I suppose I ought to write about yesterday's meeting. (It was a bit overshadowed by events in the rest of the day).

I'd written a couple of reports over a month ago about why we blog and our Web 2.0 activities. The former because certain colleagues think what we do is a bit surreal, pointless or a waste of time; and the latter because I was asked to justify a Facebook page, Twitter, the blog (again) and account for time spent on working with them.

In quite short order I produced a three page report with another page of references supporting the work and a 9 page report with a page of references (and a five page appendix of our tweets just for good measure!) only to have them held over not just one meeting, but a second. I had my revenge by revising them in the intervening time with more ideas and argument and references. I think they finally made sure the agenda included them before they got any longer!

Surprisingly - after all that - and expecting something of a debate the reception was quite positive. In fact a couple of voices suggested we didn't spend *enough* time on Web 2.0 activities. One naysayer expressed a couple of opinions which were fair enough but one of the biggest critics (in a couple of senses), who's loudly proclaimed he doesn't know why we keep our blog up and doesn't get it; who's boasted about not having read my explanation; chose to absent himself from the meeting. He may have had good reasons but if I hear any "anti"-ness again, I won't let it slide!

Best encouragement was Head (and chair) suggesting the work should be published. (I'd thought of that but wasn't sure if some of the content was a bit sensitive. So it was nice to hear that unprompted.) Of course it means more work!

I can't believe I'm doing this but I've filled in the form for the Head of Library post.

I can't believe it's a good idea:
- my 'qualifications' must be right on the border of acceptable and depend somewhat on how you interpret their requirements
- they know me and what they'd be getting and I can't imagine them seeing me as 'Head'
- I'm not sure *I* see me as Head!
- I'm not encouraged by the former colleague who reckoned he/she/it wouldn't touch it with a bargepole because it wasn't a real job. (I don't think 'management' per se was the target there, just that it wouldn't be working with students directly). And I can sympathise.

On the other hand I saw the calibre of some of the candidates doing their presentations for our Head post.
Maybe I am ready for a step up when I look at some of what I do now.
And I may be making a difference for students now, but perhaps I can make a bigger one in a larger scheme of things elsewhere.
Plus there's the 'encouragement' that I started this year thinking I'd never have my 'non-technical' paper accepted for a technical conference or subsequent publication etc - and look what persevering at that resulted in!

So who knows. But I'm still not holding my breath...

Usually we have staff training (aka 'coffee mornings') on Thursday between 9 and 10. Or sometimes starting at 9.15 (if the content doesn't demand an hour) to allow part-timers to attend as they start a little later.

However, there had been comments from said part-time staff that other times of the day would be useful. So we had one at 2pm this afternoon. Not a marvellously convenient time but I was interested in seeing how it affected attendance.

Not well. Too many of my colleagues involved in teaching or counter duties. Just 6 of us in the end - including the presenter. Number of part-timers present: zero.

Sigh.

I can't believe I'm seriously contemplating applying for the post of Head at TheOldPlace. But a few people have pointed out 'what have you got to lose' and H joined the voices this week.

At least they have a nice online form which isn't too horrendous in terms of the detail it requires... I've downloaded it anyway.

Back with the same group I did mind mapping with a couple of weeks ago. Not quite so much fun this time - referencing (and plagiarism). 90 minute session.

Short talk for 20 minutes and then handed out a photocopy consisting of:
title page and imprint page of a single author book
title page and imprint page of a multiple editor book
front cover (i.e. contents page) of a scholarly journal with particular article highlighted
cover and (much reduced) article from a popular science magazine
web page with academic type article on but no 'publisher'
web page with academic article from one of our databases

Also handed out the Library's printed guide on referencing in the correct style.

Their assignment for the next 30 minutes or so (I'd planned on 20 but it took longer) was to reference the items accurately and then I went through the answers pointing out problems, pitfalls and peculiarities.

It was quite rambunctious with 70 or so students (mostly international) but they seemed to get on with it and find it quite helpful.

I saw some of their mind map assignments being handed in at the start and there were some truly impressive ones - both in content and design. Wonder if I can get hold of some for a display?

Arrived at work this morning to find a very curious splatter pattern of grey almost toner like marks all across various paperwork on my desk.

Bit mystified at first. Looked like some accident and I did wonder if anyone had been messing with a printer toner cartridge or something. The trouble is that the only people who could have been in the office since I was last there were the cleaners, so it seemed unlikely.

Tracking the splats' extent and working out a 'ground zero' finally gave the clue that solved the riddle. A book with a black, 'cloth' cover had an interesting stain on it. And it eventually became obvious that a leak had come through the ceiling again, dripped onto the book long enough to make it wet enough that a small black puddle formed and then 'splatted' around in a way that then had time to dry out before I arrived.

Sigh, I've complained about the leak before but it appears there's nothing they can do as they fix one bit and it just moves elsewhere!

Yesterday afternoon was devoted to the Faculty's learning and teaching committee. They never finish in time to make it worth returning to the Library. But this one was slightly different. It's only taken me three years but I now have my own permanent slot on the agenda which is good.

'course it means I really need to find things to report on or whatever, but that's normally not a problem as long as I think about it for more than a minute.

OK, now my Head has let me know about the Head's post at TheOldPlace. I think it was a hint except that she sent to all the senior staff. I think it was just for interest really rather than suggesting anyone should go for it.

Fortunately I'm too snowed under to even think about it, and get into worrying about my lack of ambition.

Off sick again yesterday. Just don't seem to be able to shake whatever it is down in my lungs. Thought I'd better save my strength for today as there is an accreditation visit going on for Civil Engineering.

I attended the lunch and then had to do a tour for the visitors plus a couple of University staff. Not a couple of academics I really knew. It was amusing to do my standard waffle and enthuse about the Library and see their faces admit that maybe I really had put on a good show after all. I don't quite know what they expect from me. Evidently not very much.

S from TheOldPlace sent an interesting email today.

Pointing out that the post of Head of Library of TheOldPlace was being advertised.

Kind of her to think of me, but I really can't see them considering me for more than about a millisecond. I mean after all, they know me!

Worryingly though, I can actually tick all the boxes required on the person spec. Probably depends how you define a couple of things but I can't rule it out immediately on the grounds of meeting a requirement. Bother.

Rare outing for my mind mapping lecture today.

50+ (mostly international) students in computing. Direct entry to the third year.

The lecturer has them doing an assignment due in two weeks which will be them submitting a mind map - so I guess they're reasonably interested.

Still, there was a little reluctance to let me have a handful of examples to put on the visualizer and discuss. Despite my assurances I wasn't going to be rude about them.

Until I'd done a few. Then they saw that a) it was interesting looking at people's maps; b) I really wasn't rude about them; c) could always point out some feature of interest and compliment at least one thing about each one. Then there was a positive stampede to get their maps sent up to the front. Not time for them all but they seemed to enjoy it.

Certainly going to be more fun that referencing which I have the same lot for in a fortnight!

(Oh and thank you to S from TheOldPlace for her contribution to the lecture).

Been off sick for a few days. Not really better now but I can't keep lying in bed. And I've heard others have had this bug for several weeks. Not 'flu though. Certainly not swine 'flu. Not even piglet 'flu.

Now far too much to catch up on. My email has gone mad. I'll never get this under control. And it just keeps getting worse even as I try to staunch the tide. Aaaaargh!

Freshers' Fayre this year a much subdued event on the part of the Library. We're still not back in the tent but trying a table near an exit sort of on the way to the main tents.

But with no one taking on overall coordination and the poor foot soldiers who've done such great work in past years being under appreciated and not really allowed the time to do anything this year, we have no over arching theme or 'draw' and so it's much harder to enthuse about selling ourselves to the students. What with teaching and feeling so under the weather I just about managed an hour to show willing, but I could tell my heart wasn't in it.

Seems a shame. Doesn't take much to get me going - a pirate or Dalek or dead body or two. Past years have been great fun. Perhaps a 'fallow' year will do us good and we come back with a bang next year. Or perhaps our new Head will continue to 'under appreciate' the staff who work hard on designs and energy for the day.