Let me share a tale of two iPods. For about a year and a half I have had an iPod mini. I loaded music CDs into iTunes on the home computer, created some playlists, and learned to like and use this handy device despite iTunes' quirks. The labels iTunes applies to some music are often amusing, sometimes incomprehensible. Clearly, Apple won't be a voice in the debate over the future of LCSH and authority work.

For the most part, the division between these two iPods is a separation of the personal and the professional. I intermittently keep a journal. It is very rare that I share any of those personal reflections with anyone else. I'll continue to use my journal for introspection and the very, very personal. In Twilight Librarian I will share thoughts and ideas about professional issues and concerns. Some personal things will creep in, just as some personal podcasts have crept into the iPod mini. So you won't learn what I have eaten on a given day; our three children almost certainly don't want their lives discussed no matter how proud we may be of them; my wife is a very private person and likes it that way; and you won't read about what kept me awake during a recent night unless it relates somehow to my professional concerns. That is not to say, however, that my personal voice wont come through. If it doesn't, what's the point of a blog?

Why another blog by a librarian? The glib answer would be Why not?

I hope I will be able to contribute to the biblo/infoblogospheres vigorous conversation about the state of our field, its future, current issues in libraryland, and ideas that affect our profession.

Every library today–at least every library whose staff wants their library to have a successful future–is simultaneously developing its services based in its bricks-and-mortar manifestation and its services delivered through the Web and other communications media. The conversation about that future takes place in our libraries and at our conferences. One of the things I most value about participating in conferences is the opportunity to share ideas and learn things from colleagues I rarely see except at conferences. Blogs extend that opportunity through time without regard to space. I hope that my posts to Twilight Librarian will be conversation starters and that many will join in the conversations.

I love the twilight of morning and evening when light and darkness share the sky and gradually trade dominion over it. I think libraries today are in a time of twilight, a time when they grapple with challenge of deciding which “legacy” services to retain and keep vital while offering new services delivered through newer technologies. We are not in the dark, but nor are we in the bright light of day where we can see our path clearly. We are in the twilight, working to assure a glorious sunshine rather than darkness for our libraries, for those whom they serve, and for our profession.

So please share your knowledge and debate ideas so that we can shed light on important issues.