If libraries must put printed notices up don't make the big heading 'Notice' or even 'Polite Notice'. The heading should be what the notice is about, not metadata about the paper.

It's quite awkward having your order forgotten in a coffee shop. The longer you leave it the worse it gets as well. Don't want them to realise you've been waiting about half an hour. In the end do you finish up waiting and give a cheery "thank you!" as you leave?

A shocking new investigation by Index reveals that Emily (not her real name), a school librarian in Greater Manchester, faced disciplinary action after stocking the book Men Who Hate Women. Nearly 200 books were targeted. 1/4 By @katiedd.bsky.social

School book banning escalates in the UK as Greater Manchester secondary school censors scores of books www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/03/scho... by @katiedd.bsky.social via @indexoncensorship.org #schoollibraries #censorship #childrights

A concerning case of school library censorship in Greater Manchester: Read more: www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/03/scho... SLG supported the librarian with expert guidance, and CILIP continues to speak out against censorship. School libraries must remain safe, inclusive spaces @cilip.bsky.social

South Western Regional Library Services (SWRLS) are looking to appoint a part-time Coordinator on a freelance or consultancy basis. Accountable to a Board of Trustees, the role offers flexibility, homeworking and intellectual challenge, apply now. #LISJobs #libraries https://ow.ly/FSqv50YwU9i

Announcing a FREE webinar, Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 4:00 PM GMT. Join our expert panel as they discuss how we ensure data portals actually fit the needs of the user; what designers and maintainers must consider; the National Data Library (NDL); next steps for global data infrastructure.

The world could be such a nice place if we allowed it. It's all so goddamn unnecessary. There's no need for any of it. It's so beautiful here. It should be so cool to be alive

This looks like a super strong advisory group for the National Data Library. Ideally, it would include a library sector representative to advocate for the strengths, principles and standards behind the "Library" designation.

There's still time to sign up to our webinar with @librarieshacked.bsky.social next Weds 25th, 6.30-7.30pm! Come along to learn about open data and digital prototypes, and how these can be transformative as part of a good data management strategy for libraries across sectors 👉 tinyurl.com/2n6jd9y4

Next Wednesday! Sign up here for a talk and questions on open data, digital prototypes, and working in the open in libraries.

Sounds like excellent work being done. Some general points on the area of library data. * Public libraries still need a culture of open working. Much of this is behind closed doors, and less open than previously. Libraries need spaces to discuss between staff, but that is generally the exception.

A very nice data blog and a reminder that the loans data collected as part of administration of PLR is the most powerful dataset the library and reading sector have, and should be open data, published in as close to real-time as possible. #LibraryData #OpenData

Listening to @artscouncilengland.bsky.social and @biblioluke.bsky.social on work toward public library data / insight platform Some great principles: * data is messy - need to use new tech & AI to make sense * libraries keen to share data but needs to be easy! * needs to be live - not a snapshot

Getting rid of late fees helped increase circulation stats and people getting library cards www.70and73.com/evesham_marl...

goodnight, and remember: library late fees suck. they simply discourage library use. you should be glad if your library abolished them, and if it hasn’t, you should tell them it should. 📚

Happy new year! I hope you all had a good time. People across the world keep asking "what is Libraries Hacked going to do in 2026 and why?" So that's answered here on the library data blog. blog.librarydata.uk/plans-for-20...

Received my UK public lending right statement (writers receive a payment every time their books are borrowed from the library). Thanks so much to UK library users for your support for my writing 🙏 Libraries are so important to the fabric of our reading culture – let's keep supporting them.

The library activity dashboard is a new project visualising library activity data, as reported by library services across England. It includes Loans, Users, Visits, Events, Computer usage, and WiFi sessions. Currently in development so feedback particularly welcome!

In Edinburgh for #odcamp. Mega stoked.

Collect a set of core data. Loans, reservations, members, visits. Everyone will be able to send their data in, and it's a reasonable proof of concept in getting it all together. Wigan libraries:

Guidance already being used by authorities to just convert any data to PDF "Please note that further to the [1]Information Commissioner's guidance regarding spreadsheets, Northumberland County Council has taken the decision not to share spreadsheets as part of FOI or EIR responses going forward."

UK readers, if you can't afford to buy any of these books, order them from your local library. The authors will see your support through loan figures and PLR. You don't even have to finish reading them if you don't want!

A new library data post! Get it while it's hot because they're rare these days. blog.librarydata.uk/requesting-d... A small bit on FOI requests to get hold of public library data. Not ideal but it can benefit libraries, especially if followed up with open data publishing. #OpenData #LibraryData

Interesting new paper on the challenge increasing numbers of SUVs pose to climate efforts. “The current trend runs the risk of undoing climate achievements and solidifying unsustainable mobility habits unless there is a structural change in both urban design and consumer norms.”

You know that tool you're using to protect your privacy? Well everyone should have to go through a verification process before using one of those.

Sad, moving piece on the death of a sibling out of the blue by @hannahsbee.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/comment/pers...

Why can't McSweeney just read something good and useful, like Charlotte's Web, or The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark?

@swrls.bsky.social Hey folks - I'm sure you're on this. Was just gonna raise the alert that you're web domain needs renewing and is now marked for deletion which means it could be up for grabs if not renewed soon!

Why does your library matter to you? ❤️📚 We asked 2,000 Scots that question and this is what they told us: www.scottishbooktrust.com/our-research...

On Tuesday 27 May 1-2pm, I'm presenting a webinar on behalf of @ciliplgbtq.bsky.social, "How to be a good ally to trans*, non-binary and gender-conforming people" I've spoken about this before but allies are more vital than ever now... Register and share please! www.cilip.org.uk/events/Event...

Does Library data storytelling count? Those are the Queen's favourite stories

It feels like another lifetime when the library alt text bot was highlighting tweets from libraries that didn't include alt text. Some library services really engaged and upped their tweeting. Quite a few hated the idea of accessibility. Even though twitter was destroyed, add alt text to images!

9 current visitors, what's going on?! Ah, newslet for libraries has come out. Full of great content. libraries.newslet.org

Released today on Library Storytelling - The membership of Lancashire Libraries. www.librarystorytelling.net/the-membersh... Lancashire were brilliant and open to exploring types of library usage, the deprivation levels alongside % population of membership, as well as the urban/rural divide.

Released today on Library Storytelling - The membership of Lancashire Libraries. www.librarystorytelling.net/the-membersh... Lancashire were brilliant and open to exploring types of library usage, the deprivation levels alongside % population of membership, as well as the urban/rural divide.

“Over that time councils also made deep cuts to discretionary services – such as libraries and road maintenance.” Still a lot of work to do get the message out there. Libraries are not discretionary. They are statutory critical infrastructure with empathetic knowledgeable staff!

Open data publication guide www.gov.wales/open-data-pu... new from the Welsh Government – guidance for public bodies and other organisations in Wales on publishing their data openly #opengov #opendata

Every year it's great to see authors and contributors delighted from the estimations of their loans in UK libraries. We have the systems to update this data daily, make it open, and really use it to promote authors and libraries. And make it comprehensive and detailed rather than a small sample.

It's lunchtime, and you could take a walk to your local library. OR you can read about walking to your local library, and you can do it at your desk, with a sandwich, and it'll only take 3 minutes. Then back to work! blog.librarydata.uk/walk-to-your...

That AI report in meme form

The latest PLR consultation government response is out. www.gov.uk/government/c... The responses are mainly the same as ever, but there are some interesting things here.

Now on the Artefacto blog, the top library links of 2024 - the most popular articles from our libraries newsletter this year www.artefacto.org.uk/top-library-...

A day out at #glosdataday today. As ever, maybe a chance to promote open data, and library data!

Great stuff London Libraries (although also - data in CSV format or it didn't happen)

Latest post on the library data blog is about data cleaning the arts council basic libraries dataset. blog.librarydata.uk/basic-librar...

In a hotel and thought it odd that no BBC channels were available. Turned out they'd all been removed, even all the radio ones. Never thought my hotel stays would get caught up in culture wars. Currently re-tuning all the channels just to watch Newsnight

Age yourself with your first computer. It was a Compaq Presario Pentium 90. It came with a Windows 95 upgrade disk but still ran Windows 3.1 cos it advised upgrading the memory first. Eventually we tackled the 8MB memory upgrade and then enjoyed lots of Weezer - Buddy Holly.

It's quite exciting seeing this big social media shift. It's the same kind of dream for library open data. Once people start publishing nothing will stop it.