Membership

The American Center welcomes all visitors.  A modest membership service charge allows patrons wider access to our services and resources.  To become a member of the American Center one must be a resident of India or a temporary visitor residing in one of the southern States.  We offer membership to residents and non-residents of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territories of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. Membership processing fees may be paid in person by cash, or a demand draft drawn in favor of the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai. Please do not send cash through the mail/post.

Membership Fee Structure:

Individuals: ₹ 400 for one year; ₹ 700 for two years

Non-Profit organizations: ₹ 2,000 for one year; ₹ 3,000 for two years

Profit/Corporate organizations: ₹ 4,000 for one year; ₹ 7,000 for two years

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 to ChennaiAmCenter@state.gov.   In addition, members can request inter-library loans from other American Centers in Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi.  Members can reserve books that are not on the shelf and a notification will be sent to the member when the item is available.

Individuals can check out up to four books and two back issues of journals for four weeks.

Institutions can borrow up to 20 books for a period of four weeks, and up to five DVDs and 10 back issues of periodicals for two weeks.  In addition, Institutional and Corporate Members will receive Span Magazine, video catalogs, and other promotional material.