At least some library services in Essex celebrate Pride Month... www.instagram.com/p/DZKerm8lUk...

This is why I tell my UG and MSc students to consider 'is this for my assignment?' as an evaluating tool when researching - it's SO easy to start following links and references to a topic that has nothing to do with your work. Interesting yes, but you have to focus. Set up a 'To Read Later' folder!

Really good summing up of this year's LILAC conference by @janepoth.bsky.social I especially liked the line "You don't need to use Generative AI tools to be AI literate." I struggle with this all the time - I want to support my users with authoritative takes but I don't want to USE AI myself.

LIBRARY CAMPAIGNERS CONDEMN BAN ON LIBRARIES PROMOTING PRIDE We condemn an order by the newly elected leadership of @Essex_CC to its library service not to promote #Pride, an annual celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, culture, and history. www.yourharlow.com/2026/06/02/r...

Betty Acquah, Ghanaian painter, Happy Days 1, 2024 #WomensArt

We all know it's not really summer until the train companies put their water bottle reminder posters up.

Thanks to whoever it was at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social library who coined the phrase 'drive-by donations' - I've used it countless times since then, for people who just dump their old stuff on library desks.

Why do shop staff ALWAYS ask "that's sparkling water, is that OK?".

English painter Emma Haworth known for her parks and semi urban landscapes with a hint of magic #womensart #ParkLife

Seeing this all-time review on #Spotify is embarrassing - did I really listen to Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 16 times in the last 7 years?

Tomorrow #KursaalWard will go to the polls. All the data shows that this contest is between me - the local champion who lives in the ward - and an unknown Reform candidate who lives in Thorpe. A vote for anyone but me on 7 May risks letting Reform in. Don't take that risk. #ReelectCllrMattDent

Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932), British horticulturist, garden designer, craftswoman, photographer, writer and artist who created over 400 gardens in the UK, Europe and the US #WomensArt

Blue Morning Glories, 1935 by Georgia O'Keeffe #Womensart

That @lilacconf.bsky.social know to run an outstanding conference. I saw so many great presentations but missed so many more, three days just wasn't enough. Great support from @sheffielduni.bsky.social in keeping us fed, watered and going in the right directions. Thanks to the organisers #LILAC26

White hot chocolate with a toasted marshmallow topping, after a long, jam-packed day at #LILAC26 If any fellow attendees fancy a drink, it's the Chocolate Bar, open 'till 9pm

On my way to #LILAC26 first conference in 7 years! Prepared for a Sunday train timetable...

My excellent colleague @katiedd.bsky.social has just published this remarkable investigation into rampant book banning in a Greater Manchester secondary school library. 193 books including The Da Vinci Code, Twilight, White Teeth and 1984 Graphic Novel www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/03/scho...

some of you are looksmaxxing when you need to be booksmaxxing

Japanese artist Mariko Kusumoto turns textiles into delicately sculpted orbs that can be worn as jewellery #WomensArt

If the issue is uncollected reservations, why not add the fee to a user's record, and take it off when they collect the book? It seems spiteful, otherwise, to punish users who use the service responsibly, and especially those who have small, part-time libraries, as their local library service.

Well done Tin Can Knits! A pattern I bought years ago has just been extended, so they've automatically sent me a copy with all three versions. Talk about good customer service. 🧶

So in the National Year of Reading, Essex Libraries proposes to start charging for reservations. As my closest library is tiny, and only open 3 days a week (and two of those are half days) it feels like Great Wakering users are seen as either well-off or not worthy of full access to the book stock.

This is a permanent research snd teaching post. Please share widely and forward to suitable candidates.

❗️Library job alert! Apply for the Library Assistant (Medicine) role at Chelsea and Westminster Campus Library. Want to provide a high quality, inclusive library service to the Imperial community, NHS staff and other visitors? Find out more here 👉 bit.ly/4k2pjPv

Hollywood actresses Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, 1962 #WomensArt #FridayFeeling

'City Glow, Mountain Whisper' (2006), Japanese Pop artist Chiho Aoshima's mural at Gloucester Road tube station, London #WomensArt

How long can I hold a grudge? In 2005, my partner's cousin sent a Christmas card to us, and inside the card she wrote "Dear Ed and girlfriend-whose-name-I-don't-know". Today I could have sent her a card with a 1st class stamp but no, there is still a petty side of me that will not let it lie.

Once again, very disappointed in certain supermarkets deciding to open on Boxing Day, when it really isn't necessary. Can't retail workers get the minimum of two days off, especially after working so hard the days before Christmas?

'My year end reading statistics' (originally for @theguardian.com books). p.s There's still time to pick up new book Physics for Cats at good bookshops and online www.tomgauld.com/comic-books-v2

Prompted by an earlier post here, and speaking as someone who's sent Christmas cards since the late 1970s... Tips for reigniting/managing Christmas cards (if you want to send them): 1) yes, stamps are expensive but people usually like getting cards, and for less than a quid, you can stay in (1/?)...

Remember to clean your shoes or boots and leave them on the windowsill tonight! (As I suspect Mikuláš will not be leaving me chocolates tomorrow morning, have hedged my bets and got myself a Cadburys advent calendar this year)

Xenobia Bailey, US fine artist, designer and fibre artist known for her large scale crochet pieces and hats #WomensArt

Have you heard of US painter Ida O'Keeffe? Her work was largely overshadowed by that of her much more known older sister Georgia.... #womensart

How in the mind-bending fuck do we live in a world where conservatives call 14-year-olds “women” when talking about their rapes but also call 40 year olds “girls” when talking about their achievements or successes? #NewsCorpse

People on the Left often complain about the BBC being too right wing, while people on the Right accuse it of left wing bias. Now, to me that says it must be fairly balanced. And YES - I have a show on BBC Sounds. But this isn't about me, and I genuinely think it would be a tragedy to lose the BBC.

❗️Library job alert! Apply for the Senior Library Assistant for Natural Sciences role. Be part of a friendly team that provides high-quality support to meet the learning & teaching needs of staff & students. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/47Vj22q

Discussing reading with @hipporebecca.bsky.social and it reminded me, I had a job where reading the last 3 pages of Mills and Boon novel was a regular activity. Some of my housebound readers were NOT up for sauce in their stories, so I had to check the tone of the final embrace.

'Tea and Books' by Leah Gardner, contemporary Chicago-based oil painter #WomensArt

Rest In Power Mary Macgee, whose 1973 Supreme Court Appeal overturned Ireland's unsafe & barbaric ban on contraception. She started a revolution for Irish women & girls ✊ legalising the sale of contraception in 1985. Thank you sister. 🔗 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Polish Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka, The Blue Scarf, 1930 #womensart

Considering he's supposed to be innocent of all accusations against him, this is a very 'HE'S GUILTY AS ALL FUCK' move from his brother.

Aspire, Commit, Engage - ACE it! Join our ACE it! workshops designed to support you throughout your time at Imperial. These workshops are delivered by our librarians and are aligned with academic courses across Imperial. Find out more here 👉 bit.ly/4omgtOc

For the second time in a week, I'm reading a book where the writer gets a London station completely wrong. West Drayton is not Drayton Park, there is no Kensington tube station, and West Finchley does not have an escalator. Does no-one have access to even Wikipedia?! (Both authors are British.)

Why do libraries send out pick-up notices when the library is closed? Three books I reserved were available for collection just after lunch on the 24th, but the notification was sent at 7am this morning. What's the reasoning @southendonsea.bsky.social ? @essex.gov.uk - you also do this odd delay!

Just learned the difference between a croque monsieur and a croque madame is an egg and it’s named that because the egg looks like a ladies fancy hat. That’s when society worked, when we were all putting little hats on sandwiches.

Am thrilled to hear about the new Eras show film PLUS documentary of the behind the scenes activity. Hurray! #taylorswift

Whilst I think this is a fine principle, can we leave places like Hobbycraft and craft shops generally out of this? For crafters making Christmas presents and cards, we need that lead-in time!

Like a reverse Trigger's broom, how many Tory defectors can Reform UK take on before it's just the same old failed Tory Party that the British people rejected at the ballot box, in a new colour? Reform UK aren't anything new. They're just recycled Tories.