Sign in

Mike Townsend

@miketownsend.bsky.social
273 followers 755 following 49 posts

Collections and Metadata librarian at the IHR @ihr.bsky.social (www.history.ac.uk/library-digital) | History | Photography | Curious rather than competent language learner

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Mike Townsend
School of Advanced Study, University of London @sas-news.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The @ihr.bsky.social, @senatehouselib.bsky.social and SAS are excited to announce that bookings are now open for History Day 2026! 🥳 Save the date for Wednesday 18 November and join us in Senate House for this celebration of all things history. Book your free place: bit.ly/4yw4zWt
03329
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Bit of photo drop Pembrokeshire and Tate Modern
Image of sea cliffs near the Green Bridge of Wales in PembrokeshireImage of sea cliffs near the Green Bridge of Wales in PembrokeshireDouble exposure abstract image of architecture in Tate Modern
000
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Elise A. Mitchell @bydreamphd.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I’ve had this convo privately enough times in the last week to go public: I don’t think there is any valuable way to use AI in a history classroom.
291453256
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Those last two hours in the library office
Well known meme image showing figure sitting in a room that is on fire. He is saying, "This is fine."
000
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Centre for the History of People, Place & Community @chppc.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Recent @ihr.bsky.social MA student and Library Services Manager @ihrlibrary.bsky.social, @katewilcox.bsky.social, has won the Phil Batman Family History Prize (Centre for Regional & Local History, University of Leicester). Discover her powerful and moving project: blog.history.ac.uk/2026/06/crea...
blog.history.ac.uk
Creative historical practice: an eighty-year family journey - On History
Kate Wilcox, Library Services Manager at the IHR, recently completed the IHR’s MA in History, Place and Community. Here, she shares her experiences of developing a critical-creative research project.
1247
Reposted by Mike Townsend
PeakJinx @peakjinx.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
When you get rid of all the books and periodicals and switch to digital resources, you’ve given up resources you own in exchange for subscription services. Now you’re vulnerable to price increases and the disappearance of essential information. I’ve always been a fan of having MORE choices.
329824
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The digitalisation of historical records used to be a net positive. But with the rise of AI, digitalised records now run the risk of being scraped, which leads to misinterpretations and erasure of key information. You cannot replace historical analysis with a machine.
320569
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
000
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Film you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Trek, Star Wars, LOTR, DC, Marvel, Disney, Pixar, Spielberg, Cameron, Wachowskis, or Ghibli.
000
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Forest and carpet of #Bluebells near #Stock, #Essex
Forest and carpet of Bluebells near Stock, Essex Forest and carpet of Bluebells near Stock, Essex
010
Reposted by Mike Townsend
DrSinBin @drsinbin.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
I'm not joking when I say mRNA technology is more important than "AI" and it's a tragedy we're throwing billions into one while our government is aggressively defunding the other.
116150755539
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Ms Anfield Park @msanfieldpark.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
This takes me back to Paris 1983. I was alone in a Parisian friend’s living room when the phone rang. Panic. Apologising for my awful grasp of the caller’s language I muddled through not 100% sure what I was saying. It was Lionel Jospin, offering my friend a job. At least I did better than Blair.
12813
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Hockley Woods in Winter with vermillion colour cast #hockleywoods
Hockley Woods winter Forest scene with red colour cast in frame and passe-partout
010
Reposted by Mike Townsend
DER SPIEGEL @spiegel.de · 14/03/2026
Philosoph Jürgen Habermas mit 96 Jahren gestorben
spiegel.de
Philosoph Jürgen Habermas gestorben
Jürgen Habermas ist tot. Der Philosoph und Soziologe starb heute im Alter von 96 Jahren in Starnberg.
12722
Reposted by Mike Townsend
History & Policy @historyandpolicy.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Both in-person and online booking are available for this special @ihr.bsky.social event in Senate House at 2.00pm BST on Wednesday 29 April marking the 100th anniversary of the General Strike. Register here: www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
0119
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
How much ill grace and stupidity do we have to keep rejecting the hands held out to us?
914945
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
I once accidentally woke up Michael Foot
000
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Erin Grievances @erinbartram.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
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.
211010259
Reposted by Mike Townsend
New-Cleckit Dominie @ncdominie.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
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.)
45020
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
Foggy early start
Foggy early morning looking down Cedars Road, Colchester
010
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Project link uhgi.org
uhgi.org
Ukrainian History Global Initiative
Ukrainian history is central to global history, to an extent that can be hard to bear and hard to acknowledge
020
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Early morning commutes aren't all bad
Sunrise over countryside near Marks TeyMoon over the River Colne in Colchester
020
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Luc-André Biarnais @labiarnais.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
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...
la1ere.franceinfo.fr
Une pétition pour 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.
013
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Winter sunset over Store Street looking west
Winter sunset looking up Store Street with West Central London beyond
030
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Autumn in #London
Landscape looking from Bloomsbury over to south London and the ShardAutumn leaves and rain in London November 2025View of Russell Square and Kimpton Fitzroy (Hotel Russell)
040
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
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.
Text from Grok in response to the question, Should there be trillionaires? [8/11/2025]Text from Grok in response to the question, Should there be trillionaires? [8/11/2025]
130
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Productive day out, and good to see the off-site collections again.
A view of one of the corridors at the UoL book depository in EghamAutumn leaves from window at the Egham Book StoreLatticed metal floor at Egham Book StoreBakelite telephone at Egham Book Store
020
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Institute of Historical Research Wohl Library @ihrlibrary.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
⭐ 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
0106
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Institute of Historical Research @ihr.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
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...
blog.history.ac.uk
Black History Month 2025 – Recent Acquisitions in the IHR Library - On History
Over the past year, the IHR Library has acquired a number of new titles on various aspects of Black history. In this blog, we highlight seven of these new titles which reflect the diversification of…
0104
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Claire Langhamer @clairelanghamer.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
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!
08845
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Those 5 espressos during the day made the walk between stations...brief
010
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Ryan Estrada @ryanestrada.com · 06/09/2025
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.
theatlantic.com
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
223118769763
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
@cathamclarke.bsky.social Spotted in the Piccadilly Waterstones last night, and - huge announcement - comes with a complimentary bookmark
Copies of Catherine Clarke's 'A History of England in 25 Poems' at Waterstones PiccadillyA History of England in 25 Poems bookmark
1141
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Well, that was a week
010
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Lewis Wade 🗃️ @wadehistory.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
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.
ft.com
The lost art of admitting what you don’t know
Even LLMs are starting to show this worrying human tendency
2254
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Part of a lost canto from the Inferno
Meme showing Lucifer from Dante's divine comedy saying how he finds the library management software Alma tricky to use
021
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
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
One of the Highgate Cemetery foxes taken at Swain's LaneThe Karl Marx memorial in Highgate East Cemetery Catacombs in Highgate West Cemetery Funerary monument in Highgate West Cemetery
021
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
#DailyHaikuPrompt You are still on mute Start awkward interjections Dante would love this
040
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Finally
Keys
131
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Emma Cayley 谷曦 @emmacayley.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
UK academia’s lack of language skills ‘imperils research integrity’ www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
researchprofessionalnews.com
UK academia’s lack of language skills ‘imperils research integrity’ - Research Professional News
British Academy report calls for more recognition of linguistic ability, including in Research Excellence Framework
06530
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Institute of Historical Research @ihr.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
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...
blog.history.ac.uk
Women’s History Month 2025: Celebrating Women’s Voices in the IHR Collections - On History
The Institute of Historical Research has a large collection of primary material focusing on women and their lived experience. This blog showcases a small selection of this exciting range of sources…
13619
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Neil Stewart @neilstewart.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
We’re in Cambridge for the Cambridge Archives and Collections Fair, with a wide variety of fellow stall holders @ihrlibrary.bsky.social
The IHR stall at the Cambridge Archives and Collections Fair
0274
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Institute of Historical Research Wohl Library @ihrlibrary.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Got a minute? Please complete our annual library survey. We'd love to hear what you think! buff.ly/euZHYnA
IHR library survey poster
077
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Foggy morning walking to the station this morning
A foggy morning in Rayleigh
010
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
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...
thebritishacademy.ac.uk
New report uncovers popularity of Politics and International Relations degrees, with graduates outearning national averages
A new British Academy report on Politics and International Relations (PIR) provision in UK higher education shows a 20 per cent increase in first degree enrolments and a 41 per cent rise in postgradua...
12316
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
Over 60 German universities quit social media platform X. Platform accused of failing to uphold values of diversity, freedom, and scholarship.
aa.com.tr
Over 60 German universities quit social media platform X
Platform accused of failing to uphold values of diversity, freedom, and scholarship - Anadolu Ajansı
402137293069
Mike Townsend @miketownsend.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Shoeburyness on a bit of a bleak day.
Shoeburyness beach Christmas 2024Shoeburyness Beach at lowtide Christmas 2024
010
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Institute of Historical Research @ihr.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
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
buff.ly
Using Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) Data to Stimulate Classroom Discussion: The Case of the Peasants’ Revolt  - On History
Using the example of revolts through English history, this blog uses BBIH to produce data that can frame classroom discussions about wider historiographical trends.
02811
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Gita Ralleigh @gitaralleigh.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Love this by Jade Cuttle: www.theguardian.com/culture/2024...
theguardian.com
‘I’m a mixed Black female historical re-enactor in a sea of men with beards’
Not everyone would want to spend their weekends dressed in a tunic fighting medieval battles, but my love of re-enacting is rooted in keeping history alive
0111
Reposted by Mike Townsend
Xavier Mauduit @xaviermauduit.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
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...
francetvinfo.fr
Emmanuel Macron annonce l'entrée au Panthéon de l'historien et résistant Marc Bloch, fusillé par la Gestapo en 1944
Engagé dans la résistance, Marc Bloch est arrêté à Lyon le 8 mars 1944, emprisonné et torturé à la prison de Montluc, puis fusillé le 16 juin avec 29 de ses camarades.
15474161