Allan Hancock College -- Retirement note from Leslie A Mosson

Prepping for retirement after almost 25 years at Allan Hancock College (19 fulltime) is a chance to reminisce, especially as I clean my office. Much has changed. Remember teaching how to use Readers Guide to Periodic Literature? How about Dialog and other “pre-browser” search tools (we couldn’t retrace our search steps!)? I remember returning from a conference and introducing Google to staff and students. No one had heard of it!  Yes, a lot has changed. But, as NPR reported last December, so much has stayed the same: “Before The Internet, Librarians Would ‘Answer Everything’ – And Still Do.” [listen to the broadcast at http://goo.gl/XMSa42 ]  The skills we teach may be different but how many of the underlying concepts have changed?

I’ve worked (and played) with amazing colleagues and leaders like Lil Clary and Nancy Meddings. I’ve watched students beat incredible odds. The stories they tell – often at the reference desk.  If you haven’t visited Hancock College, you should. It’s been a unique, vital part of northern Santa Barbara County for 95 years. So, with excitement, trepidation and a moderately-heavy heart I’m off to read books, hike trails, chase birds, and travel with my husband, a re-entry student I met at the reference desk 19 years ago. Take care of yourselves…