I’ve been in Gainesville since Wednesday morning, soaking up knowledge about Aleph (Ex Libris’ software) and communing with like-minded souls from around the state. I have about five minutes to write this; I got up early and did some work email, then updated the About page for this blog. I thought that had been done, but it hadn’t; come to think of it, I remember removing references to California, but that was when I was still working at Former Place of Work when I updated these pages, and may not have known that I would be at MPOW.
Every once in a while I check in with FPOW, but my feeling is when you leave a place, you leave; as Alice says in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Any More, “Don’t look back or you’ll turn into a pillar of s–t.” I’ve heard of former directors who were given offices at their old libraries. I’m not a big enough person to work in a place where the former boss had that much presence, and I think that’s toxic. With a virtual job, it’s far too easy to keep stopping in “just to say hi” (or worse); the boundaries are blurrier. But it’s like visiting a place you lived: every change you see can kick you in the gut.
I wish you well, ol’ FPOW; those were five good years. I hope you keep on keepin’ on, and that you change in amazing ways I would never have anticipated.
Posted on this day, other years:
- ALA Councilor At-Large Recommendations, and some Council Tidbits - 2013
- Thinking out of the Meta-Box, Part 2 - 2005
- You Say Tomato: Blogging Boot Camp Bridges Political Spectrum - 2005
- Thinking Out of the Meta-Box - 2005
- My Council Picks for ALA Election - 2004
- Read Poster Contest - 2004
- NY Times Editorial about Anniversary of Free Expression Arrests - 2004
- ALA Online Election Update - 2004
- Big Brother Is Holding Your Remote - 2004
Welcome to the world of ALEPH. Also say hello to Jeannette Smithee at SEFLIN if you run into her.