iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

It's convincing the Uni, not just the library that this is a long term investment. so community OA wins in an argument for limited library resources against short term pain of cancelling something that directly supports teaching now. It's tough and I don't know where that impetus best comes from

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Worth saying that I believe this, but convincing the inst. that this should take preference over some other 'must have' is hard That's the work at which many of us librarians struggle (and, for structural reasons, fail)

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UKSG @uksg.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

The latest from #UKSGInsights Peter Barr (@tweeterbarr.bsky.social) re: @unisheffieldlib.bsky.social "The collections concept at the University of Sheffield: a varied approach to the role of research library collections" dub.sh/bKwiJWt

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

It's me, if you believe it, I actually wrote the most read article on the Impact Blog last year. It's like the spotify wrapped of academic publishing chat. I feel like Taylor Swift... Alas, there will be much more to say about 'Transformative' Agreements this year as well

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

The old Arts & Humanities Librarian Twitter Header...

A manatee says to Art Garfunkel "Hello Art, I'm Hugh Manatee"

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Uni of Sheffield Special Collections, Heritage and Archives SCHA @uoscollections.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

⚡We are recruiting🌟 We are looking for a fixed-term Digitisation Officer and a fixed-term Digital Engagement Officer (with possibility to extend) to work in our Special Collections, Heritage and Archives team! Find out more info here 👀👀➡️ tinyurl.com/4epkcfp2

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

#terrorinthelibrary all under the guise of 'engagement' with Sheffield Centre for the History of the Gothic

A cartoon featuring a toy platypus being driven mad by a painting

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Beginning with my abortive attempt to run a 2018 World Cup of Literature. Here is a group match between Argentina and Iceland refereed by the Biomed Central Turtle (the competition never got out of the group stage cos I had made it far too complicated and it didn't get the hoped for twitter pop)

Two novels (Fictions by Jose Luis Borges and The Atom Station by Halldor Laxness) lie on a fake football pitch overlooked by a stuffed turtle

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

I leave the University of Sheffield 3 weeks today 😢. As such I am clearing out my google docs folders. So please allow this retrospective of the nonsense they have allowed me to get away with over the last ten years #libraries #skybrarians

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Basically, what Beth said. It's dependent on your political capital within the inst. whether you can cancel and the disruption it causes against a backdrop of precarity and widespread funding cuts across the board. Depressingly, the financial imperative convinces more than the big idea

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Kate O’Neill @katefoneill.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Uk library peoples! Concerned about inter library loans and copyright in the light of potential journal cancellations? Well m’colleague and all round delightful chap, Andrew Johnson, has written all about it here so hopefully you can stop your panics doi.org/10.1629/uksg...

doi.org

Interlibrary loans, subscriptions and copyright in the UK academic library sector | Insights

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Holly Ranger @themauvedesert.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

📢 Come work with us! The Open Research Manager is a reformulated role in our team - it would suit someone with a strong research support background, but I'm happy to chat to anyone about the role and criteria.

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

"An unreasonable expectation would be if that librarian felt the need to make sure that that patron, or any patron, never had a negative thing to say about the library. In my experience, it appears that librarians and libraries seem to have high expectations of influence."

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Tbh, it would be simpler if they didn't divvy the money out and just bundled it at source and invested it. Expecting individual libraries to act dilutes the effectiveness of their funding (as all sorts of local anxieties get in the way)

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Yeah, wellcome could definitely be more explicit. You should, rather than you could, support OA. UKRI are a bit more hamstrung by all the political lobbying from the big publishers that stop them taking a position

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

It's annoying because both that and UKRI money was originally meant to facilitate a transition - which OI, Diamond palpably is - not to be baked into fading inst. content budgets to subsidise stagnant TAs

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Even if you do understand this, the issue is whether there is any 'spare' WT money to spend on Open Infrastructure? If there isn't, could you prioritise this spend over APCs? (most libraries - as ever 🙄 - err on the side of caution, and meet the immediate user demand)

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Danny Kingsley @dannykay68.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

I mean, that quote seems to indicate that Clarivate has no agency in the embedding. These tools are being actively added to products by without the option of turning them off. Here's a thought. Maybe get the products right before releasing them like an untested virus into the scholarly environment?

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IOP Publishing @ioppublishing.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

32% of researchers use AI tools to support peer review, yet 57% wouldn’t want AI reviewing their work. This is one of several insights from our latest global survey, explored by Laura Feetham-Walker in her Q&A with Research Professional News, marking #PeerReviewWeek. 🔗 ow.ly/BCbU50WXooV

ow.ly

Doublethink on AI highlights tensions in peer review - Research Professional News

Survey reveals publishers’ tricky task in balancing efficiency and integrity, says Laura Feetham-Walker

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

"Our job is to look at the big picture - across the university, across our consortia, across the publishing landscape—and make decisions based on that specialized knowledge...[stakeholder] input is critical... but that there’s not a straight line from their input to the final outcomes."

katinamagazine.org

In a Tough Environment, How Should We Make—and Communicate—Collections Decisions?

In this interview, Madeline Kelly discusses the Western Washington University Libraries’ annual collections evaluation process and what she’s learned about sharing news of subscription cancellations.

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

More news from outside the the library bubble... Did you know that Dora the Explorer is a significantly more popularly thing to search for than Dora the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment 🤯

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

New OA Book by Lever Press one of the publishers that @sheffielduni.bsky.social Library supports via its Open Scholarship Fund 🔓📘

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

While looking for an old @uksg.bsky.social talk, I have stumbled across the other UKSG!! (UK Speedrunning Gathering) where people try and complete computer games quickly. I expect a WWF style lawsuit... (we can't have people playing sonic when they should be learning about OA policy)

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

"more than 60% of librarians see themselves as key figures in AI guidance at their institution, more than academic staff, more than support staff... and far more than senior leadership" www.helibtech.com/helibtech-vi...

helibtech.com

Librarians in the AI Age: Established Skills, New Technologies

A starting point for anyone interested in library technology in Higher Education

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

I basically haven't got over the phrase "that's a big word for a little turd" that was commonly used at my school. I just thought I was finally in a space where I could use the word apotheosis without it coming up again

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

rewriting a journal article and still grumbling on the feedback "the language choices are esoteric" But "esoteric" as a descriptor is an esoteric choice in itself.😡 Reviewer, review thyself

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Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Many UK universities are likely to walk away from journal access agreements after several publishers put forward “business-as-usual proposals” with “year-on-year price rises” rather than the cheaper deals demanded by national negotiators, a library chief has predicted. @jgro-the.bsky.social reports

timeshighereducation.com

‘Business-as-usual’ offers from publishers raise walk-away fears

Disappointing offers which ‘miss financial reality’ faced by UK higher education have heightened speculation that institutions will ditch proposed deals

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

The old 'walled garden' only survives if you can afford seeds in 20 years time. It's true that some libraries haven't got explicit endorsement of their support for OA, but it doesn't follow that they can't get it (and portray it as strategic and mission-aligned) 👀 sheffield.ac.uk/library/libr...

sheffield.ac.uk

Library Comprehensive Content Strategy

An overview of the Library's mission statement and the standards we maintain.

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

It's true there are sustainability problems with S2O, but there is with virtually all academic publishing. Why not strategically invest in a more sustainable alternative - the end game of which might be that the money doesn't come from the library and those budgets shrink accordingly

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

*AND* only 5 times the price of a regular ebook 🙃

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Dr Beth @drbeth.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Is there actually no-one in the UK Library landscape who wants to become Chair of the CILIP LGBTQ+ Network, or are we just not getting the message out. I can't continue - way to much going on, but without a chair, the network folds... If you've been mulling it over, now is the time to get in touch!

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Hannah Shelley, MLIS (Maggots, Lycanthropes & Ice Skeletons) @hannahshelley.site · 13/08/2025

Since search is dead, how soon do you think Google Scholar is headed for the Google Graveyard? I'm betting it's soon, and academia is NOT prepared

hannahshelley.neocities.org

Google Scholar Is Doomed

Academia built entire careers on a free Google service with zero guarantees. What could go wrong?

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Programming Historian @proghist.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Out now! We've published Issue 07 of @proghist.bsky.social's Bulletin // Boletín // Bulletin // Boletim. We highlight the French team's call for reviewers, thank a long-term member, and invite you to our first webinar on reuse of PH lessons under CC-BY. Read it here! tinyurl.com/bulletin-iss...

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Mark Huskisson @markhusk.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

With today's sad news about PubPub, is it time to roll out the much-overused infrastructure image? A reminder that funders, agencies, ministries, and institutions continue to fund outputs and new projects that sit precariously atop software, projects, and community initiatives that go un(der)funded.

A hand-sketched, rough image showing multiple building blocks precariously placed on top of each other. Some large, some small, but all dependent on one tiny block at the base. Which, if moved or lost, would topple the whole pile.

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I think this is a positive move. KU has been very effective at getting things OA but its governance has always been a stumbling block for us at Sheffield

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

New Release by Lever Press. One of the publishers supported by @sheffielduni.bsky.social Library Open Scholarship Fund

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Paula Kennedy @paulakennedy.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Come and join our team as Production Manager at @uolpress.bsky.social! 📚 The role would particularly suit someone with production experience in academic publishing, interested in #OpenAccess books and the #humanities. More info on the job and how to apply below ⬇️ Please share!

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Ciara McCaffrey @ciaramccaffrey.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Great reflection on the importance of libraries to society, now more than ever, from University Librarian at Maynooth University @cathalmccauley.bsky.social

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Back on the picket line with Library colleagues and @sheffielducu.bsky.social It's nice to wear shorts and all but It's a testament to how consistently mismanaged this place is that we've had to do this during blizzards and heatwaves

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Sheffield UCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Tomorrow our members are taking strike action to say no to job cuts! 💪 Join our picket lines from 8:30am, as well as various teach outs from 10am, and a Demo on the SU Concourse from Midday. 📣

SU flier:
10:00: Learn a Minority Language: Mari by Irina Sadovina, Gallery Room 3
Sheffield Labour Against Benefit Cuts by Ash Taylor, Gallery Room 2

11:00: Does Confronting Prejudice Work?, by Lilith Roberts Gallery Room 2
Sewing/crafting skills swap, by Jessica Baily, Gallery Room 3

12:00: Rally: Students and Staff Against University Cuts! SU Concourse

13:00:Student & Staff Tea Time, hosted by Tea Soc, Uni Central

14:00: The Fight for the Archeology Department by Umberto Albarella, Uni Central

15:00: Palestine organising and repression, by SUCU’s Working Group on Palestine, Uni Central
Zine Making & Quilting for an Anti-Ableist University, by Cassie Kill & Daniel Jones, Gallery Room 3

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Positive spin – things break down a little, but this undermines a slightly warping commercial logic that has dominated for too long, and we come out of this with creative, partnership approaches for future dissemination of scholarly content

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Negative spin – the constant turmoil is going to make people protect what power they have, making things more confrontational, more suspicious losing track of the big idea in pursuit of short term survival

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Peter Barr @tweeterbarr.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Scaling up – a lot of revenue-driven publishers told me that only they could offer the scale the sector needed, yet at the same conference @ojcollective.bsky.social was launched and @oipassoc.bsky.social and @copim.bsky.social were out in force

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