Overview
Finding and Obtaining Materials
Academic Libraries
Public Libraries
Special Libraries
Bookstores
Imagine yourself at a
café in Paris, reading a good book over coffee and a croissant. Does life get any better than that? Let's work
on figuring out where you'll get that book.
Your university will probably make buying textbooks and reference materials easy. Almost all French colleges and universities have their own bookstores. You can also buy them online through Amazon's French division, Amazon.fr. Remember that it will be much cheaper to buy things online from within France. Shipping from America is quite expensive.
France's cities and towns often have plenty of bookstores, big and small. Discover France has created a web site of English-speaking bookstores in Paris. If you're outside Paris and need help finding a bilingual bookstore, you can certainly contact one of these stores for advice. Some, such as Brentano's, will have additional locations in other parts of the country.
Gilbert Joseph
The Gilbert Joseph chain, especially popular among students, offers both new and used books and music. You can also
sell used books and CDs at this store. Many students hit the books here, then take a break in the store's three-floor music
department. You may just want to start by visiting the store at 34 bd St-Michel, 6e, M° Cluny-la-Sorbonne, or
calling 01 44 41 88 55.
Shakespeare & Co.
Shakespeare & Co. occupies a seventeenth-century building on the Left Bank. If your dreams involve reading in a comfy chair while looking down on the Seine at night, or befriending other avid readers from around the world, this is the place for you! If not, you can still browse for books and ask questions of the multilingual staff. Either way, make sure to find out which of your favorite authors have spent time here. A true Paris landmark.
