Read our latest press release on Vision 2027.
In September 2024, the American Library in Paris unveiled Vision 2027, a three-year strategic plan to enhance the Library’s impact and outreach from now to 2027. The plan centers on four key streams of action: Illuminate, Champion, Empower, and Ignite—each aimed at deepening the Library’s connection with its local and global communities, fostering greater engagement, and expanding access to its services.
This vision is made possible by a transformative gift from the American Center for Art and Culture, enabling us to expand our conversations, reach new audiences, and instill a love of lifelong learning, literature, and culture among an ever-expanding local and global community.
Vision for the future
Bringing History to Light, One Exhibit at a Time
The ILLUMINATE initiative aims to make history accessible and engaging for everyone, bringing the past to life through innovative and immersive exhibits, with a specific focus on Paris as a perpetual source of inspiration and imagination.
Key Initiatives:
- Increase the frequency and diversify the themes of our popular History Tours.
- Bring the Library’s history to life through a series of physical and digital exhibits. Our first exhibit will celebrate our shared history with L’Heure Joyeuse, one of the first children’s libraries in France, and the second will explore the history of the Library War Service in WWI.
- Make our institutional archives available online for researchers, students, and history enthusiasts.
Fostering Cultural Dialogues: Joining Arts, Literature, and More
The CHAMPION initiative will significantly expand the reach of our cultural programming, creating opportunities to showcase the best that Paris has to offer, and enlarging our conversations to explore the intersection of literature, arts, and culture.
Key Initiatives:
- Expand our Cultural Fellowships program and our support for innovative artists and thinkers working across disciplines.
- Extend our multidisciplinary programming through strategic partnerships.
Building Bridges of Knowledge
The EMPOWER initiative focuses on increasing access to the Library’s resources, especially for underserved communities, through social impact partnerships.
Key Initiatives:
- Build on our On the Road program to bring the Library closer to underserved communities in and out of Paris, from writing and art workshops in English to author talks, in partnership with local organizations.
- Implement a courier service to deliver materials to select drop-off points in Paris for Library members.
Igniting Curiosity, Fueling Creativity
The IGNITE initiative is designed to foster lifelong learning and creative enrichment by expanding our educational offerings and supporting creative endeavors.
Key Initiatives:
- Increase the number of copies of popular titles to ensure that members have access to the latest and most sought-after books, reducing wait times.
- Acquire and preserve valuable resources for researchers and history enthusiasts, including the International Herald Tribune digital archive.
- Develop a Librarian Exchange Program to underwrite professional development for librarians and boost ties with US counterparts.
- Support the next generation of writers by expanding the Young Authors Fiction Festival to reach more young writers and increase participation
- Launch new social activities to engage Library members and showcase the Library’s collection.
How you can help
As part of Vision 2027, the Library offers members and friends the opportunity to support and shape its future through several philanthropic programs. By sponsoring initiatives within the strategic streams of Illuminate, Champion, Empower, and Ignite, your generosity will directly support innovative programs that enrich lives, foster cultural exchange, and ensure the Library remains a vibrant resource for generations to come.
The list of Vision 2027 sponsorship programs will be published in due course. For more information, please contact: Morgan Wurzburger, Head of Development
Mission Statement of the American Library in Paris
The American Library in Paris was established in 1920 under the auspices of the American Library Association with a core collection of books and periodicals donated by American libraries to United States armed forces personnel serving their allies in World War I. The Library has grown since then into the largest English-language lending library on the European continent. It operates as a non-profit cultural association in France incorporated under the laws of Delaware.
The American Library in Paris celebrates the written word and the life of the mind. Through our evolving collections and innovative cultural programming, we promote knowledge, inspire lifelong learning, and promote a sense of community. We are a welcoming home for the thoughtful and curious in Paris. Our mission is to:
- Showcase a varied, curated, and enduring collection of the best English-language print and digital books, periodicals, and other materials.
- Bring together writers, readers, thinkers, and creators of all ages for meaningful conversations through programming, workshops, and cultural events.
- Create a welcoming space that encourages reading, writing, and thinking in English to support the pursuit of scholarship, lifelong learning, and personal growth.
- Encourage engagement and interaction within our local and global community and honor our century-old heritage of multicultural understanding.
