The purpose of the study is to review the activities of French municipal public libraries in working with older age audiences; to make known to the Russian library community modern practical developments of foreign colleagues in this area. The article is based on the results of the analysis of the following documents: reports of the Ministry of Culture and Communications of France, National summaries of data on the activities of municipal libraries, research articles and dissertations on the topic of the older generation in the library. The article presents the system of the old age periodization by Serge Guerin (Serge Guérin), which is characteristic of France, and gives an idea of the image of the modern French pensioner. The importance of cooperation and partnership of libraries with volunteer associations is noted. The interesting experience of the association «Read and let others read» («Lire et faire lire»), which attracts retired teachers to cooperation with libraries, thereby helping older people feel needed by society and continue an active social life, is presented.