There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,

Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot

That bears a human soul!

--Emily Dickinson

Born in Italy, Simon Gallo has an M.S. in Library Science from the Catholic University, Washington, D.C. He has been working at The American Library in Paris for over twenty years, first as the Collections Manager for the five former ALP Library branches which were located in Toulouse, Montpellier, Nancy, Angers and Nantes. Simon purchased, cataloged and then shipped books to each branch, managing a collection of approximately 25,000 items at each branch location.

Simon went on to manage what is now the collection of The American Library in Paris, a task he has been doing with a creative eye for over thirteen years. Some say that Simon has touched every book in the Library, either through the process of acquisition, cataloging, or book care and repair. In addition, he has provided countless tips to those in search of a book, article or resource at the reference desk, handles the thousands of books donated every year and manages the monthly book sales.