Randy Reichardt, University of Alberta, Canada

Randy Reichardt is Information Services Librarian (Engineering) at the University of Alberta's Science & Technology Library. His weblog, "The SciTech Library Question" (stlq.info), features occasional postings of interest to scitech librarians. His recent publications include articles on the application of weblogs in science and technology libraries, and on finding chemical and petroleum pricing information. A devoted fan of movies and NYC, he is a professional guitarist, but has yet to hit the big time in the music industry.

Q: Why did you decide to become a librarian?

A: At the time (early 70s - gahh!) I was studying mathematics, while teaching guitar on the side to put myself through my undergraduate studies at the University of Manitoba. Mathematics wasn't cutting it for me, but one of my students was a librarian, and I became interested in the work she was doing. In my last year of undergrad studies, I worked part time in a college library, and then after graduation as a library assistant for a year in Winnipeg. I enjoyed the work and interaction with users, and decided to apply for library school.

Q: What book are you reading right now?

A: Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay, and Free Culture by Lawrence Lessig.

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

A: At best a difficult question to answer, but I would go with Terry Fox. Terry Fox, a fellow Canadian, was diagnosed with bone cancer and had his right leg amputated above the knee in 1977. Moved by the suffering of other cancer patients, he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. After 18 months of preparation, he began his run on April 12, 1980, in St John's, Newfoundland. He ran 42km, or 26 miles, every day, the equivalent of a marathon. He was forced to stop on September 1st, 1980, after running 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles), as cancer had appeared in his lungs. He passed away on June 28,1981, at the age of 22. His legacy continues to this day, with over 6,600 Terry Fox Run sites around the world, and the Terry Fox Foundation created in his name has raised over $360 million CDN for cancer research. I admire him because he refused to let a disability drag him down, and instead, created and participated in a selfless and inspiring effort, one in which he raised money to help others who suffered as he did. It is almost unthinkable to imagine running one marathon, nevermind one every day for months, with a prosthetic leg. He was a true hero.

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

A: The first single I can remember buying was Don't Let The Rain Come Down, by the New Serendipity Singers, followed by a bunch of Beatles and Dave Clark Five records. The most recent music purchased was Happenstance by Rachael Yamagata, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb by U2, Good News for People Who Like Bad News, by Modest Mouse, and Everybody Loves a Happy Ending by Tears for Fears.

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

A: Playing electric guitar for a band like Buffalo Tom, or working in the movie industry as a director or actor (having never done either).

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

A: Mm...too many from which to chose, but on a whim, I'll go with Stanley Kubrick, John Lennon, and my grandfather, Karl Reichardt.

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

A: Antarctica would be cool (no pun intended), or a warm, South Pacific island.

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