In 2009-2010, the Ecole Française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) built a new library on the grounds of its Chiang Mai Centre.  In July 2011, the library was officially opened to the general public by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The collection, some 45,000 monographs and 40,000 issues of periodicals in Thai as well as western languages, constitutes a major resource for research in Buddhism and the history, anthropology, and art of Southeast Asia.

The reading room, with its windows looking into a tropical garden, provides researchers with a quiet, open workspace well equipped with reference works and electronic resources. WiFi access is free. The reading room also provides space for seminars and colloquia. Office space is being made available for resident scholars and students. Opportunities for scholarly funded residence are provided by the European Consortium of Asian Field Study (ECAF).

The library forms part of the EFEO’s rich documentary network including collections in Paris as well as the EFEO Centres in Siem Reap (archaeology), Hanoi (Han-Nom culture, contemporary history, ethnic relations), and Vientiane (regional history and anthropology).

Starting in 2012, the library will make rare documents available in digitized format. An additional mission of the library is the acquisition of Thai works for the collections of the EFEO library in Paris.

Opening times, contact details and updates on library projects can be found at http://www.efeo.fr/base.php?code=262 .