This month’s issue of 7 Questions with AAAL Members features Claudette Cloutier, Associate University Librarian, Research and Learning Services at University of Calgary Libraries.

1. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
I have eclectic tastes that were informed by, television my parents’ albums and growing up in the ’80’s. The soundtrack to my life would include anything from Abba, Neil Diamond, Olivia Newton John, Beau Dommage, and Simon and Garfunkle. Throw in a little Bonnie Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, The Police and Lionel Richie and you have made my day! When I got married, I walked down the aisle to “Early One Morning” or as most of us know it the theme song from the “Friendly Giant”.

2. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
I have always wanted to be Anne Shirley. Anne of Green Gables is my all time favourite book. Who knows why I want to be an orphan growing up in turn of the century PEI…I think it was for the adventures and her sense of self.

3. What is your best piece of career advice?
The piece of career advice that I share with everyone I meet is that the world is a very small place. Always be kind, honest and professional with everyone you meet because you never know who will be your next boss.

4. What is your favourite thing to binge watch?
I am a sucker for action adventure and mysteries. This winter I have binge watched “The Librarians”, “Marvel’s Agents of Shield”, and “Father Brown”.

5. What do you do when you’re not working?
I know it is cliched, but when I’m not working I’m reading. That’s after running my kids around to their various activities and volunteering.

6. What is your favourite colour?
My favourite colour is electric purple, you can tell by the purse I carry. I’ve loved the colour since I was 3 or 4 and convinced my mother to paint my room that colour. She toned it down to lilac. When I’m buying clothes, if purple is an option, I will choose it.

7. What is your favourite cake and why?
My favourite cake is chocolate. I grew up in a family of chocolate haters so the only time I got chocolate cake was for my birthday or if we ate out at a restaurant (which was very rare). The great thing about this is that no one but me ate my birthday cake so there was always lots of leftovers!

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