Ari Muhonen, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland

Ari Muhonen, Director, Helsinki University of Technology Library, Finland.

Q: What led you into your chosen profession?

A: This is one of my favourite stories. I was doing my post graduate studies many years ago. I studied naval architecture but wasn't quite sure whether it really was my profession or not. Then one day I attended a lecture in our main library. I happened to ask the lecturer if library work is fun. She answered that it is not just fun, it is wonderful! I was sold at that moment. She guided me to a course on information science and here I am, working as a library director.

Q: What book are you reading right now?

A: I'm reading The Samurai's Daughter by Sujata Massey. I like the cross-cultural atmosphere in her books. However, my most favourite reading are history and aviation books.

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

A:This is a difficult question. Perhaps as a Finnishman I have to answer Marshall C.G.E. Mannerheim. He was the man who succesfully led the Finnish army during the second world war. In addition to that, he lived a very colourful life in a very interesting period from the latter part of the 19th century till the post WWII time.

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

A: The first one was Heavy Horses by Jethro Tull. I liked Ian Anderson's flute as well as the melodies of the songs. At that time I didn't understand English so the lyrics were out of my range. The latest record I've bought is The Giant by a Finnish rock group called Zen Cafe. Opposite to Jethro Tull here the lyrics are all. The melodies are quite minimalistic, but very good, though

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

A: I would have stuck with my previous career as a naval architect and an ice research scientist. I loved being out on an ice field in the middle of nowhere and measure the ice properties of sea ice. In several field trips I also had to be afraid of polar bears out there, but that's another story.

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

A: I would love to have dinner with the great library persons S.R. Ranganathan, Maurice B. Line and Helle Kannila. The two first ones are famous world wide. The third one is the grand old lady of Finnish librarianship. I think there is still a lot for me to learn in the philosophy of librarianship.

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

A: If money really no option, I would love to go somewhere with lots of antiquarian book shops and libraries. I'd buy lots of books and do bibliographic research. This is something I have very seldom time to do. This would mean that I would have to neglect my family, but if I just could do this once in a life time I think they woudn't mind.

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