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Jen Hillyard

@mininglibrarian.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.7K following 436 posts

Library & Archives Manager at The Common Room in Newcastle and Business Development Manager for NAG. Ex Carnegie-Greenaway judge. Mobility issues thanks to MCTD - I’m the one with the purple crutches... Disabled 🏳️‍🌈 parent.

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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 1m
Instead of asking my DoB the pharmacist asked “and how old are you?” I had absolutely no idea and I can’t work it out without a calculator! They still needed to then write my DoB on the paperwork later so I’m not sure what that was about…. “Umm forty one maybe forty two?” was the best I could do.
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Ethan Gruber @ewg118.bsky.social · 23h
Cataloging and digital collections bluesky: Anyone migrated special collections into Bibframe yet? I'm interested in looking at the underlying LOD.
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National Acquisitions Group (NAG) @uklibrariesnag.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NAG Members only: Coffee and Chat! "Connecting the Dots: Acquisitions and Engagement" What data drives your decisions and where does that come from? Tues 24th Nov, 10am (postponed from July) nag.org.uk/event/chatju...
nag.org.uk
Coffee and Chat #12: Connecting the dots – acquisitions and engagement – National Acquisitions Group
NAG Webinar Week 2026: 9-13th Nov
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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I am really regretting letting the physio poke my neck vertebrae on Friday in the hope of curing my pins and needles…. I can barely turn my head to one side! “Keep stretching!” she said. “Let me know how it feels over the next few days!”
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Veep @princesssofvp.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Bluesky, does anyone remember an alphabet book that for ‘i’ had “industrious ants eating indigo ice cream”? It’s got to be at least 45 years old and probably more. Should it ring any bells I would be delighted to find a copy 🐜💙🍦
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Alex Brown 🇵🇸 (they/them) @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
As I'm sure many others have pointed out, this website is an AI scraper. This news is 6 years old. The company scrapes real news articles and rewrites them with an LLM, then republishes them for clicks.
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Philip Allfrey @drpda.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Today looking up details to correctly cite a scholar I found she's also made some art. #DHMakes This is Interference Pattern II by Frances Rothwell Hughes. She started each square when she had time to embroider and stopped when interrupted by her newborn www.francesrothwellhughes.com/interference...
Detail of textile artwork, showing 6 by 4 squares. Each square shows the same pattern in different stages of completion, ranging from dashes, to diamonds, to a complex geometric pattern filling the entire square.Framed textile artwork consisting of 4 rows of 25 squares. Each square contains a different number of embroidered stiches in black thread.
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Anna Landre @annalandre.com · 22/09/2026
My latest for @lbc.co.uk: If politicians want to reduce the PIP and wider benefits bill, they should make basic investments in accessible infrastructure and services ⬇️
Screenshot of an LBC opinion article with headline “PIP would cost less if politicians invested in making life easier for people like me,” subtitle “If Government wants to spend less on disability benefits over time, it has to remove the daily barriers that create these costs, writes disability campaigner Anna Landre,” and photo of Anna, a young white woman using a wheelchair.
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ARA SAM @araarchmus.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Our next training session is 'Mixed Collections: Balancing Conservation and Interpretation'. This online training, presented by freelance museum consultants Anita Hollinshead and Jim Grevatte, will be held on Tuesday, 6 October from 10:00 to 12:30. Register now: www.archives.org.uk/training-eve...
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Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
More funny, readable kids books by non-despicable humans. #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK #UKKidLit
Book cover for Northern Soul by Phil EarleBook cover for Noah’s Gold by Frank Cottrell-Boyce Book cover for The Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny PearsonBook cover for Bumble & Snug and the Worried Dragons by Mark Bradley
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Side @sidegallery.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
🎬 Starting tomorrow and running all weekend: “Voices From Here” brings six decades of Amber Films to Durham Folk Festival. 📍 Redhills Durham Miners Hall 📅 18 to 20 Sept 🕐 1 to 4pm daily 🎟️ Free More info: sidegallery.co.uk/whats-on/...
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Dan O'Hara @skeuomorphology.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A more mixed picture in the North. Blackpool have just started to test properly again and I'm not surprised at what they've found. Lots of areas above the average across Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Tyneside, but it's not a uniform rise. 5/7
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University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Tag yourself- which schoolgirl cover is your #backtoschool mood? With the return to the classroom already in full swing, we’re highlighting some of the rare books from our Children’s Collection!
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National Acquisitions Group (NAG) @uklibrariesnag.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Share your project at NAG Webinar Week! Call for submissions is open, no membership required. Running 9-13th November with flexible time slots to suit you. More info: nag.org.uk/nag-webinar-...
NAG webinar week 9-13th Nov 2026 call for submissions, open to all with image of open laptop with NAG logo on screen.
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Mass Observation Archive @massobsarchive.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Exciting news (well we think so)! We are looking for new people to regularly contribute to our archive! We accept applications from anyone based in the UK who has an interest in sending us their thoughts and opinions about life in the UK. #Skystorians massobs.org.uk/write-for-th...
massobs.org.uk
Write for the archive - Mass Observation Archive
Writing for Mass Observation You can apply to write for the archive here. Current Observers If you are one of our current Observers you may find our handbook for new Observers helpful. This has all th...
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The Common Room @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Tomorrow, Wednesday 16th September, join us for an informative tour of our historic building with our friendly guides – then pop into the lecture theatre at 1:30pm for a talk about the Blyth and Tyne Railway from local expert Les Turnbull. Part of Heritage Open Daya 2026.
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Open Book Collective @openbookcollective.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Academic librarians - how does your institution actually decide whether to fund collective, fee-free open access? What finally ends up moving the internal discussions from yes, or maybe to no? We're running a short, anonymous survey (10–15 mins) to find out. 📚
forms.gle
What made you say yes? OBC open access library support survey
About this survey This survey is run by the Open Book Collective - a charity registered in England and Wales (charity no. 1206287). For the purposes of data protection law, the Open Book Collective is...
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Catherine Fletcher @catherinefletcher.info · 13/09/2026
Spent today in Orvieto, where underneath the famous frescoes I saw the basement where they dump bits that have fallen off the cathedral. Thread:
Bits of stone and leafy decorative bits of columns in a heap
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So Mayer @suchmayer.northsky.social · 13/09/2026
I'm looking for a history of amplification, focus on pre WWII, wide ranging (microphones, tannoys, amps; not just guitar) & with both engineering and social aspects, ie the effects of amplified sound on early c20th global culture & politics... Not just a list of male inventors, not just US.
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wake up dead mang @mangmangmang.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Does anybody young want to get high and learn to sing in tune (??)
Ad for volunteers for a psilocybin study at KCL. You may be eligible if.

You are aged 20-30

You have no medical or psychiatric conditions

You don't have perfect pitch
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Dan O'Hara @skeuomorphology.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
In the North there are a lot of areas rising to around 6%, with higher rates on Tyneside, Teesside, and in Lancashire. A lot of areas showing in yellow as 0% - again, I'll remind you how to check these at the end of the thread. 5/7
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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Doing a quick impromptu tour earlier and she asked “have you worked here long?” I answered “2006” and her reply was “oh! I was born in 2006!” I feel old…..
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The Common Room @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Heritage Open Days: join us for a FREE talk at the launch of Les Turnbull's book, "The Return of the Blyth and Tyne”, that explores the 400-year history of line we now call the Northumberland Line. Also, join us for an informative tour of our historic building with our friendly guides (10am-3pm)
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St Albans Museums @stalbansmuseums.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Did you know you can request objects from our collection to go on display? Choose from over 65,000 objects: f.mtr.cool/lys7tnoaib #ObjectsOnDemand #StAlbans #StAlbansMuseums
Objects on demand St Albans Museums
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CILIP Metadata & Discovery Group @cilipmdg.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Interested in practical implementations of #LinkedData in #Libraries ? Check out posts from the #BIBFRAME Workshop in Europe 2026 at #bfwe2026 www.bfwe.eu/barcelona_2026 #metadata #cataloguing
bfwe.eu
BIBFRAME Workshop in Europe
The aim of the BIBFRAME Workshop in Europe is to be a forum for sharing knowledge about the practice of, production with, and planning of BIBFRAME implementation.
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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Our online book customer today will be receiving a beautiful gold wrapped parcel thanks to the packaging from CXD! Wonder if they will be surprised…. Reduce, reuse and recycle! @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
Gold coloured plastic packaging with a label for folding boxboard Parcel wrapped in gold plastic from previous pic with brown tape.
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National Acquisitions Group (NAG) @uklibrariesnag.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
NAG Members Coffee and Chat: Money Money Money! Come chat about budgets, systems, procurement and any other financial questions with other NAG members in this free, unrecorded session: Thur 24th Sept, 10:30am nag.org.uk/event/chatse...
nag.org.uk
Coffee and Chat #13: Money, Money, Money! – National Acquisitions Group
Seminar and Forum open for booking now!
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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I'll be at brand new Culture House Sunderland talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' on Sat Sept 19th, 1-2pm, in Northern Bookshelf Live Readers Day, @newwritingnorth.bsky.social. Book here: www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/nor...
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St Albans Museums @stalbansmuseums.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Why do mermaids fascinate us? Diane Purkiss (Professor of English Literature at Keble College, Oxford) dives into the myth and folklore of the mermaid, from the world of Homer to the present. Talk on 15 Oct, 7pm Tickets: f.mtr.cool/25qp1qfejd
Diane Purkiss speaker
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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Haven’t got tickets for the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum? Don’t worry you can visit Reading's full-size copy, faithfully embroidered by 35 women in 1885-86 (plus extra pants!) Or latest blog compares the two tapestries www.readingmuseum.org.uk/blog/comparing-bayeux-and-reading-tapestries
readingmuseum.org.uk
Comparing the Bayeux and Reading tapestries
Reading’s Bayeux Tapestry is a full-size copy of the original 11th century tapestry. It was created in 1885-1886 by 35 women of the Leek Embroidery Society 'so that England should have a copy of its o...
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Jen Hillyard @mininglibrarian.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
New physio exercises that require lying on the floor. Cue one very confused cat…. Can almost hear her saying “but what are you doing down there??”
Tabby cat looks down from edge of a bed
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Andrew Walsh @playbrarian.uk · 04/09/2026
New Intro to Lego Serious Play workshop (online) just set up! Friday 11th December for anyone who is interested :) legodec2026.eventbrite.co.uk
legodec2026.eventbrite.co.uk
Introduction to Lego Serious Play for Adult Training / Support. Dec. 2026
A basic Introduction to using Lego Serious Play ideas in Adult Teaching / Support. Includes a pack of Lego to use in the training.
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Dr Beth @drbeth.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Bit of a weird ask - does anyone have copies of CILIP & RLUK conference programmes, with abstracts, from 2025 - 2022? (I already have CILIP 2025 bc that's still on the website) I'm contacting the orgs as well, but thought I'd check here in case any of you are hoarders 😉
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Dan O'Hara @skeuomorphology.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Where there are yellow areas showing 0% as on Tyneside and Teesside it's really worth checking the data. You can see here that Darlington is only missing the last 2 days of data, and was on 14.29% on Saturday. 6/8
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Dan O'Hara @skeuomorphology.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The PCR positivity map is out and positivity is up by just over a percentage point both in England and Scotland. These are the highest levels we've seen since November last year. The lull has been welcome, but it's over. jamestindall.info/skeuomorphol... 1/8
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Margaret Low @megjlow.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
TurtleStitch Discovery Day @ Warwick 22nd September, 10:00-15:00 (drop in) Explore #TurtleStitch, where coding meets digital embroidery! A drop-in day with links to Computing, Maths, Art & Design, and cross‑curricular projects. Register: www.warwick.ac.uk/turtlestitch #WMGOutreach #TurtleStitch
A pattern being stitched by a digital embroidery machine. The pattern is semi circular and made up of zigzag stitches in curved rows.
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Andrew Curry @andrewcurry.com · 02/09/2026
Ancient parchments, covered in ancient disease DNA! Researchers led by @ucddublin.bsky.social's @gingerhowley.bsky.social recover the genes of a deadly animal pathogen from medieval manuscripts. @science.org
science.org
Ancient sheep virus found hiding in medieval parchment
Newly recovered sheeppox sequences reveal when and how the virus emerged
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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
This photograph shows why all archives are wary of silverfish, which thrive in damp conditions: most of the image has been devoured, leaving only the linked arms of this - presumably - bride and groom. #EYAErased
The remnants of a black and white photograph, stuck to a piece of card. Silverfish have devoured most of the image, leaving small patches throughout and a central larger patch showing the linked arms of a woman in a white dress and a man in a suit.
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Robin Bradford @tuphlos.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Hey library staff: Do any of your libraries cap the number of copies of ebooks/eaudiobooks that you buy?
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CRASSH @crasshlive.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Join us for 'From Skin to Script', a hands-on workshop in traditional parchment-making – one of the UK's most critically endangered crafts Explore how living craft knowledge affects how we understand medieval manuscripts 29 Sep - 1 Oct 2026 bit.ly/4gcqbRn (limited places)
From Skin to Script is a practical workshop in traditional parchment making.
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Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Disabled people in England are being blocked from travelling abroad because of care funding refusals. A “postcode lottery” is leaving some without a holiday for years or forced to turn down work overseas. My exclusive with @patrickjbutler.bsky.social: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
‘I want to live’: the disabled people unable to go abroad because of care funding refusal
Campaigners say care users face a postcode lottery for support overseas – despite no extra cost to taxpayer
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Caroline Ball @heroicendeavour.eurosky.social · 01/09/2026
Call for speakers! We are looking for speakers for the @nlisn.bsky.social event 'Intersections: Identity, Neurodivergence & Library/Information Work', in-person at City St George's, London, 21 Oct 2026. Deadline for submissions is 22 Sept, link below. First-time speakers especially welcome! 📚
forms.gle
Intersections: Identity, Neurodivergence, and Library & Information Work - Call for Speakers
We are inviting proposals for contributions to an in-person one-day event exploring intersectionality and neurodivergence in library and information work, taking place at City St George's University i...
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The Wiener Holocaust Library @wienerlibrary.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
📣 Work with us! We are seeking an experienced Digitisation Officer to join our Collections Team and support our Digital Transformation Project. The role is advertised on a part-time, permanent basis. Find out more and apply: buff.ly/zV98PS8
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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Not long now! Heritage Open Days are approaching (19 and 20 Sept - Sat and Sun). This is the first batch of ICI Weston Point Studios negatives that have been chosen for display. Only 360 images of Apprentices and general headshots! Come and see they displays - free entry 10-4 each day.
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Museum of Transport Greater Manchester @motgm.uk · 31/08/2026
When's the last time you left the car and caught a Bee Network bus instead? September is #CatchTheBus month, give it a go - with £2 fares, you can just watch the world go by. And why not use the bus to come and visit us? We're opening FREE on 12/13 & 19/20 Sept, come and see how buses have improved.
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Dr Beth @drbeth.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
A call out to the network - I really like to talk to someone who has worked in prison libraries & has experience of providing LGBTQ+ books in that sector. Is this you? Or do you know someone who I could talk to?
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Dan O'Hara @skeuomorphology.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The PCR positivity map is out. Unfortunately we're still waiting for the Scottish data, so here's an update for England only, where positivity has nudged up again. I'll add Scots data when we get it. jamestindall.info/skeuomorphol... 1/8
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Big Green Books @biggreenbooks.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
It's #buyastrangerabook day! In celebration of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, @apcrft.bsky.social very kindly sent me £20 to buy someone the book of their choice. So, if there's a particular book you're after, just ask! UK only
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Big Green Books @biggreenbooks.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
More #buyastrangerabook loveliness, still unclaimed! In honour of Dolly's most fantastic imagination library, @helenliz.bsky.social will buy any kids book (one per kid), that you'd like. Check out the offer and get in touch if there's a particular book you're after. UK only.
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