Book excerpt: Eugne Morel (1869-1934) was a French Librarian who, along the lines of such eminent public library pioneers as Edward Edwards and Melvil Dewey, made a remarkable contribution towards the development of public librarianship in France. Morel was genuinely interested in all facets of librarianship and played a dominant role in molding the development of most of them. His writings on the profession made a fitting testimony to the life's work of a very active library pioneer. His relationship with the British and American Library Associations helped to bring closer the French professional association to both of them. Morel had an "avant-garde" view on the automation of libraries and was the first to encourage the employment of women in French libraries. This book is the first biography of Eugene Morel to appear in the English language.