Jim didn't want a traditional retirement party. "Too many greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention unwanted calories," he said. So instead we are having a Virtual Retirement Party - carbon neutral and heart healthy!

To celebrate, Jim wants all his colleagues and associates to post a good wish, photo or a memory to this blog. You can even ask Jim a question. Jim will reply to every post! (Jim will be the only person able to comment on messages after they are posted).

And while you're at it, Jim hopes you will consider a donation in his honor to his favorite charity, our own Talking Book and Braille Services.

Please submit your message before Jim retires on December 30, 2011. Include your name at the end of your message.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Richly Deserved!

Hi Jim,

All of us at the North Bend Public Library and from the Coos County
Library Service District wish you all the best for your richly deserved
retirement. I truly believe you've had a greater impact on Oregon's
libraries that all previous state librarians combined. Thanks so much
for all your hard work, dedication, mentoring, and visionary leadership
throughout your time with the State Library. Your extraordinary work has
always had a strong focus on helping Oregon's libraries improve services
to their communities. You've been a passionate, powerful advocate for
readers, which has been very inspiring to me, and to librarians and
citizens throughout Oregon. And thanks so much for all your good advice
and nudges for OLA's MLIS Scholarship Program!

I'm wishing you much fun, great times with family and friends, and
plenty of time for reading for many years to come!

Sincerely,

Gary Sharp

--
Gary Sharp

Director of Library Services

North Bend Public Library


"A library is a shelter for the mind and spirit." - Tom McCall

1 comment:

  1. Jim ScheppkeDecember 10, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    Thanks Gary. Your work on the OLA Scholarship program has been and continues to be outstanding.

    I can't agree that my work as the eighth Oregon State Librarian exceeds that of my predecessors. Cornelia Marvin Pierce will always be the greatest Oregon State Librarian. Harriet Long was a champion for county libraries and wrote what might have been the first book about county libraries. She also got the funding for our State Library Building in the depths of the Depression and helped design a building that still functions well today. My success has a lot to do with being in the right place a the right time -- a kind of golden age of Oregon libraries, perhaps. I hope that's not an exaggeration. It's been wonderful.

    We will always be grateful to North Bend for producing Richard Turi, the greatest contemporary library architect in Oregon!

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