Over the next few months, we are getting to know staff from the library and archives team. This month, we are featuring Billy J. Choi-Gekas and Daniela Mazić!

For readers outside the library & archives world, what does your job title actually mean? User Services management through: providing excellence in service; ensuring the health & safety of our patron community, library space, and collection; continual training & development of our student library assistants; and navigating any patron trouble-shooting support. 

How did you get into working in libraries/archives? Began as a student library assistant when I returned to school for graduate studies and ended up receiving this position because of my 20+ years in management working in different sectors around Toronto. 

What would you like people to know about Graham Library or Trinity Archives that they might not know? The John W. Graham Library & Archives is the main repository and research support for the Anglican Church of Canada’s clergy, staff, students, and community.

Before working here, what was your most unusual or interesting job? Dog Trainer.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? Mentoring our student library assistants in management of both front-line service & communication skills and back-of-house technical skills, which all involve a skill-set transferable to any vocation they end up working in. My heart overflows when I get to witness each of their developments and accomplishments, and I’m always overjoyed when I hear from or have a past alumni visit and share with me where they are at in life & work after their journey with us at the Graham Library.

What’s the most interesting or fulfilling thing you’re working on right now? Providing EDI-Antiracist-Anticolonial resources and professional development for our team.

What was the last book you finished reading? “Here Be Monsters: How to Fight Capitalism Instead of Each Other” by Rhyd Wildermuth.

Where did you grow up? Toronto-Edmonton-Vancouver-Los Angeles-Patra (in Greece)-Toronto.

What is your best advice for U of T Library or Archives users? Make sure you know about all our services; we have a lot to offer, especially when it comes to online resources.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended? Tina Turner’s 50th Anniversary Tour and final concert on November 13th, 2008!

What’s your favourite thing to do in Toronto? Visiting all the surviving used and independent bookstores with a hot drink in hand.

What was the best meal you’ve ever had and where? Anything at “Swatow,” one of Toronto’s longstanding regional Chinese Restaurants for over 40 years!!!

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? New Zealand to see where both Xena and Lord of the Rings were filmed.

Besides our library, what is your favourite library to visit? To return to the Library of Trinity College Dublin, in Ireland.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I practice & teach Ayurvedic-Yoga and Qigong-Taijiquan, and many other things in my Wholistic-Health private practice.

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Describe in brief what you do: I support the Public Services Team at circulation, help to organize events, and promote our collections and services through displays, social media posts, and print campaigns. I help to select new materials for our Popular Reading Collection and enjoy finding creative ways to bring outreach programming to the Trinity College student community.

How did you get into working in libraries/archives?  I have to give credit to my kids. We spent a lot of time in libraries during the pre-school years, and it helped me to imagine a life where I could have my (second) dream job.

What would you like people to know about Graham Library or Trinity Archives that they might not know?  We have a beautiful Popular Reading Lounge that we were able to refurbish recently. We’re constantly adding new titles to the lovely study and leisure space.

Before working here, what was your most unusual or interesting job? I worked for many years on the production side of the performing arts but an unusual job I had as a student involved being on stage as a stand-in for Madame Butterfly during lighting focus at the Opera. No singing was required.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? The opportunity to combine technical and creative skills in my role keeps things interesting and the ability to work in public service is the icing on the cake.

What’s the most interesting or fulfilling thing you’re working on right now? Working with the Trinity Health and Wellness Team on our upcoming Mystery Book Swap on November 27th is such a pleasure. The event brings together students, staff, and Friends of the Library to wrap books for patrons to check out in the lead up to the winter break. Participants may also bring a book to swap at the event. It’s a great opportunity for the community to drop in, connect, and take a break.

What was the last book you finished reading?  Waubgeshig Rice’s Moon of the Crusted Snow, a fast-paced dystopian story set in a northern Anishinaabe community suddenly cut off from power and communication before a long, dark winter. This novel is part of the very first Trinity Reads shortlist, a year-long celebration of books that reimagine our relationship with the land and environment. Trinity students, staff, faculty, and alumni are invited to read as a community, and I felt like reading Rice’s novel was a great place to start.  

Where did you grow up? My childhood was spent in Etobicoke, and I have moved around a lot since then. I’ve lived in all the Yorks (York, North York, East York), downtown, and found my way back to the west end.

What is your best advice for U of T Library or Archives users? Ask for help! We love to help at the library. From the circulation desk to your personal librarian, someone is always happy to answer your questions.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended? Recently, I took my daughter to a candlelight concert. Sharing the experience with her is what made it the best.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Toronto? Rediscovering the city with my kids or just exploring ravines, parks, and creeks is so much fun.

What was the best meal you’ve ever had and where? The best, most recent meal was in Croatia: a homemade wild boar stew.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Japan is a dream destination, and I’d love to walk the Camino de Santiago one day.

Besides our library, what is your favourite library to visit? I love the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.