasty, Brutish, and Short, takes the hilarious and profound questions of young children as the starting point for serious philosophical inquiry. You can read an excerpt from the book here.
A New York Times review of Humanly Possible explains that Bakewell “delights in the paradoxical and the particular, reminding us that every human being contains multitudes.” Read the review here. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes. Read along with the Library! If you want to prepare ahead of this event, copies of Nasty, Brutish, and Short and Humanly Possible will be on sale one week in advance, as well as after the event. Stop by Member Services to purchase your copy. Books are generously provided by Smith&Son.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their copy signed following the conversation.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

(Hybrid) The Art of Biography with Stacy Schiff
2024-05-14 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Stacy Schiff is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and one of the leading non-fiction life writers of our time. Schiff’s biographies animate the lives and legacies of time-hallowed historical figures such as Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Cleopatra, countering popular narratives and misunderstandings with meticulous historical detail.
The Library is delighted to host Schiff as our Writer-in-Residence this May. In this program, the author will appear in conversation with Elaine Sciolino, a contributing writer for the New York Times. The event will be followed by a reception, to which all attendees are invited.
About the speakers:
Stacy Schiff is the author of Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), winner of the Pulitzer Prize; Saint-Exupéry, a Pulitzer Prize finalist; and A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, winner of the George Washington Book Prize. Published to ecstatic reviews, her Cleopatra: A Life was a #1 bestseller. Named one of the New York Times’s Top Ten Books of 2010, it has been translated into thirty-five languages and won the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography. David McCullough greeted Schiff’s 2015 The Witches, also a #1 bestseller, as “brilliant from start to finish.” Schiff’s most recent book, The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams, was a Wall Street Journal Top Ten Book of 2022 and figured as well on President Obama’s list of Favorite Books of 2022. The Wall Street Journal has called Schiff “perhaps the most seductive writer of nonfiction prose in America in our time.” Among other honors, Schiff has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library, where she has been named a Library Lion.
Elaine Sciolino is a contributing writer and former Paris bureau chief for the New York Times. Her forthcoming book, Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum, will be published in 2025. Decorated Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the French state, she is the author of the national best-sellers The Seine and The Only Street in Paris. She has lived in Paris since 2002. Learn more:
Shiff’s most recent book is a portrait of the American revolutionary activist and politician Samuel Adams. You can read NPR’s enthusiastic review of the book here.
Schiff’s biography of Benjamin Franklin has recently been adapted into a miniseries, with Michael Douglas starring as the beloved Founding Father. Watch the trailer for the miniseries here. The Writer-in-Residence program is generously supported by The de Groot Foundation.
Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Story Hour: Underwater Worlds (ages 3–5)
2024-05-15 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, we’ll read nonfiction books and fictional tales all about the ocean and creatures that live in the sea, including Shark Lady: the True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating, illustrated by Alvarez Miguéns (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and rhymes together. Check out the our recommended reading lists in the Children’s Library—Early find books about sharks, dolphins, and other ocean creatures.
This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. This Story Hour will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer. They will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. This activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

(Hybrid) Warming Up with Madeleine Orr
2024-05-15 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
We have all seen the headlines. At the Australian Tennis Open in early 2020, heat and smoke from bushfires caused players to collapse. Skiers across Europe have canceled trips to mountain resorts due to an unsettling dearth of snow. And extreme heat killed hundreds, if not thousands of migrant workers who were building infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Temperatures have reached new heights around the world, dramatically altering the experience of sporting events for players, fans, and support staff alike.
In her book Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Changing Sport, Madeleine Orr marshals her unique academic background in sports management and ecological research to consider the implications of a warming climate for one of the largest entertainment industries in the world.
The conversation will be moderated by UNESCO’s Director of Social Polices, Gustavo Merino.
About the speakers:
Madeleine Orr is a leading sport ecologist and professor at the University of Toronto. A Forbes 30 under 30 inductee, she is the founder and co-director of The Sport Ecology Group, who consult on international climate issues for sports organizations such as the Commonwealth Secretariat, the UNEP, World Athletics, Adidas, F1 teams, and the NCAA. Madeleine has worked closely with the BBC and ESPN to further public understanding of climate issues in sport. She is a 2023–24 Future of Canada Fellow. www.madeleineorr.com
Gustavo Merino has been the Director of Social Polices at UNESCO since January 2024. Previously he was Leader of the Public Policy Unit at the Institute for Obesity Research and as Research Professor and Leader of the Public Policy Health Initiative at the School of Government and Public Transformation of Tecnológico de Monterrey, where he was also Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Government for Mexico City Region. Prior to that, he was Director of the Investment Center Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). He has held senior positions in the Government of Mexico including Deputy Minister of Social and Human Development, Deputy Minister for Prospective, Planning and Evaluation and Head of the Planning and International Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Social Development. He was also CEO of Mexico’s national development bank for agriculture and rural areas, Financiera Rural. Dr. Merino has also been a Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for Public Policy Research at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de Mexico (ITAM) in Mexico City and a consultant in the field of social development, public finance and competition policy. He has a master’s and PhD in Public Policy from Harvard University and a BA in Economics from ITAM. Learn more:
A BBC article titled “What Would a Greener World Cup Look Like?” draws heavily upon Orr’s work. Read the article here.
Orr appeared as a guest in a 2022 episode of the podcast The Bunker to discuss the ecological future of the Olympics. You can listen to the podcast here. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes. Read along with the Library! If you want to prepare ahead of this event, copies of Warming Up will be on sale one week in advance, as well as after the event. Stop by Member Services to purchase your copy. Books are generously provided by Smith&Son.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their copy signed following the conversation.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Toddler Time (ages 1–3)
2024-05-16 11:00 - 11:30 | The American Library in Paris
Our Toddler Time is for children ages 1–3 and their caregivers, and features 30 minutes of stories, songs, and rhymes. Stories featured during our Toddler Time programs include short picture books and board books, such as The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle which will be included in this 18 May event. This session will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads.
The program is entirely in English, as are all of our events for children and teens. No translation will be provided. Each child must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, and chaperones are required to remain with their children for the duration of the program. Parents and caregivers are expected to sit with their children beside them, or in their laps, and participate in the program. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers! Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Saturday Series: Word Games (ages 6–12)
2024-05-18 11:00 - 12:00 | The American Library in Paris
Learn how to play Scrabble, Boogle, Taboo, and other word games during this afternoon event. Volunteers will be on hand to help walk you through the rules of the games. Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Master Shot Film Club Meeting (ages 12–18) (Closed)
2024-05-18 17:00 - 18:30 | The American Library in Paris
Led by Paris-based filmmaker and writer Clarence Tokley, the purpose of this club is to allow budding filmmakers the opportunity to produce high quality short films.

The Master Shot Film Club provides a space for teens to explore all aspects of film-making, including the development and production process, script-writing, camera work, directing, acting, editing and much more, not to mention that you’ll get to know other young filmmakers in the community! This club is open to teens ages 12–18 in the Paris area who are fluent in English, by application. Applications were open through the end of August 2023 and are closed for the 2023–2024 film club. Applications for the 2023–2024 club will be open through 31 July. Apply to here for the 2024–2025 Master Shot Film Club.
About Clarence Tokley:Clarence Tokley is a Paris-based teacher, filmmaker, and writer. A native of New Jersey, Clarence attended Rutgers University, obtaining a degree in History and Film Studies. Clarence then attended the New York Film Academy in New York City, before packing up everything and moving to Paris—he wanted to get a taste of the European style of storytelling. He fully immersed himself in the film industry and quickly landed his first job in Paris. Some of his credits include Rush Hour 3, Truth in 24, Exes, and the Cherry Orchard. Clarence also does voice-over work in Paris. Along with his duties as teacher of the BAW Teen and Youth Acting courses, he is the director of camps in France and provides workshops and private coaching. When he’s not teaching or coaching, Clarence continues to work professionally in film and theater productions in and around Paris.

Important information:
This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

(In Person at Amphithéâtre Farabeuf) An Evening with Poet Terrance Hayes
2024-05-21 18:00 - 19:00
Terrance Hayes is a pivotal figure in contemporary poetry. His work crackles with rhythmic innovation, deft lyricism, and poignant insight while exploring themes ranging from music to masculinity to African American experience. He revitalizes traditional structures, such as the sonnet, infusing them with an energy that speaks to our contemporary moment. His collection Lighthead won the National Book Award for Poetry in 2010, cementing his position as a significant voice in American literature, and he has since received the highly esteemed MacArthur Fellowship.
This program is presented in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Faculty of Letters of Sorbonne University and the Sorbonne’s Poetry Beyond project. Hayes will read from two of his recent poetry collections, “So to Speak (2023) and American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin (2018). The reading will be followed by an exchange with the public.
Learn More:
To read a selection of Hayes’s poems, check out his profile on The Poetry Foundation.
The musicality of Hayes’s writing is best appreciated when his work is read aloud. You can listen to Hayes reading a sonnet from his collection “American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin” here.
About the speaker:
Terrance Hayes is the author of seven poetry collections: So to Speak; American Sonnets for My Past And Future Assassin, a finalist for the National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, and TS Eliot Prize; How to Be Drawn; Lighthead, winner of the 2010 National Book Award for poetry; Muscular Music, recipient of the Kate Tufts Discovery Award; Hip Logic, winner of the 2001 National Poetry Series, and Wind in a Box. His prose collection, To Float In The Space Between: Drawings and Essays in Conversation with Etheridge Knight, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and winner of the Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism. Hayes has received fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation, Guggenheim Foundation, and Whiting Foundation, and is a professor of English at New York University.
Important information: This event will not take place at the Library. Hayes will speak at the Sorbonne’s Amphithéâtre Farabeuf (15 rue de l’École de Médecine).
Access to this event requires purchase of a ticket through BilletWeb.fr. Click on the button below to sign up

(Hybrid) The Forgotten Soldiers of D-Day with Linda Hervieux and Raymond Kemp
2024-05-21 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
African Americans served with bravery and distinction in every conflict since the American Revolution. Yet the stories of these heroes have been consistently omitted from our collective memory. From the now-famed Tuskegee airmen to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, D-Day’s only all-Black combat unit, modern historians have been tasked with setting the record straight.
As we approach the 80th anniversary of D-Day, join the author of Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, Linda Hervieux, and Commissioner of the American Battle Monuments Commission Raymond Kemp as they discuss the achievements of the more than one million African American men and women who served in uniform during World War II.
About the speakers:
Linda Hervieux is a Paris-based American journalist and teacher who has lectured extensively about the forgotten African Americans of D-Day and World War II at venues including Harvard, Princeton, and the National African American Museum of History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The men of Forgotten will be featured in an episode of the upcoming National Geographic/Disney+ series Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color.
Raymond D. Kemp, Sr., was appointed by President Biden to the American Battle Monuments Commission. During a 33-year career in the U.S. Navy, Kemp served as the first Black Fleet Master Chief for the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa. He is the CEO of Kemp Solutions, a best-selling author, and executive coach. Learn more:
Tom Brokaw calls Linda’s book “utterly compelling,” and best-selling historian Douglas Brinkley writes, “All Americans should read this World War II history, which doubles as a civil rights primer, to learn the true cost of freedom.” Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes. Read along with the Library! If you want to prepare ahead of this event, copies of Forgotten will be on sale one week in advance, as well as after the event. Stop by Member Services to purchase your copy. Books are generously provided by Smith&Son.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their copy signed following the conversation.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Story Hour: Magical Creatures (ages 3–5)
2024-05-22 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, we’ll read stories about magical creatures of all sorts (fairies, unicorns, elves, friends, and dragons too!*) including Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wahl (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and practice rhymes.
This program is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Check out the recommended reading lists in the Children’s Library to find more books about magical creatures.
*Participants are encouraged to dress up as magical creatures for this event!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: 12th Annual Literary Reaping (ages 12–18)
2024-05-24 19:00 - 21:30 | The American Library in Paris
During this evening event, you’ll be placed in teams to answer trivia questions, and complete challenges based on young adult literature—both classic and contemporary. In the past, participants were asked to shoot an arrow as straight as Katniss, prove a knowledge of the gods that rivals Percy and Magnus, identify the villains in the room, and decide on the perfect spell faster than a magical maji. Wands, arrows, and other supplies will be provided. All participating teens will win a brand new book to take home and keep.
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads with the help of local authors and writers serving as gamemakers for the evening.
Pizza and drinks will be provided by the Library.
May the odds be ever in your favor…
*Please note the late end time for this event. Important information:
This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.
