Away Day on Friday seemed to go well.

Wasn't exactly far 'away' but it was a nice enough venue and at least away from the library. Tucked up in a conference style room for pretty much all day - I think I might have suggested a bit more of break or change of scene at some point than merely lunch in what was a glorified corridor. But it was a good day nonetheless and seemed to be quite productive in terms of thinking about the future and what we might do, where we might go.

That is, assuming that anything comes of it. Past experience has taught to be a little cynical of such efforts (I wonder how much that is former colleagues rubbing off on me!), but I'm still optimistic enough to have the impression that 'things' will come of the day.

We brainstormed, we catagorized our brainstorming efforts (only librarians, huh?!), we wrote on flip charts, I even got to play with my colored pencils and marker pens. (The random words I'd specially been asked to bring weren't, in the end, required). My Belbin plantiness didn't seem to wind too many people up and of course with a couple of us 'new' we were allowed to think unthinkable things, ask questions that others might not think of, and generally suggest things that might otherwise have been left unsaid. I wish there were some way of bottling it but I've no doubt once in my rut after a few years I'll have to join the other side of the table as it were.

Still, off for drinks afterwards for a couple of hours everyone came and was very chatty, so even that seemed a positive experience. I'll have to report back when/if 'things' do come of the day.