13 Questions With: Philip Wolfart

August 5, 2013

Project Manager, CONTACT Community Information (Volunteer Manitoba)

A hero who has inspired you in your career?

Heroes come loaded with a lot of responsibility, and I’d hate to put that burden on anybody, especially somebody I respected. That said there are plenty of people, mostly teachers and mentors that I respect and sometimes admire; my brother made a very good case for me to go back to school and get my MLIS.

The first job you ever held and at what age?

As part of certificate in tourism management, I worked at a ski resort reception in Savoie, and doing odd jobs on the hill. I was 18.

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

Internship in the Library of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Coolest thing in your cubicle or office?

Drawing done by my daughter, aged 3.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Raucous banjo picking. Been playing for years, no formal training, and I’m still really terrible. Listening to good street musicians comes a close second. Emphasis on good.

Career advice – what’s your top tip?

No experience, however negative is wasted.

What useless skill(s) do you possess?

In this rapidly changing world, no skill is useless.

Proudest moment in your professional life?

1st publication of an article in an academic, peer reviewed journal. Receiving acknowledgement in other articles comes a close second.

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

Hiking across the Brecon Beacons; they’ve eluded me a few times, not really convinced they exist.

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

There really isn’t another sector, except perhaps manufacturing / construction, and you can’t really do that very well without information. I’d probably be teaching, but that sounds like information to me.

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

… stay in school.”

How do you stay current in your field?

Actively participating in a professional association; attending / participating in conferences wherever possible; set aside a time per week to participate (not just monitor) social media, read association publications (I miss my printed version of Feliciter).

What would you like your headstone to read?

Finally, Google can’t find me here.