I'm Retiring, This Blog is Ending
I'm retiring next month, so it's time to stop blogging and prepare myself for the next phase of my life.
My dean has promised that this blog will remain available for at least the next year. Some of my entries are still being discovered by new readers. And the year will give people plenty of time to take down any links to this blog on their own blogs or Web sites.
This blog began as an experiment during my sabbatical last year. My initial purpose had been to use it as a way to explore what Library 2.0 was all about. I guess I can say that I'm still exploring it! Blogging has turned out to be much more valuable an exercise than I could have imagined when I first started. There's nothing like the process of regular writing, especially public writing, to get a person thinking in ways that thinking alone doesn't do. And it's been interesting to join the conversation of other librarian bloggers. I have some concerns about the nature and scope of blogging about 2.0, especially in the academic library world, but I also believe that it just isn't possible to be a top-notch professional these days without reading librarian - and other - blogs.
I know that this blog has a fair number of readers. I'm really grateful that people have found it worthwhile (at least some of the time!) to read what I've had to say. Although my postings didn't generate a lot of comments here, I've appreciated the comments that did come in. I've been impressed with everyone's cordiality even when - especially when - people haven't agreed with me. It's added up to a very good show of professionalism.
I've been considering if I have anything in summary to say about academia and Library 2.0 in this final entry. I think not. I'll let my 100+ entries speak for themselves.
Will I start another blog after I retire? I haven't decided. I think it's healthy to step back and take some time away from this. Letting go is a good thing.
Best of luck, everyone. Again, thanks so much for tuning in. Later.
Comments
Best of luck in retirement! I'm one that has really enjoyed your blog and wow...I didn't realize you were close to retirement. Hope we continue to see your influence in the library world, even if its through others.
Posted by: Andrew | February 5, 2008 10:09 AM
Good luck with retirement! Thank you for all your work. As a current Library & Information Sciences grad student (who has taken Library 2.0-centric courses), I greatly appreciate the insight from someone dealing with this material professionally on a daily basis. Take care!
Posted by: Matt | February 5, 2008 10:16 AM
Thanks for your blog Laura. Yours was one of my favorites to read. I very much appreciated the academic library focus and your writing was always thought provoking.
All the best to you in your retirement, and the "next phase."
Posted by: Jonathan | February 5, 2008 10:37 AM
Best wishes to you as you begin your retirement. It's been a pleasure to follow your blog.
Posted by: Toni | February 5, 2008 10:44 AM
I'll join the others in wishing you luck. I'll miss your voice in the blogosphere.
Posted by: Karin Dalziel | February 5, 2008 10:49 AM
Thanks for all of your amazing insights and contributions. I'm one who has watched for each new entry with anticipation, and I'll miss your voice in this blog; may it be heard elsewhere! Best of luck.
Posted by: Jane | February 5, 2008 10:49 AM
I've only started reading your blog in the past couple months or so, but I've counted it among the very best on my reading list. Your posts have always been very informative. Thanks for writing.
Congratulations on your retirement.
Posted by: Lincoln Mullen | February 5, 2008 11:00 AM
Oh no! Well this is disappointing to say the least, no more blog posts from Laura from me to read! Hehe seriously tho, have very much enjoyed your insight and discussing various interesting topics with you. HUGE congratulations on your upcoming retirement - be sure to enjoy yourself :)
All the best
James
Posted by: James Brown | February 5, 2008 11:25 AM
Oh, dear. I'll be selfish and say that I find this a serious personal loss.
However, that doesn't affect my wholehearted good wishes for a happy retirement for you.
Posted by: Dorothea Salo | February 5, 2008 11:26 AM
Laura,
Thank you for your service to the profession. You've offered us insight and thought-provoking commentary. Enjoy your retirement! There will be a void in the professional literature without you, so I hope you continue your stimulating conversation even in retirement.
Barbara Burd
Posted by: Barbara Brd | February 5, 2008 01:10 PM
Just another emphatic thank you from another grateful reader. I'm sad to see this blog go.
Posted by: David Rothman | February 5, 2008 03:28 PM
I've enjoyed your blog for a while a now, and I am sad to see it go. Your insightful posts have been helpful in these beginning stages of my career. Best of luck in retirement.
Posted by: Breanna | February 5, 2008 04:10 PM
Oh Laura! So glad to hear you are launching into a new and exciting phase of your life. So very sad to hear you are retiring this blog as you retire - perfectly understandable, but a loss of a voice that was able to articulate what I was thinking, even better than I was thinking it ... and often earlier than I'd worked it out for myself.
I'll miss your sensible guidance and your no-nonsense optimism. There is no-one blogging about the types of topics and in the way that you do.
Finding out that you are near retirement offers me the consolation that librarians close to retirement are very able to engage in contemporary L2 issues ... I think there are a few people hiding behind the "near to retirement" furphy to disguise personal disengagement.
Good luck with whatever your endevours, and please let us know where to find you if you want to be found... :)
Posted by: Kathryn Greenhill | February 5, 2008 07:17 PM
Best wishes!
And lots of thanks for your blog!
Can't you make it a condition for the person who will replace you in the job you retire from to blog on ligbrary 2.0?
Posted by: Heinrich C. Kuhn | February 6, 2008 06:39 AM
Hi Laura - looks like all your readers have de-lurked themselves now! Like all those above, I will miss your appearances in my feed reader, and I would like to wish you the very best for a long, happy and satisfying retirement. Be sure to get in touch should you do any travelling in this direction!
All the best,
Charlie.
Posted by: Charlie Rapple | February 6, 2008 10:29 AM
Sorry to see you go but best wishes in your new endeavours.
Posted by: Sarah Cohen | February 6, 2008 11:38 AM
All the best! I will miss your insights and common sense. Enjoy
Will Reid
Liverpool John Moores University
UK
Posted by: Will Reid | February 6, 2008 12:36 PM
Thanks Laura for the great discussions, information, thoughts. Most of all, for the number of yours you contributed to our great profession. You will be missed.
Posted by: Linda Nelson | February 7, 2008 01:32 PM
Wow! That is surprising news. I didn't know you were old enough to retire.
Posted by: Bill Drew | February 7, 2008 08:19 PM
I've gotten much out of your thoughtful posts Laura. Here's to a great retirement!
Posted by: Bruce Hulse | February 11, 2008 12:13 PM
What a loss for us and the profession...a sensible and extremely helpful academic voice on 2.0 topics! I will definitely miss your blog.
What is going to happen to my favorite tool on the Internet, "How to Choose a Search Engine or Directory"? (Coming from another close-to-retirement academic librarian who started her professional life as an online searcher, this is a HIGH compliment, indeed!)
Your contributions will be missed. All the best in your retirement!
Posted by: Suzi Holler | February 11, 2008 06:25 PM
Hi Laura
I'm sorry to hear you're giving up this blog; it has been such a joy to read your well-written, thoughtful posts. I've always referred people to your blog for a sensible point of view; I'm not sure where I'll get it now!
All the best for your retirement.
Posted by: Rebecca | February 20, 2008 02:42 AM
I discovered your blog several months ago and replied one some of your blogs. Don't stop blogging! As perhaps the most interesting phase of your life is just starting.
Far away for me as a business student. But perhaps write some history, blog on :)
Posted by: geld lenen | February 22, 2008 04:18 PM