Dr Ralf Schimmer, Max Planck Digital Library, Germany

Dr Ralf Schimmer, Max Planck Digital Library, Germany.

Q: How long have you worked in your current job?

A: This past April I passed the 10 year mark.

Q: Which fictional character would you most like to be?

A: Commissario Guido Brunetti in Dona Leon's crime novels - this character lives in a magnificent place and always indulges in good food.

Q: What are you most afraid of?

A: If something happened to my wife and kids.

Q: Name one place that you would like to go back to?

A: Hiking in the Grand Canyon for me is one of the most spectacular places on earth.

Q: What is the last film you watched?

A: I am not much of a film watcher, but I recently watched Buena Vista Social Club by Wim Wenders and enjoyed this celebration of life.

Q: How do you like to relax after work?

A: At first I enjoy time with my kids, but later I do not mind switching to a good newspaper and a nice glass of wine.

Q: Can you highlight three qualities of your institution?

A: I like the scholarly atmosphere and the strong research orientation of the Max Planck Society; there are a lot of really smart and dedicated people around so that every day brings new challenges and ideas. This puts quite some demands on our library services, but it also brings many rewarding situations.

To find out more about Max Planck Digital Library, please visit the website www.mpdl.mpg.de