Two and half hours of EndNote this afternoon. It was actually a training session run by a colleague for any academics or researchers (or students even) who wanted to get to grips with the software (used for creating bibliographies [1]). But the back row of the room was taken up with several of the library staff also getting to grips with it so we can pass on the knowledge to those who ask.

I wasn't too sure about attending as I'm fairly familiar with the software, but I did learn new things, learned a little - as ever - about presentational style, and besides, I could be a real student and keep up with email during the parts where I was a bit ahead. (e.g. we had a sheet of 11 references we could use to practice creating entries; I came in for no end of mockery when the trainer asked as we "sorted alphabetically" how many entries people had typed in. Three or four was as much as anyone had managed except for one sad person who'd finished the sheet.)

Judging by the speed of the first five minutes I had thought we were going to be in for a long afternoon and could see why Q had bought an apple in with him. But time flew by (must have been the emails!). The one dilemma of the afternoon being on whether to correct my senior colleague on a subtle but crucial point that would save users a lot of work. Fortunately I've just about been here long enough to dare to speak up and have him accept it graciously.

[1] Oh, it's an exciting life we librarians lead!