Katerina Vrtalkova, Charles University, Czech Republic

Katerina Vrtalkova, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic

Q: What led you into your chosen profession?

A: I quite naively thought that the profession of a librarian had something to do with books. Moreover, I didn't want to have anything to do with mathematics and physics. I continue being astonished by the fact that I work in the library of the faculty of mathematics and physics and spend my day working at a computer.

Q: What book are you reading right now?

A: I am reading Peril at End House by Agatha Christie. I love Monsieur Poirot very much.

Q: Who do you admire the most (past or present) and why?

A: I admire Catherine of Alexandria, Catarina de Medici, Catherine the Great, Catherine Deneuve, Katerina Neumannova (Czech cross-country skier and Olympic winner), Katharine Hepburn and all the other known and unknown Catherines.

Q: What was the first and last music record you bought?

A: The last CD I bought was the Best of Jiri Schelinger I am just a madman (Jsem pry blazen jen). He was a Czech beat singer who died in 1981 at the age of 30 in Bratislava, after he bet that he would jump into the river Danube.

Q: If you could have any career other than your chosen profession, what would you choose?

A: Probably a lawyer, they earn much more money!

Q: If you could have dinner with any 3 people, past or present, who would they be?

A: I would like to go out for dinner with Robert Redford, Steve McQueen and Karel Hoger (a Czech actor 1909-1977), they are all handsome men with great charisma.

Q: Money no option, where would you like to go on vacation?

A: I would take 2 years holiday and travel all across France.

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