Head for the Edge - last column
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 05:32AM 
Twenty is a nice round number and it is the number of years on which I’ve landed to retire from writing this column.
“Head for the Edge” first appeared in Linworth’s Technology Connection magazine, a predecessor to Library Media Connection, in February of 1995. The title of the first column was “Making Change Work for You.” It was about 800 words - one page - in length. I’ve written nearly 125,000 more words in the 156 columns since then. My high school English teacher would be impressed, I’m sure.
My last column in LMC (Library Media Connection) came in yesterday's mail. To say it was a bittersweet experience is an understatement. And it may well be that I am the only person for whom this end has much meaning.
Writing the column has truly been a labor of love - except for those occasional months when I seemed devoid of any ideas to share. This did not happen often, thankfully. I enjoyed a good relationship with everyone I worked with at Linworth, I felt. I love a light-handed editor! At Linworth's urging, I revised, organized and compiled my earlier columns in the book, School Libraries Head for the Edge: Rants, Raves and Reflections. Linworth, 2009.
To those who read the column and especially to those who responded to it - favorably or unfavorably - my most sincere thanks.
Hoping LMC hires a young, smart, thoughtful and funny replacement!
Reader Comments (5)
Doug I read everything you write. I almost always agree with you 100% but even when I don't, I have learned so much from you. I hope that you will continue writing on your blog!
I must echo Debbie's sentiments. The first thing I do when I get LMC is flip to the back to read your article. You have provided me with some real food for thought and I, too, hope you continue your writing in this blog. Many of the changes I have made over the years in my library are a direct result of something you have written. They may hire someone young, smart, thoughtful, and funny but probably nowhere near as wise!! It's been such a pleasure reading your column and your many other publications.
End of an era. Truly.
Doug, your LMC columns gave me inspiration, hope, and chuckles for well over 10 years. One thing I miss the most since retiring has been reading your column in LMC. Often it was re-read multiple times & even posted on my office bulletin board. Your thoughts, shared to us in print, were always so pertinent to the needs of school librarians and gave us perspective on our struggles & triumphs. Thank you for your many years of dedication to our profession with your column.
Fortunately, I subscribe to your blog, so I still enjoy all your musings. Hope you won't be retiring from that too soon!
Thank you, Debbie, Renee, and Barbara. It would be a scary world if anyone agreed with everything I wrote! I plan to continue blogging - it's an obsession as much as anything. All my old HFE columns can be found on my website and I will put this year's out in June. And no, I am not retiring from the day job for a few years.
And Jim, I think it is end of the Cretaceous.
Doug
All the best,
Doug