French Libraries
The larger Alliance Française chapters have libraries of French books and magazines, as well as films and music.
Libraries in the AFs
The Library of the French Institute Alliance Française in New York City, which has been the recipient of generous subsidies from the French Government as well as gifts from local residents, has a collection of 35,000 titles. The catalog can be consulted at www.fiaf.org.
The French Library in Boston, founded in 1945, has the second-largest French collection in the United States with over 25,000 titles in addition to the Marcel Carné Archives. The catalog can be consulted on line at www.frenchlib.org/library.
Project Benjamin
Project Benjamin is the name given to the Alliance Française Virtual Library which is found at www.alliancevl.org. To obtain a brochure describing this project and/or to obtain the required site password, contact Ronda Murdock, Library Services Coordinator.
The Project offers various types of services:
(1) Virtual Information
Ask a librarian: an email reference service FAQ: frequently asked questions about France Thematic guides: subject guides to address major information requests by AF members Internet links: annotated links of interest List of reference materials in the FIAF library
(2) Interlibrary Loan
Certain items from the FIAF library are available to AF Chapters on interlibrary loan, at a service charge of $5. per item plus return shipping.
(3) Services for Directors and Staff of Alliance Française Chapters
The FIAF offers help concerning the creation of resource centers, plus guidance on obtaining library grants.