Membership
The general public has free access to the library, however, membership allows patrons a wider selection of privileges. To be a library member one must be a resident of India and be 18 years of age or above. We offer distant membership to people in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Membership processing fees may be paid in person by cash, or a demand draft drawn in favor of the American Consulate General, Chennai. Please Do not send cash through post.
Membership Fee Structure:
- Individuals: Rs. 400 for one year; Rs. 700 for two years
- Non-Profit organizations: Rs.2,000 for one year; Rs.3,000 for two years
- Profit/Corporate organizations: Rs. 4,000 for one year; Rs. 7,000 for two year
Borrowing and Renewing
Members can check out items at the Circulation Desk or through our long distance borrower facility. Loan renewals can be requested in person, by phone or by email. In addition, members can request inter library loans from American Libraries in New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Members can reserve books that are not on the shelf and a notification will be given once the item becomes available.
Individuals can check out up to four books for four weeks and two back issues of journals for two weeks.
Institutions can borrow 20 books for a period of four weeks, five video programs and 10 back issues of periodicals. In addition, Institutional and Corporate Members will receive the publications: Book Alert, Article and Web Alert, Span Magazine, The American Library Newsletter, Bibliographies, Videos, and Info Packs for events.