What historians (and other scholars do) is create knowledge. We should use that phrase more and talk about what it means. I think we don't, and it's part of why AI enthusiasts are confused when we don't readily agree that our work can be replicated/replaced by their products.

It will surprise nobody that the cataloguing system that is slopwashing like this turns out to be Primo. (If you're not sure what system your university library uses: have you ever searched for a book and been offered three pages of links to reviews instead? That was Primo too.)

Foggy early start

Project link uhgi.org

Early morning commutes aren't all bad

Faire entrer Maryse Condé au Panthéon ! "Depuis le décès de l'autrice guadeloupéenne en avril 2024, Tressy Angelo s'engage pour panthéoniser Maryse Condé. Une procédure longue et fastidieuse qui passe d'abord par une pétition en ligne. " la1ere.franceinfo.fr/une-petition...

Winter sunset over Store Street looking west

Autumn in #London

Just curious to see what Grok thought (at the moment) about trillionaires. Unfortunately the response was a bit too long to compress in 4 images.

Productive day out, and good to see the off-site collections again.

⭐ Ahead of History Day 2025, why not take a moment to read our blog on LGBTQ+ books in the IHR Library? The blog highlights some of our more recent titles, uncovering hidden stories, challenging narratives and celebrating queer history 🏳️‍🌈 👉 Read here: blog.history.ac.uk/2025/04/new-... #HistDay25

New blog from @ihrlibrary.bsky.social trainees, Sasha Pond and Sarah Snelling, highlighting new titles in which reflect the diversification of our collections across Black history.#BlackHistoryMonth blog.history.ac.uk/2025/10/blac...

Very much this. The IHR really is open to everyone and this includes our common room and our library as well as our wonderful seminars. All free, all welcome!

Those 5 espressos during the day made the walk between stations...brief

Just a reminder to check for your name in this list of books that OpenAI trained from. If your name is there, they probably owe you several thousand dollars. OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.

@cathamclarke.bsky.social Spotted in the Piccadilly Waterstones last night, and - huge announcement - comes with a complimentary bookmark

Well, that was a week

The power of the response "I don't know" is really underrated. It's not only a display of humility that resonates with others, but it's also the necessary basis for curiosity about the world around us, which is fundamental to being human.

Part of a lost canto from the Inferno

Interesting tour of the west cemetery today, and wandering around the east, retracing mum's leisurely root to school in the 50s from Waterlow Park to Brookfield

#DailyHaikuPrompt You are still on mute Start awkward interjections Dante would love this

Finally

UK academia’s lack of language skills ‘imperils research integrity’ www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

In celebration of Women's History Month, Graduate Trainee Library Assistant Sarah Admans has written a blog showcasing a selection of the wide range of sources that can be found in the @ihrlibrary.bsky.social focusing on women and their lived experience. blog.history.ac.uk/2025/03/wome...

We’re in Cambridge for the Cambridge Archives and Collections Fair, with a wide variety of fellow stall holders @ihrlibrary.bsky.social

Got a minute? Please complete our annual library survey. We'd love to hear what you think! buff.ly/euZHYnA

Foggy morning walking to the station this morning

Our latest ‘state of the discipline’ report has lots of interesting findings on politics and international relations subjects in HE. In 2018/19, female students surpassed their male counterparts to become the majority among first degree students www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/new-rep...

Over 60 German universities quit social media platform X. Platform accused of failing to uphold values of diversity, freedom, and scholarship.

Shoeburyness on a bit of a bleak day.

Dr. Gordon McKelvie, in the latest On History blog, explores how historians can use the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) to generate data for classroom discussions on broader historiographical trends, using English history revolts as an example

Love this by Jade Cuttle: www.theguardian.com/culture/2024...

Emmanuel Macron annonce l'entrée au Panthéon de l'historien et résistant Marc Bloch, fusillé par la Gestapo en 1944. L'annonce est intervenue lors du discours du président pour commémorer le 80e anniversaire de la libération de Strasbourg. www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/deba...

Looking towards Wickford

Rereading some of the works I studied undergraduate (Paradise to Inferno this time). On an unrelated matter, thankfully now Twitter free.

Not long now...https://www.history.ac.uk/events/history-day-2024 #HistDay24

New #DigitalHistory resource: Scottish Privy Council Records Database 1692-1708 spcr.ac.uk #History 🗃️

New catalogue online! Archives of the Cumberland Miners' Association / NUM Cumberland Area, 1887-1985, at mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/CMA Includes executive & branch minutes, records about wages, working conditions, welfare & health 7 docs digitised @ mrc-describe.epexio.com/search/all:r...

At least there's one benefit to setting off for work before the street lights are switched on.

Spotted mince pies in the shops this morning

Some great initiatives here to boost German language learning in the UK www.theguardian.com/education/ar...

Evening Sunset

Very quickly UK universities are becoming two-tier. Russell Group have the full complement of traditional HE subjects. The rest are focusing on the current 'fashions' for employment - degrees in business or related subjects perceived to guarantee a job.

Hello All. To find out more about the library, including our collections, facilities and opening times, explore our pages on the main IHR site - www.history.ac.uk/library-digi.... Membership is free to everyone - everyone is welcome.

New in the library is an edition of Anderson and Dibble's English translation (with Nahuatl text) of Sahagún's Historia general...de Nueva España, which now sits alongside the Spanish editions readers can find in the library catalogue.libraries.london.ac.uk/record=b4508...

Out now: Talking History by David Manning examines Seminar Culture at the Institute of Historical Research, 1921–2021. Available to read for free online, download as a PDF or purchase in print: uolpress.co.uk/book/talking... #OpenAccess #History @ihr.bsky.social

Working in Bloomsbury I've spotted falcons and even a woodpecker before, but first time for a Jay

There's still time to have your say about the IHR's library services. The survey now closes on the 22nd April. And remember you can opt-in to enter a prize draw to win one of two £25 book tokens. www.history.ac.uk/library-digi...

Interested in researching the history of witchcraft and magic? Then join us to discover the wealth of resources available to you from IHR Library, the Warburg Institute and Senate House Library 🗓 16 May 🕰 14:00-15:30 BST 🖥 Online Register today via: www.history.ac.uk/events/resea...