The Ticketless Traveler

From New York to Shanghai: A New Journey to the East

The New York Public Library, Digital ID 836813, New York Public LibraryThe New York Public LibraryBlogging for NYPL has been such a rewarding experience: sharing resources, programs and services to the digital community and beyond. In the past three years or so, I've blogged about some unconventional topics like Linsanity to the more serious ones like The Jews of Shanghai.

Researching on these topics introduced me to a variety of digital and print resources that I would not have come across if I didn't blog about them. It made me consider the primary and secondary sources carefully. Overall, it was a challenging yet productive activity where I learned more about the content than before. In some way, I've been blogging since I was 15. I've used Xanga, LiveJournal, Blogger, and Wordpress, and learned how to code and decode HTML/XHTML and other markup languages. It's more than just "blogging," it is really sharing resources and ideas, and learning from one another.

Over the years, I have written many posts but here are some personal favorites of mine:

These are my favorites because I wrote them up pretty quickly but most importantly, I learned something new and introduced readers to a whole new set of resources to consider.

[Librarian at desk with patron], Digital ID 1151193, New York Public LibraryLibrarian at desk with patron

A few years ago, a former colleague, Laura Ruttum wrote a very interesting blog post about the changing dynamics and life in New York. She wrote, "The only constant in New York is constant change."

I still reread her post every now and then because it captures how I feel about moving from one place to another and starting a whole new adventure. As I prepare for a new chapter, I can't help but wonder how much I've learned and grown over these past few years. Supporting the New York City community has been a wonderful and memorable experience.

As the title of this blog indicates, I will be heading to the East. I'm ready for this kind of challenge and opportunity but I'll miss working with researchers and scholars from all over the world seeking our expertise in providing access and guidance to NYPL's rich collections.

With over 23 million people living in the city, Shanghai is one of the largest cities in the People's Republic of China. There's plenty for to see when you visit the city. Moving there will be one of those life changing experiences. The city is filled with a rich history and culture.

Luckily we have plenty of resources covering almost every aspect of Shanghai and hopefully they will make you want to see the city for yourself:

Shanghai Montage (Wikipedia)Shanghai Montage (Wikipedia)