Try to see it my way...

For me, these days, conferences are mostly about the conversations rather than the sessions. I had lots of good conversations at PLA. About the DCMS Review and the APPG Inquiry, of course, but also about culture, regeneration, reader development, football, and lots of interesting initiatives including the new marketing partnership between the Society of Chief Librarians and the British Library. I talked to lots of interesting people - and even to Tim Coates (who he?) whom I spotted in the hotel lobby. There were also a number of late night conversations in the hotel bar which were, I'm sure, of vital significance - if only I could remember what they were about. In odd moments I even had conversations about CILIP.

Travelling back on the train yesterday I felt tired (actually very tired, but that may have been the late nights) but happy. The DCMS Review is a good move and the APPG Inquiry will provide an added perspective. Andy Burnham is right about the energy and creativity of our colleagues if the gathering in Liverpool (including a refreshing number of first timers and new professionals) is anything to go by. Once I've had a good sleep I'll be refreshed and reinvigorated for next week in the offices at Ridgmount Street: a week which includes, of course, Members Day and the AGM - and the first meeting of the workforce workstream (in which I'm directly involved) of the DCMS Review. I see busy and interesting times ahead...

I hope you've enjoyed my take on the PLA Conference. New readers should start with Is there anybody going to listen to my story? and go from there. Which reminds me - my thanks to the Beatles for providing the soundtrack as I've blogged away for most of today. To be precise, the two compilations The Beatles 1962-1966 and The Beatles 1967-1970 from which are taken all of the first lines used as titles for this series of PLA blog postings.

That's it. Farewell to PLA and Liverpool. Let it be.