Library Policies

Access

Anyone may visit the library and enjoy the collection at the Alliance. However, a Student Pass or Membership with the Alliance Française de Washington is required to check out books.

Library membership is not automatic when you join the Alliance. New members must come by the library and register their card (free service). We are on the ground floor of the AF building at Dupont or the below ground level at the AF in Penn Quarter.

Library hours are different from the office hours of the Alliance.

Online account

The number on your membership card is your online library ID and password. This account allows you to:

Reserve items that are currently checked out
Renew your items before their due date
Search our collection
Borrowing

Use of the library computers

Two computers are available in the library for guests' use.

Borrowing

New DVDs: 1 week
All other items: 3 weeks
(Books, regular DVDs, CDs, magazines, language learning aids).

The number of items you can borrow depends on your type of membership.

Student Pass / Individual Member / YP Member	Family Memberships
6 Books : fiction, non-fiction, language-learning	10 Books : fiction, non-fiction, language-learning
6 CDs : music, audiobooks, language-learning	10 CDs : music, audiobooks, language-learning
4 DVDs : movies, language-learning	6 DVDs : movies, language-learning
2 Book + CDs : fiction, language-learning	4 Books + CDs : fiction, language-learning
1 CD-Rom	1 CD-Rom
6 Magazines*, incl. Bien-Dire, Champs-Elysées	8 magazines* incl. Bien-Dire, Champs-Elysées
5 Kids' Books	10 Kids' Books
5 Kids' CDs : music, audiobooks	10 Kids' CDs : music, audiobooks
2 Kids' DVDs	3 Kids' DVDs
1 Book + CD	2 Books + CDs
2 Magazines*	5 Magazines*

*The most recent issues of our magazines may not be checked out.

Students at our Penn Quarter location may borrow 3 items for 3 weeks.

Renewal

You may renew by:
Email: library@francedc.org
Phone: 202-234-7911 ext. 814
Online: using your ID and password
Overdue items may be renewed, but accounts will be charged an interim fee (see below).
New DVDs are non-renewable
Select language learning sets are non-renewable

Items may be renewed up to two times for a total of nine weeks unless:
The item in question is a new DVD, or language learning material marked "non renewable"
Another member has requested the item

Late fees

Books, CDs, cassettes, movies: 25 cents per item per day
New DVDs: $1.00 per day

Loss, damage or failure to return borrowed items:

You are responsible for the items you borrow. We ask that you return items in the same condition as when you borrowed them.

If borrowed items are damaged or lost, we ask that you purchase a new copy for the library. If you can't purchase a new copy, we will charge a $20 replacement fee.

Borrowing privileges are suspended if you have an outstanding fee of $10 or more.

Thank you for adhering to these policies, which help us ensure that all members have equal access to the collection.