Interview by: Ann Johannes
We thought we’d take the opportunity to introduce you to some of our staff – those who you might not see each time you come to the library but who play an integral part in the operations of the library. Without them, our lives would be much more challenging!
We will be asking each of them a series of questions and their responses were noted.
We’re going to start with Rick, our Computer Services Technician in our Innovation & Technology department.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? Family members?
Rick grew up in Calgary but lived everywhere as his dad was in the military. He’s lived in Germany, Egypt and France to name a few countries. He lives with his sweetheart who he met when she lived across the hall from him in his apartment building.
What did you do before working at the library?
Rick was a military man, in the Canadian Army to be exact. He was a tank gunner, weapons instructor and a marksman. His fellow servicemen didn’t like him on the ranges because he has outstanding sight memory – almost like photographic memory! He’s received a gold medal for a shooting competition. While in the military, Rick was stationed in Egypt for a year right after the Egypt/Israel 7-day war as part of Canada’s UN response. During that year, he ate lunch in front of the pyramids every day – how many people can say that?
Rick then worked for a manufacturing company in shipping & receiving but also was a lift truck instructor, safety instructor and did some IT. Rick has been playing with computers since 1978 but only started doing IT since just before 2000. He’s been working at the library for the last 7 or 8 years.
What do you do at the library?
Rick works in our Innovation and Technology Department. He is basically in charge of the switches, servers, fire walls, network and user security and everything that is thrown at him. He handles all our network security and is the resident expert of our sorting machine.
What do you do in your spare time?
Rick is an avid golfer, plays hockey as a goalie and just bought a house so spends a lot of time doing home repairs and fixing up their house.
Were you a library user before you started working at the library?
Nope! Not since high school!
If you weren’t working at the library, what would you be doing?
Rick would be building custom computers and servers.
What’s your favourite book?
Love all of Terry Brooks, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy. He’s a big spy/fantasy book lover!
What are you currently reading?
Just finishing up the Shannara series by Terry Brooks
What’s on your “to read” book list?
Nothing really. Rick is not an avid reader but he’s the kind of person who will just see something he likes and pick it up. He does read on a tablet, of course!
What are words you live by?
One of Rick’s values is that it’s not up to him to judge who or what your choices are. But it’s up to him to defend your right to your choices.
What is your favourite resource at the library?
Rick gets to work his hobbies – playing with computers and servers. The behind the scenes servers is his favourite thing to play with!
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Rick says he’d like to be a better communicator (but as someone who interviewed him for this, I completely disagree!) 😊
What’s one thing people might be surprised to know about you?
Rick mentioned so many things, it couldn’t be narrowed down to just one so here goes:
- Can shoot something at 1400 meters without a scope.
- Photographic memory about things are important to him.
- Can still do the splits when he plays a goalie at 62!
- Met the Queen of England - twice.
- Trained as a pursuit evasion driver as he’s done high level chauffeur security.