Author Archives: Frank Norman

About Frank Norman

I am a retired librarian. I spent 40 years working in biomedical research libraries.

Important conversations and confusing journals

Posted on 30 June 2016 by Frank Norman

A few weeks back I was a roomful of senior librarians, having Important Conversations about Publishers (ICP). More recently I sat and listened to a number of ICPs at the UKSG Conference – bookended by talks from Ann Rossiter and … Continue reading →

Posted in Journal publishing, Scientific literature | Comments Off on Important conversations and confusing journals

Metavation

Posted on 17 March 2016 by Frank Norman

I first came to work at NIMR Mill Hill back in the blessed innocent times of 1989. After a few months my boss sent me on a course about ‘Motivation’. The course was organised by Aslib, and was held at … Continue reading →

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In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye

Posted on 1 April 2015 by Frank Norman

It’s the last trumpet. It’s been an intense few months up on the Ridgeway; preparations for our big change have gathered pace. At first things went slowly – infuriatingly slowly –  but as the years crept on so we felt … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | Comments Off on In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye

Creativity – mixing it up

Posted on 9 December 2014 by Frank Norman

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had cause to celebrate dramatic creativity in various forms, mixed and mingled. I’ve seen one film and two musicals; two with a biographical bent and one with a (fictional) scientific bent. Two weeks … Continue reading →

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The rules

Posted on 3 December 2014 by Frank Norman

Rules can help us get by in life – everyone agreeing to drive on the left probably reduces the accident rate on roads quite a bit. But rules have a tendency to take over, a bit like Lord Acton’s dictum on power. … Continue reading →

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Advanced photo technology

Posted on 15 November 2014 by Frank Norman

I do love the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, but when it comes to stories about science and technology or popular culture the presenters can be exasperating. This morning John Humphrey kept calling Philae the “Mars explorer” and seemingly … Continue reading →

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Terrors transcended

Posted on 28 October 2014 by Frank Norman

On balance, I prefer laughing to crying but I am not afraid to let my tears flow. Powerful drama can do it, so can stirring music. I may cry when I recall events or times in my life when I have been sad. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Terrors transcended

Contraflow

Posted on 18 September 2014 by Frank Norman

I was taught as a child that if you are walking on a road that has no pavement then you should walk on the side of the road so as to face the oncoming traffic. If the cars are driving on … Continue reading →

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One hundred years old

Posted on 16 September 2014 by Frank Norman

Just a few years back it seemed unlikely that we would ever celebrate our centenary. We were to be rejuvenated exterminated absorbed into a new Institute.  Back in 2007 when this project was announced we expected that 2013 would be the beginning … Continue reading →

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Boundaries and boxes

Posted on 31 March 2014 by Frank Norman

No-one likes to be pigeonholed but the tendency to pigeonhole, or put things into boxes, comes naturally to us and can be valuable, within reason. Categories I think pigeonholing gets an overly bad press. The word has a pejorative ring, … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Comments Off on Boundaries and boxes