13 Questions With: Alessya Quattrociocchi

June 23, 2013

Librarian, Toronto Public Library

A hero who has inspired you in your career?

Wendy Newman (former CLA pres!). Taking her class on Library Advocacy, highly motivated and encouraged me to pursue my love for all things library-related. To this day, her course notes are the only ones I’ve kept and refer to!

The first job you ever held and at what age?

Does babysitting count?

Your first position in the library and/or information services field?

Page for the Toronto Public Library at the ripe old-age of 15 years old!

Coolest thing in your cubicle or office?

A giant letter from Santa (perks of being a Children’s Librarian).

What is your guilty pleasure?

Reality tv.

Career advice – what’s your top tip?

If you’re going into public librarianship, you’ll walk into the library on your first day with one set of expectations and walk out with a completely new set. Don’t do it for the benefits, the money, or the easy access to tons of your favourite books. Being a librarian will involve wearing many different hats, so make sure it’s a career you’re driven to and have a passion for, because that is what will get you out of bed every morning.

What useless skill(s) do you possess?

hmm don’t think I have one!

Proudest moment in your professional life?

When I was selected as Editor for The Last Word column in OLA Access Magazine (and did it proudly for two years!)

If you had 24 hours all to yourself, how would you best like to spend it?

Definitely somewhere warm, probably watching reality tv shows, texting my friends and hubby, cuddling up with my cat, with a glass of wine next to me

If you didn’t work in the information industry, what would you be doing?

I always wished I had obtained a degree in Journalism, so maybe I’d start there and see where it’d take me!

Finish this sentence: “In high school, I would have been voted the person most likely to … “

Become a librarian.

How do you stay current in your field?

I absolutely love attending conferences. Not only do they reinvigorate my passion for the library industry, but it’s a great way to network and obtain ideas from other library systems. I also love reading library-related blogs.

What would you like your headstone to read?

Was a great friend and the coolest librarian you’ll have ever met.