"But I wanted to win it better than you. You can understand that can't you?"

I recently came across the Yorkshire Television interview in which Brian Clough and Don Revie went head-to-head - since immortalised in the film 'The Damned United' starring Michael Sheen.

Amidst all the petty sniping, which admittedly reflects poorly on both of them, Clough nonetheless hits upon something that seems wonderfully sentimental and poignant given Tevez's readiness to throw in the towel recently - bear in mind Clough had only that day been sacked as Leeds United manager after just 44 days in the job.

His desire to take on the role, one so synonymous with his great rival, was not because he wanted to win more titles than Revie, necessarily, but because he wanted to win them better. It may have just been a clever quip at the time but still it seems to capture a wonderful idealism.

Give a little whistle

As a rule, I hate it when football managers criticise referees in post match interviews. For one, it's the easiest and oldest excuse in the book, plus why focus on something you simply have no control over?

Referee's will always make mistakes, always have, and the laws of statistics inevitably mean you'll get as many in your favour as against over time.

However, last night's 5-a-side match for Barely Athletic will always be remembered personally for this extraordinary incident...

Two players tussle for the ball. The ref's whistle blows. We stop. An opposition player proceeds to kick the ball in the net. I pick the ball up for what I assume is a free kick to us. Then the following dialogue unfolds...

- Me: Where's it from ref?
- Ref: Nah mate it was a goal.
- Me: But you blew your whistle.
- Ref: Yeah but I was trying to say 'play on' and blew it by accident.
- Me: But you blew your whistle!
- Ref: Sorry mate but it's still a goal.

Barely Athletic lost 7-1.

Library saved!: The Lloyd's List Article

Click image to enlarge

Source: Lloyd's List

Library Saved!: The Marine Professional Article

As well as the press release I posted here previously - and as way of a second in what will be a trilogy of IMarEST library press pieces on this blog - here is the article I was requested to write for the IMarEST Members newsletter, 'The Marine Professional', which goes out quarterly to our 15'000 Members...

Since the founding of the IMarEST – then the IMarE – in 1889, the provision of a library has been synonymous with the Institute’s promotion of academic disciplines in marine engineering, science and technology, our role in furthering the knowledge of Members central to the very definition of a ‘learned society’.

However, researcher needs continually evolve and now, as we push on into what is sometimes called the ‘digital age’, their expectations of libraries – or what we often refer to as ‘information services’ – have adapted in-line with the wider onset of mobile web technologies globally.

Researchers expect ‘real-time’ access to the full-text of books, journals and conference proceedings online and direct from their desktop or mobile device. They demand the ability to adapt and refine their searches with usable ‘Google’ style tools and interactive social media, ever increasing the relevance of the information they retrieve.

For the IMarEST this paradigm shift offers an opportunity to provide new online information services to all Members worldwide - especially significant as the IMarEST targets international Membership growth.

Already we’ve begun providing Member only access to a small but growing number of eBooks (for eBook access visit - http://www.imarest.org/knowledge), whilst also investigating the digitisation of our IMarEST serials archive in a fully-indexed and searchable online solution.

Furthermore, we are scoping the potential to provide Member only access to external research databases and discovery technologies that unlock a vast resource of full-text, 3rd party published material online.

Of course, amidst the clamour for new technologies, it’s important not to overlook the wealth of valuable knowledge still inherent to physical collections - especially when the content is not otherwise available online due to copyright restrictions or feasibilities of scale.

Therefore, with the relocation of HQ to Aldgate House, the IMarEST is delighted to have found a new custodian for its library in Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, who, in agreement with IMarEST, have transported our holdings to their historic building at 71 Fenchurch Street. There, in fittingly grand surroundings, IMarEST Members will be permitted access to an extraordinary knowledge base of research.

In securing the future of this unique and historically significant maritime resource, we have ensured the 122 year legacy of the Institute remains intact whilst opening up avenues for the provision of new online Member services on an international scale.

For more information visit The IMarEST Collection at Lloyd’s Register

"People getting angry"

There's been an overwhelming amount of comment - some considered, some reactionary and some just down right idiotic - on the riots and looting across the UK over the last few days, but when considering the causes, I think Dorian Lynskey in his piece on 'crisis music' actually sums up my feelings quite neatly.

Importantly, he distinguishes between the original protest in Tottenham at the weekend and the mindless, meaningless, looting and violence of the the following days...

A riot is a weapon of last resort; a cry for help; a public form of self-harming. The spark in Tottenham was political: the shooting of Mark Duggan by the police, the incompetence of the police in explaining to the community what had happened, and – reports currently suggest — at least one instance of heavy-handed policing during a demonstration on Saturday. The fuel was the pervasive frustration and anxiety of a suffering neighbourhood: record levels of youth unemployment, social services (especially youth services) slashed to the bone, the Education Maintenance Allowance scrapped, a damaged relationship between the police and the community, and collapsing faith in the political class. But a lot of the behaviour, especially the looting, had no political impetus and the immediate outcome makes the lives of deprived residents even worse than they were last week. There are no winners.

Library saved!: The Official Press Release

(Source: IMarEST)

PRESS RELEASE

Gift doubles the size of the existing library and historical archives open to the public in the City of London

Lloyd's Register has taken delivery of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology's (IMarEST) library giving the collection a secure new home and assuring its preservation for the future.

The historically important IMarEST collection – which consists of more than 390 linear metres of material – now resides at Lloyd's Register's offices on Fenchurch Street in London.

"Like our own collection, the IMarEST library is one the great resources still available for current and historic information concerning maritime history, marine engineering, naval architecture, offshore engineering and ocean technology. It was absolutely vital that this collection be preserved to continue to provide the public with a rich sense of one of our traditional industries," said Richard Sadler, Chief Executive Officer, Lloyd's Register. "Part of our mission as a UK-registered charity is to advance public education within the engineering and technological disciplines. It is through acts like this that we continue to fulfill that mission."

The IMarEST was established in 1889 and is the largest international membership body and learned society for marine professionals with over 15,000 members worldwide. The move was made necessary by IMarEST's relocation this summer to smaller premises, which would not have had room to house the collection. By offering the library a new home at the Lloyd’s Register Information Centre, the organisation is ensuring that this important resource remains available to the public and to the institute's members.

Against a backdrop of widespread library closures in London and with many specialist collections under threat, hosting such an important resource ensures that this unique part of IMarEST's heritage remains available to provide researchers with marine engineering, technical and scientific knowledge.

“The Institute is delighted that our incomparable collection will be housed in such ideal surroundings, remaining in the City of London, and open to all our members and to a wider audience interested in marine affairs,” says IMarEST’s Interim CEO, Fiona Morris.

“In addition to thanking Lloyd’s Register on behalf of the Institute, I would like to pay particular tribute to the hard work of James McRae, the Institute’s Information and Knowledge Manager. He has worked with Lloyd’s Register to ensure the smooth transfer of our vast collection from Coleman Street to Fenchurch Street, harnessing online tools to ensure all members are kept fully informed, and is now driving forward Institute plans for future online services. He has done a magnificent and highly professional job.

“We are extremely proud of our collection in its new and very permanent home and look forward to making use of it on a regular basis and meeting many of our Members when they visit the Lloyd’s Register Library.”

The IMarEST will continue to provide its members with information and knowledge services and a virtual library online providing e-books. It will also continue to hold the institute’s publications and some current specialist books.

Lloyd's Register’s own historic archive and library was founded in 1852 at the bequest of Principal Shipwright Surveyor Augustin Francis Bullock Creuze, FRS, and a founder member of the first Royal School of Naval Architecture. Nestled in the heart of the City of London, the organisations Information Centre provides access to its historic archive, plus a full collection of the Lloyd's Register of Ships, dating back to 1764, and associated publications and material.

"This is a great opportunity to combine our collections, each complementing the other, and to build upon the good work undertaken by the information staff of both IMarEST and Lloyd’s Register," Information Centre Manager Barbara Jones said. “There is a significant amount of work involved in maintaining an active archive and library, so we are ensuring that further resources are made available to assure a successful amalgamation of our two collections.”

The collections are open to the public Monday to Friday between 09:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30. Further information can be found here

Library saved!

Part of the library at IMarEST HQ

When it became apparent the library I've been solely managing for the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) for the past three years would no longer be accommodated in our new office building, it began a long and desperate search for a suitable and willing recipient of a collection that was 121 years in the making.

For 18 months I feared, that should no one come forward, the library would be broken up and sent to the four corners of the country or, worse still, pillaged by our Members only for the remnants to end up in the bottom of a skip.

Thankfully, after a number of false dawns, an organisation called Lloyd's Register have, at the 11th hour, agreed to house the entire collection as well as allowing our Members continued access. It's the best possible result in the circumstances and, as well as feeling euphoric at maintaining the collection as an important piece of maritime history, I'm selfishly grateful not to be the man 'on watch' when the death knell tolls.

Of course both organisations see it as a potential opportunity for some positive press and as such I'm going to record it here over the next few blogs for posterity. Although my counterparts at Lloyd's Register deserve the greater credit, I'm really proud that I was able to play my own little part in a positive piece of library related news.