Reposted by Jess BatesNational Library of Scotland @natlibscot.bsky.social · 07/10/2026How do we save our stories when the format keeps changing? 💾 From the 8-inch floppy discs of the 1970s - once costing a fortune in computer terms - to the ubiquitous USB drive, the way we store our memories has transformed. 44917
Reposted by Jess BatesBERA @beranews.bsky.social · 06/10/2026💡Join us for BERA Skill Builder Series: Writing Effective Abstracts for Conferences, Journals, and Scholarly Publications Register here: www.bera.ac.uk/event/bera-skill-bui… 011
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 06/10/2026This week I’m having fun recording ‘In Conversation with’ pieces with some of the @libraryjournal.bsky.social 2026 Movers & Shakers for the @ulsteruni.bsky.social PG Dip & MSc Library students #LibraryLeadership #DigitalLearning #Library&InfoPros #LibraryAdvocacy 000
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 22/09/2026A huge welcome to our new and returning students on the online distance-learning PGDip & MSc in Library and Information Management @ulsteruni.bsky.social Here’s to the start of a new academic year #ProfessionalLibrarianship #Research&Practice #DigitalLearning #LibraryStaff @cilip.bsky.social 040
Reposted by Jess Bates𝕯𝖆𝖓🍂🎃🕸️ @arepublic86.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Charlotte Wainwright restoring and saving old/ancient books. www.wainwrightbookbinding.com 524191185440
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Well done @cathalcoyle.bsky.social & colleagues, great to see this publication on equity and library provision in NI published in School Libraries Worldwide. #Education #SchoolLibraries #Research @ulsteruni.bsky.social journals.library.ualberta.ca/slw/index.ph...journals.library.ualberta.ca School Libraries Worldwide School Libraries Worldwide is the official peer-reviewed (refereed) research journal of the International Association of School Librarianship. 020
Reposted by Jess BatesNature Of Rathlin @natureofrathlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026The Rathlin Development & Community Association (RDCA) is seeking a community development worker. This is a hands-on position, working from the Resource Centre, Rathlin Island. For the full information see: rathlin360.com/community-de... 022
Reposted by Jess BatesDictionary of Irish Biography @dib.ie · 27/07/2026#DIBLives Antarctic explorer Tom Crean (d. #OTD 1938) spent more time in the Antarctic than Scott or Shackleton; he was awarded the Albert Medal and the Polar Medal with 3 Antarctic clasps. The Crean Glacier in South Georgia and Mount Crean in Antarctica are named for him. www.dib.ie/biography/cr... 25123
Reposted by Jess BatesUlster University @ulsteruni.bsky.social · 21/07/2026The Fleadh is coming to Belfast! From 2-9 August, our Belfast campus is delighted to be one of the host venues for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, the world's biggest celebration of Irish music and culture. Get involved and find out more here: ow.ly/eoCP50Zq7w4 041
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 27/07/2026I enjoyed showing the BBC Archive film ‘Betwixt and Between’ & talking about the island’s oral history heritage. This stimulated conversations about sustainability, changes, tourism, island infrastructure & way of life. Looking forward to discussing similarities between Singapore & Rathlin this eve. 030
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 27/07/2026It’s been a busy few days with the Singapore students summer school on Rathlin Island. Lots of talks, activities, tours, films and discussions on island sustainability, culture, heritage, education, waste and policy. @futureislandisland.bsky.social @ulsteruni.bsky.social 153
Reposted by Jess BatesCiara | Ciaraíoch 🎨 @ciaraioch.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Selkies are beautiful creatures from Irish, Faroese, and Scottish folklore who have the appearance of seals in water, but shed their skin to come ashore and reveal their human forms. If a human finds the skin and hides it, the selkie can't return to the sea 🦭 Prints: ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/... 718647
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 10/07/2026I finished reading The Hobbit with my 11yr old son yesterday too. He said it was his new favourite book & he reads a lot. He loved it. But not so much my singing of the elvish songs towards the end 😂 apparently my singing went downhill. 000
Reposted by Jess BatesConflict Textiles @conflicttextiles.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Violeta Morales has 6 textiles in our collection. This #arpillera depicts a woman mourning alone. The image is cold and forlorn, with a dark sky, snow-capped peaks and a darkened city beyond. we see a plane… cain.ulster.ac.uk/conflicttext... 021
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 29/06/2026It’s Graduation Day 🎓🙌🏻🌟 Congratulations to all our PG Dip & MSc Library & Information Management students graduating today. Best wishes for your professional futures! @ulsteruni.bsky.social #ProudOfUU 011
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Looking forward to hosting this on Rathlin Island today, celebrating and sharing leadership experiences in our different settings! #Aurora #Rathlin #UlsterUniversity #Women #Leadership 030
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 11/06/2026Enjoyed last evening’s flax workshop with Tiernan & Gillian on Rathlin @futureislandisland.bsky.social learning about flax fibres and having a go at hand spinning flax. Looking forward to part 2 this evening! 051
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 10/06/2026 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukUptick in children and teenagers enjoying reading for first time in 5 yearsMore than one in three now say they like picking up books in their spare time, according to a literacy charity. 010
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 02/06/2026ARLIS UK & Ireland are offering a fees only award to cover fees for professional study to help address under-representation of Black library workers and library workers of colour within art librarianship. Please share details of this award with anyone who might be interested. 000
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 02/06/2026This is a great opportunity & we would welcome an @arlis-uk.bsky.social awardee on the Ulster Uni fully online part-time professional library PgDip/MSc programme (CILIP accredited) We specialise in professional education for those already working/on placement in the sector arlis.net/careers/awar... 100
Reposted by Jess BatesNature Of Rathlin @natureofrathlin.bsky.social · 21/05/2026The East Light Development Project is seeking a Project Coordinator to support the next phase of development for the East Lighthouse site on Rathlin Island. rathlin360.com/east-lightho... 053
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 30/05/2026Small boats and even smaller boats at Rathlin Island 041
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 29/05/2026Sharing for those that need to see it: debretts.com/out-of-offic...debretts.comOut-of-Office Etiquette • DebrettsWe’re in peak holiday season and our etiquette experts have turned their attention to the wonderful world of out-of-office emails. 010
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 26/05/2026Learning about the history and value of growing & working with flax from Gillian Steel @ulsteruni.bsky.social PhD student and @futureislandisland.bsky.social researcher at this evening’s Rathlin Sound Festival event - in the Rathlin yurt! 000
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 26/05/2026This afternoon at the Rathlin Sound Festival, I’ll be hosting a double book launch! Islander Jim McFaul’s story of the Rathlin raven has been beautifully illustrated by Wendy Doyle, and Philip Watson has a updated and expanded version of his book Rathlin Island: Nature and Folklore. 010
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Thanks to Jenny Jackson-Smyth and Dr Susi Power @futureislandisland.bsky.social for coming to Rathlin Island today to run their environmental board game workshop for children as part of the Rathlin Sound Festival! The kids really enjoyed it. #CreativeLearning #Sustainability #BoardGameDesign 000
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Fab beach clean in the sun during my lunchbreak today with @futureislandisland.bsky.social Dr Susi Power using her #BeachClean2.0 approach to segregate waste as it is collected. #RathlinSoundFestival 000
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 07/05/2026And you can read more about this from Margot herself here: margotmccuaig.com/2026/05/06/t...margotmccuaig.comThe East Light, BBC Radio 4I made a documentary for BBC Radio 4. It’s an autoethnographical piece, written and recorded on Rathlin Island, where my father was born, and where his remains now rest alongside my mother. T… 040
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Looking forward to hearing @margotmcc.bsky.social new BBC Radio4 programme about the East Light, Rathlin Island on Sunday evening- details here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...bbc.co.ukBBC Radio 4 - Illuminated, The East LightMargot McCuaig ascends The East Lighthouse, illuminating the voices that dwell there. 241
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Well done to all our PG Dip and MSc Library & Information Mgmt students who submitted portfolios, research proposals & dissertations this week! #LibraryEducation #OnlineLearning #LearningCommunity #FutureProfessionalLibrarians #ResearchInformedPractice @ulsteruni.bsky.social 050
Reposted by Jess BatesNorthern Ireland Screen Archive @niscreenarchive.eurosky.social · 22/04/2026This work was done through the BFI's Britain On Film Coastal project. Colm and Stevie spent time filming at Rathlin Island's East lighthouse and this so inspired them that an entire album and more videos emerged from their time there. Malojian went in to use the archive in his live shows too.digitalfilmarchive.netDamp - View mediaOver 129 years of moving images from Northern Ireland, featuring amateur and professional films from 1897 to 2026, brought to you by Northern Ireland Screen. 021
Reposted by Jess BatesNature Of Rathlin @natureofrathlin.bsky.social · 27/04/2026Great to see Rathlin featured on Tracks and Trails with Frances Black on RTE1. The Roonivoolin walking trail is absolutely beautiful - see more here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZBD...youtube.comTracks & Trails S13 EP 3, part ii RATHLIN ISLANDYouTube video by Ireland's Tracks and Trails 022
Reposted by Jess BatesEutelsat @eutelsat.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Our OneWeb LEO constellation is supporting the RathlinConnex project, delivering connectivity to Rathlin Island, one of Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island. Working with Excelerate and supported by @esa.int, the project connects hard‑to‑reach communities with reliable digital services. 032
Reposted by Jess BatesESA Connectivity and Secure Communications @esaconnectivity.esa.int · 30/04/2026DYK Rathlin Island is the only inhabited offshore island of Northern Ireland?🏝️ Supported by @esa.int, Excelerate Technology, Eutelsat and Livewire Digital will bring high-speed connectivity to its ~170 residents by combining satellite, 5G and mobile networks 🌐 www.linkedin.com/posts/%F0%9D... 0122
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 01/05/2026It’s not a happy labour day for most workers. Solidarity. Join a union. #MayDay 020
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 17/04/2026Fantastic Jeannie @ulsteruni.bsky.social Hope it has been a great day at #CONULTL26 010
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 28/03/2026Lovely Your Place and Mine prog today on Radio Ulster which included a segment the Human Library event on Rathlin which was part of the @niscifest.bsky.social bringing together ‘human books’ from Rathlin & from @ulsteruni.bsky.social in a knowledge sharing opportunity. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...bbc.co.ukYour Place and Mine - North West Angling Fair, Colin Davidson and Rathlin Island - BBC SoundsWe hear from fishing enthusiasts returning to the River Mourne this weekend. 031
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 26/03/2026Only 2 rats were seen in 2025 and none since June last year. There is just a set time period before the place can be announced to be officially ferret or rat free. rathlin360.com/first-month-...rathlin360.comFirst Month In Role | Rathlin IslandFirst Month In Role, By Erin McKeown, Programme Manager, LIFE Raft Firstly, a note of introduction, I’m LIFE Raft’s new Programme Manager, Erin McKeown having joined the team in June […] 120
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 25/03/2026Well done @stephen-roulston.bsky.social and all involved. A tremendous amount of work setting out key priority areas and briefing papers to inform #TransformingEducation in our corner of the world. 021
Reposted by Jess BatesLibrary Association of Ireland @laibluesky.bsky.social · 25/03/2026Registration for #LAICILIP2026 is OPEN! Join us 29-30 April at Monaghan Peace Campus. Need bursary support? Apply now! 🔗More info: www.conference.libraryassociation.ie/ 🔗Tickets: LAI-CILIP-2026.eventbrite.ie 023
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 25/03/2026Thanks @rluk.ac.uk for demonstrating the value of a virtual conference - over 130 attendees at our session this afternoon on adaptive leadership. Really engaging, valuable & different presentations with important shared takeaways and a very thoughtful discussion at the end. #RLUK26 051
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 25/03/2026Great to hear about @rluk.ac.uk #ReciprocalMentorship - a developmental partnership programme for library staff. Innovative, empowering and impactful focusing on 2-way conversations and shared problem solving. #RLUK26 #AdaptiveLeadership 010
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 25/03/2026@rluk.ac.uk #RLUK26 virtual conference session on Adaptive Leadership in Libraries underway and we’ll hear presentations about adaptive leadership in a range of contexts - first up ‘Adaptive Leadership under Pressure’ site.pheedloop.com/event/rluk26...site.pheedloop.comPheedLoopPheedLoop: Hybrid, In-Person & Virtual Event Software 011
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 25/03/2026Looking forward to presenting our @ulsteruni.bsky.social Mosul Library Project with Janet Peden this afternoon at the @rluk.ac.uk Conference #RLUK26 #StewardshipInChallengingTimes #ReBuildingLibrariesPostConflict #VirtualConference #AcademicLibraries 041
Reposted by Jess BatesBERA @beranews.bsky.social · 20/03/2026📝 New BERA Blog Special Issue! The heart of learning: Spotlight on school libraries in the UK and Ireland 📚 Edited by Jess Bates and Jayne Finlay Read here: www.bera.ac.uk/blog-special-issues/… 011
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 05/03/2026Really excited for the #Rathlin book launch on Sunday 💚 021
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 05/03/2026Happy #WorldBookDay Love this creation from our house - task was to make a wooden spoon into a book character 💚 010
Jess Bates @jessicabates.bsky.social · 21/02/2026Dr Claire Woods, myself and Prof Una O’Connor Bones, School of Education @ulsteruni.bsky.social , on Rathlin yesterday for @niscifest.bsky.social events. #KnowledgeSharing #KnowledgeExchange #TellingStories #HumanLibrary #BookLaunch #OralHistory #IslandLife #Sustainability 050