Paris, July 16, 1960: A patron sits on a stepstool by one of the large windows in the American Library in Paris, daylight illuminating the selection he pulled from the stacks next to him. Established in 1920 with a core collection of books and magazines donated by American libraries to the American Expeditionary Forces serving in Europe during World War I, the library is still in operation today and is the largest English-language lending library on the European continent.

In Paris over the holidays and looking to visit the library? Check out its opening hours and historic tours here.

For more things to do in the City of Lights check out Stars and Stripes Europe’s article on what’s happening in Paris this winter.