Our picture of the structure of organic solids is based almost exclusively on conventional crystal structures based on Bragg scattering. Though it is hard to overstate the success of this approach over the past century, it does yield an average view of the crystalline state, and this may be a substantial approximation in the context of dynamic phenomena like phase transitions. Recent developments in total scattering techniques make it possible to model structures at a local scale, providing an atomistic view of structures as they undergo change. The thermodynamically most stable gamma polymorph of glycine transforms to the alpha form at around 440 K, the exact temperature depending on sample history. This study aims to use total scattering methods to investigate the local changes in the sample which occur on annealing at high temperature and in the approach to the phase transition.