Some time ago I suggested an article on our library extension should be written for our professional magazine. I didn't feel qualified to write it but could suggest a few things it might cover.

Eventually I produced a mindmap of what it might contain, dug out several old issues of the magazine containing articles that covered the same kind of ground as this one might, spotted (and cited) quotes that might be useful, and passed everything on to the senior librarian who'd been volunteered to do it (he's on a level with my boss).

Today I got it all back as nothing had happened and it was now down to me to try to write something for which "details would be filled in afterwards". A kind of 'lorum ipsum' text that DTP workers might be familiar with.

It's proving harder than I imagined - or I have writer's block - after a fair stab at it today.

As displacement activity, however, one corner of the mindmap suggested an interview with the VC on the new extension might provide a quote or two (and give me the chance to ask with a bit more subtlety why the library name was removed and we're just "the university library" now.) Anyway, it was easy enough to fire off an email asking whether this was possible, without thinking through the reality of doing such a thing. I'm not sure I really expected a positive response in any case.

No such luck. Wednesday afternoon. Better bring my best tie to work.