iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Luke Oakes

Mary Burgess @cambliblife.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Interesting to hear the news about the former Mill Road Library www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Here's what it looked like when it opened in 1896 and in 1980.

The main entrance of Mill Road Library with a man walking by on Mill Road.

An engraving of the library on opening. There is a man with a top hat admiring the frontage.

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Reposted by Luke Oakes

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Join us at Barnwell Library for a free poetry workshop inspired by our latest exhibition, Living Water: Poetry, Art and the Fight for Clean Rivers. Sat 9 May 2026 3:30-5pm Book: tinyurl.com/3ck9hh2c In partnership with WildFish, Cambridgeshire Libraries & University of Cambridge PACE.

Poster for a Cambridge University Library event titled “Our Living Water: Community poetry workshop.” It takes place on Saturday 9 May 2026 from 3:30pm to 5pm at Barnwell Library, Cambridge. The event is free for adults, with booking required due to limited spaces. The design features a green background, bold pink and white title text, and a photograph of a small stream flowing through grass.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Though all those performances pale in comparison to this classic: youtu.be/zqHfser_9_s?...

youtu.be

Robert DeNiro imagines he's elmo!

YouTube video by bazblack

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Reposted by Luke Oakes

Mary Burgess @cambliblife.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Getting some sources ready for our Women's History Wikipedia Edit-a-thon next month. It'll be on Saturday 14th March and we'll be adding to or creating Wikipedia entries for women from Cambridgeshire. You can find out more or book a place at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-his...

eventbrite.co.uk

Women's History Month Edit-a-thon

Join us in the Cambridgeshire Collection and learn to create or improve Wikipedia entries about local women's history!

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

That moment when you're on the Underground and find yourself completely alone down a silent tunnel that, without a doubt, must be haunted.

An passenger tunnel on the Underground, that has tiled walls.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Saw this on the Tube this morning. Today marks 40 years of Poems on the Underground. You can see the archive @theul.bsky.social.

Poems on the Underground poster showing the following text:
Epitaph on a Tyrant
W. H. Auden

Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after,
And the poetry he invented was easy to understand;
He knew human folly like the back of his hand,
And was greatly interested in armies and fleets;
When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter,
And when he cried the little children died in the streets.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

And don't forget to join your public library 😀 📚

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Storyhouse is a fabulous place.

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Reposted by Luke Oakes

Mary Burgess @cambliblife.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Busy pricing books for our next local studies booksale, which will be on Saturday 11th October 1-4pm on the third floor of Cambridge Central Library. We'll have old and new books, maps and prints available - come and grab a bargain.

A group of books on a trolley with price labels tucked inside.

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Reposted by Luke Oakes

Louis Coiffait-Gunn @louiscoiffait-gunn.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

'Library work puts the librarian in touch with every human interest ... the profession on which all other professions and occupations depend' Love this old ALA graphic spotted on LinkedIn, anyone have a year for it?

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Never ask a librarian a question, unless you want a very thorough answer. 📚📚📚 #SearchEngineWithAHeart

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Team luncheon with a view at the Michaelhouse Cafe. #LunchtimeLibrarians

Interior view of the Michaelhouse Cafe, showing the church building that houses it, complete with altar and stained glass window.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Great to be a guest of @goodthingsfdn.bsky.social at @houseoflords.parliament.uk giving me an opportunity to wax lyrical about delivering digital inclusion through libraries.

A photo looking up at the tower at the House of Lords end of the Houses of Parliament.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

One way to get the accessibility word out 🤣 @nedpotter.bsky.social

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

That does look mighty impressive. 11 out of 10.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Excellent to be representing @librariesconnected.bsky.social at the launch of this important charter. A crucial step in delivering digital inclusion for all.

A crowd of people in business atire standing in front of a screen that reads, "IT Reuse for Good Charter."

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Good to see a familiar face, tho.

A cardboard cutout of Freddie Mercury propped against a wall.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

The Barbican Centre (and Library) is just a whole nother world.

A view of the Barbican Centre terrace and pond.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

An excellent day learning about MDLS. Key takeaway for me was "meet people where THEY are" on using digital, and engage. www.goodthingsfoundation.org/policy-and-r...

goodthingsfoundation.org

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

You arrive too early for an event, go looking for a bench and accidentally find a portal to another land.

An archway showing St John's museum garden beyond.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Be sure to keep an eye out for Cambridgeshire Libraries staff 🙂

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Reposted by Luke Oakes

Alan Akeroyd @alanakeroyd.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Will you be in Huntingdon on Saturday? Join us at 1.00 for a talk on the photographic firm of Maddison & Hinde, established in the 1850s, then view a selection of photos from the collection. Free! Booking details here www.library.live/calendar/loc...

A studio portrait showing four generations of the Tysoe family, consisting of three men and one child. The photograph is listed in the Maddison & Hinde order book, and can thus be dated to 1898. David Cozens, in his book "Huntingdon A Pictorial History" believed the family may have lived in Hartford Road, Huntingdon. Doc ref HA WH2/70

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

First, and likely last, visit to the Story Garden. It'll be making way for the expansion of @britishlibrary.bsky.social. Check it out before it's gone, it's quite fun.

Photo of the Story Garden with the Francis Crick Institute in the background.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Very much enjoyed Unearthed @britishlibrary.bsky.social. A fabulous visual experience 📚🌱

Reproduction of a photo showing a brick wall with graffiti that states, "This site has been taken over by the people of Tolmers village for a garden".

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Holborn Library is looking swish.

Interior photo of Holborn Library, showing bookcases and display furniture.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Late to the party on this one. What a lovely video. He's a good bloke, that Robin Ince. m.youtube.com/watch?v=RPt9... @librariesunlimited.bsky.social @robinince.bsky.social

m.youtube.com

Life's Better With A Library

YouTube video by Libraries Unlimited

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Take a deep dive into local studies picture classification with my colleague @cambliblife.bsky.social. They very much know their beans (or in this case, nitrates). www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-stud...

media.tenor.com

a man wearing a hat is taking a picture with a camera

ALT: a man wearing a hat is taking a picture with a camera

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Great day in Wisbech meeting with the Library Development Team. Lots to discuss and plan.

A photo of the exterior of Peckover House in Wisbech.

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Reposted by Luke Oakes

The Space @thespacearts.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Another successful VR on boarding by our partners @neon8uk.bsky.social . The #digitalspaces VR experience is now live at Cambridge #Libraries - check it out until 11 May. Look out for the VR180 Filming Masterclasses taking place in July! #Cambrisgeshire

The back of a head of a young person wearing a VR helmet. They are seated and we see others wearing headsets in the foreground

A person wears a VR headset. They look very impressed

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Reposted by Luke Oakes

Mary Burgess @cambliblife.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Just looking into the history of Ely Library today - here's the old library building on the Green by the Cathedral, which was opened on 5th April 1966.

The former County Library building at Ely, now the Ely Cathedral conference centre.

The inside of Ely Library at the helpdesk. The fashions are very 60s.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

I still remember my mum buying me a stack of Transformer comics in a jumble sale back in the 80s. It was a slippery slope from there, ending in the literary canon and librarianship (and the occasional TF comic).

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

2/2 @richove.bsky.social tantalised with news of the Libraries Alliance and @roswellencina.bsky.social nailed it on the head with bring the fun (and the crystal flute)! Thanks to @bodleianlibraries.bsky.social for a fabulous event. We've a lot to think about.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

1/2 Sharing takeaways from the Librarians Change Lives event with my team. From Neil MacInnes' advocacy starts with the impacts, to @aminatshah.bsky.social calling for investment in school libraries, to Dr Carla Hayden on how libraries are the great equaliser...

Photo of Oxford building Radcliffe Camera at night, the windows lit from within.

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Luke Oakes @lukeoakes.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Cherry Hinton Library won an award!

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