Library Sherpa

After much thought, I have decided to change the focus of my blog from trying to educate or inform people about library issues and would rather spend more time just commenting on books and reading in general.  Additionally, learning to cut down on run-on sentences is another goal as well.  At one point, I thought I could turn Library Sherpa into, well, a guide to navigate people through the maze of libraries and librarianship.  There’s quite a dearth of library and librarian related blogs in the so-called “blogosphere.”  So, I think I need to be a little selfish for a while and make this into something more therapeutic for me.  I felt under pressure to have meaningful content and then my postings became non-existent.  Library Sherpa may one day return to its original roots and will truly guide people as an online touchstone for library information.  But, for now, I’m going to focus on my loves of reading books and writing.  So, as they used to say, watch this space for continuing developments.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Lau Tzu.

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OK, so, it’s 9 days into 2008, but the sentiment is still genuine.  The unusually warm January temps for this part of the world are a little disconcerting.  My New Year’s resolution is to blog more.  I may not be blogging about library items, though.  Library Sherpa might turn into your grand superstore of blogs with a dizzying array of topics.  Whoa, hang on for a new year of Library Sherpa!

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You may have noticed that the comments feature of my blog has been turned off.  This is not because Library Sherpa is no longer interested in reading your feedback.  Sadly, LibrarySherpa.com has been victimized by the spammer.  In the entire existence of this blog, I have received 21 legitimate comment postings and 547 spam postings.  (Not even benign spamming, mind you, the most vulgar of language which involves either porn sites or various well-known enhancement pharmaceuticals.)  Thanks to modern blog technology, I am able to capture these so that they don’t ruin my blog.  But, I see this behind the scenes and it has really bothered me.  I finally saw no other option than to just turn off the comment feature.  I do apologize and hope to one day be able to open up the peanut gallery again.  So, please keep reading and check back for opportunities to post again.  For the automated spambot out there —- keep your comments to yourself.

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Perhaps you’ve noticed the lack of new content.  I see that my last post was the first birthday announcement.  It appears as though I have rested on my one year old laurels and left Library Sherpa by the wayside.  Well, it is autumn and time to turn over a new leaf.  Library Sherpa is back.  Much like “The Six Million Dollar Man” - Library Sherpa will be “better, stronger, faster.”

In other news…THE PHILLIES WON THE NL EAST!!  (That’s baseball for the professional sports neophytes out there.)  Read all about it on Yahoo! News or from Sports Illustrated. 

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It was one year ago today that I birthed, er, registered LibrarySherpa.com and began my journey into blogosphere.  To be honest, Library Sherpa didn’t really take it’s current form until my pre-SLA conference preparations in April and May.  So, I guess that makes Library Sherpa a little developmentally delayed in some ways.  But, hey, it’s catching up in leaps and bounds and will be a grown up blog very soon.  So, raise a glass and celebrate the first of many years of Library Sherpa!  Cheers!

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I claimed my library prize last night, as referenced in my previous post about winning a summer reading contest from my local library.  I am very grateful to the UDPL and the local sponsors for giving me such a great bundle of booty to gush over.  I received:

• A stylish black tote bag which proclaims, “I am a friend of the Upper Dublin Library!”
• A $30 gift certificate to No Bare Walls Framing Studio
• A $25 gift certificate to the Agave Grille & Cantina
• Two movie passes to the Ambler Theater (or, as Mr. Sherpa calls it, the “artsy subtitle movie theater”)
• A $5 gift certificate to the Ambler Grill

So…how cool is that?!  The head reference librarian at the Upper Dublin Public Library wanted me to pass along that it’s not too late to sign up.  So, if you are local swing by the library and the sponsors’ establishments.  If you’re not local….just give their websites some traffic!

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Today is Library Sherpa’s father’s birthday.  Papa Sherpa, as he will be known, was born on this day in 1929.  For fun, I pulled some of the headlines which appeared that day from the New York Times.

• Theatre Cashier Vanishes; Disappears After Being Sent to Bank to Make $3,000 Deposit

• Ex-Musician is Sent to Prison as Burglar; Former Speakeasy Owner Gets l8 Months in Sing Sing on Plea of Guilty

• Hoover and Party Go To Camp For Week-End; Wife and Son Among Those Accompanying President to Rapidan River (Va.) Lodge

• All-Day Riot Marks New Orleans Strike; 2 Die, Hundreds Hurt; Paving Blocks Rain on Cars, Injuring Police and Forcing Strike-Breakers Off. Trolley and Shed Burned Mob Overpowers Patrolmen and Prevents Firemen From Reaching the Blaze. Car Service is Abandoned City Council Orders Company to Stop Attempting Operation and End Bloodshed

Lastly, one headline most important to Philadelphia sports fans…

• Phils Win in 9th on Klein’s Homer; Triumph, 10-9, Over Cards, Who Suffer Their Tenth Straight Defeat. Whitney and O’Doul Star Former With Four-Bagger and a Double, Latter With Two Two-Base Hits, Help In Victory

Perhaps the last time the Phillies made the headlines actually WINNING a game! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

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The Library Sherpa had the privilege of attending an alumni event last night at the swanky Pyramid Club for Mr. Sherpa’s alma mater.  (Mr. Sherpa being, obviously, Library Sherpa’s spouse…for those of you playing along at home.)   I was a liberal arts island in a sea of business majors at this little affair.  We heard the dean of the business school speak, and he was very excited about making the school one of the big names in the country.  I couldn’t help but to interject my two cents from a librarian point of view.  In private, after the dean’s speech, I very calmly and casually gave my best “library marketing” pitch directly to the dean.  I did work in the library of this major university for a brief period of time, so I wasn’t just talking out of my ’sherpa’ to him.  I just emphasized to him that while the incoming students may very well be extremely computer and technology savvy, it doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to do research.  I tried to stress the importance of still knowing how to do book research.  I understand many libraries are getting rid of paper publications, but I believe it is still a valuable skill.  So, I very politely but firmly gave the dean my opinion that if he wants his business school to be number one, he needs to implement a strong bond with the library.  No, he didn’t laugh at me.  He said he agreed and told me of what programs they currently have in place.  So, I hope I did not embarrass Mr. Sherpa too much, but this liberal arts librarian felt it was my moral obligation to tell the business people how to get ahead in this world….by using the library!  ;-> 

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It has come to the Sherpa’s attention (and yes, I’ve decided that I must refer to myself in the 3rd person in this manner from now on) that it appears as though this trip to Denver has been all play and no work.  I assure you that the majority of my day was spent in sessions and other conference related educational activities.  But, what’s more interesting to write and read?  I could post all about copyright law, Web 2.0/3.0, and the U.S. Code.  But, that would be boring.  Hey, there’s a reason why tabloids make so much money.  So, keep in mind that the details of what I post is really a small portion of my very, very long days. 

The Sherpa is looking forward to returning to a lower altitude with a greater amount of humidity (believe it or not.)  I hope to post a series of retrospectives about my time at the conference, as I was unable to keep up with daily updates.  I need to sift through the pile of information I’ve received in paper form and all the stuff in my head. 

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After an extremely busy and trying day at work (I banged my noggin pretty hard), I’m 99% packed.  I showed amazing restraint while packing and actually have no fear that my luggage will exceed the annoyingly strict baggage weight limit.  My next post should be while in transit or in Denver.  Sleep beckons, early flight tomorrow. 

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