Andy Dandino, art director and creative strategist at the Kansas City Public Library, answers The Pitch‘s questionnaire

Name: Andy Dandino

Occupation: Art director and creative strategist, Kansas City Public Library

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

Current neighborhood: Waldo

What I do: As part of the library’s creative team, I help share stories about the amazing things the library does to support the KC community.

What’s your addiction? Puns (much to the chagrin of my friends and colleagues). Aside from that, reading and a pretty broad pattern of media consumption.

What’s your game? Does making obscure pop–culture references count? It does? Then trivia.

What’s your drink? Morning regimen: green tea. After–hours social occasions: Old Fashioned.

Where’s dinner? I’m a sucker for bread and cheese. Big fan of Spin Pizza, a frequent customer at Milwaukee Deli, and a devotee of Fervere’s Cheese Slipper Saturdays.

What’s on your KC postcard? So many great landmarks and notable places! But I’d have to go with the Central Library, of course. It’s a wonderful example of successfully repurposing a historic building — it was previously the First National Bank — and it’s become a downtown jewel and vital community resource.

Finish these sentences: “Kansas City got it right when …” It embraced the creative community. The local arts and culture scene played a big role in the city’s revitalization, and the imagination and innovation of the people working in those areas very much helped shape KC’s current identity.

“Kansas City screwed up when …” It continues to screw up when it backs projects that emphasize parking more than placemaking or are designed for cars over community. We need to learn from our past that highways often do more to divide neighborhoods than connect them — we have to explore other paths to progress.

“Kansas City needs …” To support efforts to build a more connected transit/transportation system. We also need a new generation of residents to become civic leaders, responsible businesspeople, philanthropists and elected officials.

“I always laugh at …” Bad jokes.

“I’ve been known to binge watch …” If reruns of Parks and Recreation are on, so long to whatever else I’d planned on doing.

“I can’t stop listening to …” This American Life, RadioLab, Studio360, On the Media. What can I say … I enjoy public–radio programming.

“I just read …” Working at the KC Library means always having a steady supply of great reads. My most recent favorite is So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson. Fascinating case studies about the power of people to harness the Internet and social media tools to mete out righteous justice or, conversely, destroy reputations. It’s made me more cognizant of my own digital behavior and more sensitive to how others use their cyber–soapboxes.

The best advice I ever got: Acknowledge that others have strengths and talents that you don’t – the best teams draw on the strongest skills of each member. My dad, who was an attorney prior to retirement, had a favorite saying: “I don’t attempt heavy–duty auto repair, and mechanics don’t practice law. But we trust each other when the time comes when we need the other’s help.”

Worst advice? “Let’s just keep doing things the way we always do it.”

My sidekick? Julie, my wife, who is more of a teammate than sidekick — we rely on each other for support, feedback and guidance in so many aspects of work and life.

My dating triumph/tragedy? Julie and I worked together at the same organization — and even within the same department — for several years before we eventually came to the realization that we were made for each other. Next–level workplace collaboration!

My brush with fame: Working at the library, I’ve been fortunate to have crossed paths with a number of notable authors or public figures we’ve hosted: Sandra Day O’Connor, John Lithgow, Anita Hill, Jill Lepore and others. I also met Chuck Palahniuk during a KC book signing event years ago, and I gave him a drawing of a drunk angel I’d done. He laughed and said he rarely gets gifts from audience members, but he often receives unsolicited gross–out stories.

My 140 character soapbox: It’s an exciting time for KC. Get involved. Learn about local issues and find a way to take part in making this community even better.

What was the last thing you had to apologize for? For taking so long to get back to several people on collaborative side projects. I love working with creative, enthusiastic folks, and I have a hard time saying no to those kinds of opportunities.

Who’s sorry now? The people around to hear my next pun–laced commentary. Sorry in advance, whoever it will be.

My recent triumph: Being a part of getting the Young Friends of the Library organized this past year. Our group has some fantastic members with a lot of passion, and it’s been a blast finding fun, creative ways to promote the KC Library and all it has to offer.

The Central Library welcomes author David McCullough for a discussion of his book on the Wright Brothers at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 19. Then, stick around for Tron, the 1982 version, on the rooftop. Doors at 8 p.m. Showtime is 8:45 p.m.