Anya
@anyaso.bsky.social
A librarian. I work at / for the House of Commons Library.
Interested in how Parliament works and how Parliament makes its work available to you. Domain driven librarianship. Something along those lines.
Wary of pragmatists.
@wisht on instagram
Interested in how Parliament works and how Parliament makes its work available to you. Domain driven librarianship. Something along those lines.
Wary of pragmatists.
@wisht on instagram
Reposted by Anya
I’m not one to argue with scientific Americans, but I’m not convinced today’s outage shows the internet to be empheneral. If I had a boat in this race, I’d probably make a point about single points of failure being endemic to a version of capital with little competition
The Cloudflare outage shows how ephemeral much of the internet is. How can we preserve our digital information for future generations?
The Internet Is Disappearing. How Do We Save What’s Important?
When written knowledge is more ephemeral than ever, how can we pass on what’s important?
www.scientificamerican.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I’m not one to argue with scientific Americans, but I’m not convinced today’s outage shows the internet to be empheneral. If I had a boat in this race, I’d probably make a point about single points of failure being endemic to a version of capital with little competition
Still holds
It's a dark and miserable night. Why not cheer yourself up with more tales of daring do and excellent librarianship from everybody's favourite library. More weeknotes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
2025 - Week 43
Work in progress to design data models for UK Parliament
ukparliament.github.io
October 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Still holds
Reposted by Anya
The House of Commons Library Open Day returns in 2026!
Come and learn about what we do to inform democracy and take advantage of a rare chance to tour the Commons Library space.
Full details are on our website and applications close 24th November commonslibrary.parliament.uk/training-and...
Come and learn about what we do to inform democracy and take advantage of a rare chance to tour the Commons Library space.
Full details are on our website and applications close 24th November commonslibrary.parliament.uk/training-and...
House of Commons Library Open Day
We are pleased to invite librarians, library staff and information officers to the House of Commons Library Open Day 2026.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
October 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The House of Commons Library Open Day returns in 2026!
Come and learn about what we do to inform democracy and take advantage of a rare chance to tour the Commons Library space.
Full details are on our website and applications close 24th November commonslibrary.parliament.uk/training-and...
Come and learn about what we do to inform democracy and take advantage of a rare chance to tour the Commons Library space.
Full details are on our website and applications close 24th November commonslibrary.parliament.uk/training-and...
Reposted by Anya
Michael Rush and the Database historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...
Michael Rush and the Database - The History of Parliament
We were sad to hear recently of the death of Professor Michael Rush of the University of Exeter. Michael was a pioneering and indefatigable scholar of
historyofparliament.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Michael Rush and the Database historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...
Reposted by Anya
A fine early autumn afternoon. Why not take a break from watching the boats go by at a riverside pub and read these weeknotes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I?
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
October 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
A fine early autumn afternoon. Why not take a break from watching the boats go by at a riverside pub and read these weeknotes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I?
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
Reposted by Anya
Just been made aware that the new documentary The Librarians is available for free on BBC iPlayer for the next 12 mths. It investigates what librarians in the US are going through right now as they unite to combat book banning & defend free speech. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Storyville - The Librarians
A Storyville documentary that explores how librarians across the US are risking their safety to defend free speech as book bans and censorship threaten democracy from within.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Just been made aware that the new documentary The Librarians is available for free on BBC iPlayer for the next 12 mths. It investigates what librarians in the US are going through right now as they unite to combat book banning & defend free speech. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Anya
here's an important thing about deterministic tools: when they fail, they fail predictably
you can learn how to use them *for your own purposes* because they behave in consistent ways even if they aren't 100% optimal
AI tools add a layer of ambiguity so you're 100% never sure what the output means
you can learn how to use them *for your own purposes* because they behave in consistent ways even if they aren't 100% optimal
AI tools add a layer of ambiguity so you're 100% never sure what the output means
i'm doing library instruction sessions for the first time this semester and i feel this so much! even leaving out specifically LLM-related stuff it feels like vendors and publishers have totally fucked us over wrt precision in searches and made it much harder to give clear instructions
![“We are trying to teach how to construct useful, exact searching,” she said. “But really [these products’ intent] is to make that not happen. The problem with that in a university library is we’re trying to teach those skills but we have tools that negate that necessity. And because those tools don’t work well, you’ve not learned the skill and you’re still getting crap results, so you’re never going to get better results because you didn’t learn the skill.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qbg2ge2q7lgipeptotli2vfs/bafkreicbu5ughajlosyhtkexdywxjydqs2yvoepbvgwuq2ylbpjrlniz4e@jpeg)
September 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
here's an important thing about deterministic tools: when they fail, they fail predictably
you can learn how to use them *for your own purposes* because they behave in consistent ways even if they aren't 100% optimal
AI tools add a layer of ambiguity so you're 100% never sure what the output means
you can learn how to use them *for your own purposes* because they behave in consistent ways even if they aren't 100% optimal
AI tools add a layer of ambiguity so you're 100% never sure what the output means
Reposted by Anya
In which we bid farewell to Professor Michael Rush. A kind, generous and gentle man. More notes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I:
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
2025 - Week 36
Work in progress to design data models for UK Parliament
ukparliament.github.io
September 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
In which we bid farewell to Professor Michael Rush. A kind, generous and gentle man. More notes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I:
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
Reposted by Anya
Had two very good days.
August 27, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Had two very good days.
Reposted by Anya
A wee bank holiday treat for you guys. More week - well, fortnight - notes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I. In which we approached ramming speed, only to collide head-on with documentation buffers. Rescued in part by the kindness of strangers
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
2025 - Week 34
Work in progress to design data models for UK Parliament
ukparliament.github.io
August 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
A wee bank holiday treat for you guys. More week - well, fortnight - notes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I. In which we approached ramming speed, only to collide head-on with documentation buffers. Rescued in part by the kindness of strangers
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
Reposted by Anya
Our psephological efforts now come complete with by-elections from Parliament 56. Or the one following the 2015 general election, as normal people might say
electionresults.parliament.uk/parliament-p...
electionresults.parliament.uk/parliament-p...
UK Parliament election results: 56th Parliament of the United Kingdom
The 56th Parliament of the United Kingdom.
electionresults.parliament.uk
August 22, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Our psephological efforts now come complete with by-elections from Parliament 56. Or the one following the 2015 general election, as normal people might say
electionresults.parliament.uk/parliament-p...
electionresults.parliament.uk/parliament-p...
Reposted by Anya
New bot alert: if you’re the kind of person that likes @commonslibrary.bsky.social, you may also wish to spend a follow on @post-parliament.bsky.social. All the latest research from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
August 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
New bot alert: if you’re the kind of person that likes @commonslibrary.bsky.social, you may also wish to spend a follow on @post-parliament.bsky.social. All the latest research from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Reposted by Anya
every team should have a little bit of internet to call their own, where they can publish texts, images, ideas, experiments, etc
it doesn't sound like a lot to ask.
but in most organisations, it's very hard to make happen.
it doesn't sound like a lot to ask.
but in most organisations, it's very hard to make happen.
August 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
every team should have a little bit of internet to call their own, where they can publish texts, images, ideas, experiments, etc
it doesn't sound like a lot to ask.
but in most organisations, it's very hard to make happen.
it doesn't sound like a lot to ask.
but in most organisations, it's very hard to make happen.
Reposted by Anya
Another week where we once again failed to 'ship excellent product'. Though we came damned close. More weeknotes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I ...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
2025 - Week 32
Work in progress to design data models for UK Parliament
ukparliament.github.io
August 10, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Another week where we once again failed to 'ship excellent product'. Though we came damned close. More weeknotes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I ...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
Reposted by Anya
In marked change from our usual wall of text in the form of rambling paragraphs, this week’s weeknotes see @anyaso.bsky.social and I opt for a wall of text in the form of a list. Do enjoy. Or try to enjoy
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
2025 - Week 30
Work in progress to design data models for UK Parliament
ukparliament.github.io
July 30, 2025 at 11:51 AM
In marked change from our usual wall of text in the form of rambling paragraphs, this week’s weeknotes see @anyaso.bsky.social and I opt for a wall of text in the form of a list. Do enjoy. Or try to enjoy
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
Reposted by Anya
Who is responsible for public services in my constituency? https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/public-services-in-my-constituency/
July 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Who is responsible for public services in my constituency? https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/public-services-in-my-constituency/
Reposted by Anya
Reposted by Anya
"Sinn Féin is a tricky party to explain to people outside of Ireland. They are now just a centre left party with a bit of cultural baggage. Unattended suspicious baggage. With an unsettling ticking noise."
glorious guest post by @grainnemaguire.bsky.social today
glorious guest post by @grainnemaguire.bsky.social today
Gráinne Maguire On Losing in Front of Your Home Crowd
“I don’t know whether headlining a Sinn Féin gala would be good for my brand.”
open.substack.com
July 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
"Sinn Féin is a tricky party to explain to people outside of Ireland. They are now just a centre left party with a bit of cultural baggage. Unattended suspicious baggage. With an unsettling ticking noise."
glorious guest post by @grainnemaguire.bsky.social today
glorious guest post by @grainnemaguire.bsky.social today
Reposted by Anya
House of Commons Library guide to designing effective charts https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05073/
July 9, 2025 at 3:50 PM
House of Commons Library guide to designing effective charts https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05073/
Reposted by Anya
It's far too hot to leave your sofa. Why not empty a sack of ice into your nan's Radol Footspa and treat yourself to ten minutes with more weeknotes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
2025 - Week 25
Work in progress to design data models for UK Parliament
ukparliament.github.io
June 30, 2025 at 4:24 PM
It's far too hot to leave your sofa. Why not empty a sack of ice into your nan's Radol Footspa and treat yourself to ten minutes with more weeknotes from @anyaso.bsky.social and I
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
ukparliament.github.io/ontologies/m...
Reposted by Anya
"When you outsource the thinking, you outsource the learning." deplet.ing/the-copilot-...
The Copilot Delusion
Disclaimer: This post was written May 2025, and the arguments apply to AI code capabilities at this time. The arguments around lack of competence are certainly likely to become less prevalent-while th...
deplet.ing
June 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
"When you outsource the thinking, you outsource the learning." deplet.ing/the-copilot-...
Reposted by Anya
Welcome to Bluesky! Before we begin, you may want to familiarize yourself with the concept of jokes. Don't fall for them! Jokesters abound on Bluesky and they all want to murder you in your sleep
June 29, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Welcome to Bluesky! Before we begin, you may want to familiarize yourself with the concept of jokes. Don't fall for them! Jokesters abound on Bluesky and they all want to murder you in your sleep
If I could open the windows any wider I would and also the house might become unmoored. Which I would not resist.
June 29, 2025 at 8:56 PM
If I could open the windows any wider I would and also the house might become unmoored. Which I would not resist.
Reposted by Anya
GOV.UK is now GOV·UK
Brand Guidelines www.gov.uk/government/p...
(152 MB PDF. Start as you mean to go on, GDS.)
#govtech #govcomms #designwank
Brand Guidelines www.gov.uk/government/p...
(152 MB PDF. Start as you mean to go on, GDS.)
#govtech #govcomms #designwank
June 25, 2025 at 5:49 PM
GOV.UK is now GOV·UK
Brand Guidelines www.gov.uk/government/p...
(152 MB PDF. Start as you mean to go on, GDS.)
#govtech #govcomms #designwank
Brand Guidelines www.gov.uk/government/p...
(152 MB PDF. Start as you mean to go on, GDS.)
#govtech #govcomms #designwank
The origin story of this thing is a long one. A proper labour of love , curiosity and camaraderie. api.parliament.uk/egg-timer/hu...
(Always the eggtimer to me )
(Always the eggtimer to me )
June 20, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The origin story of this thing is a long one. A proper labour of love , curiosity and camaraderie. api.parliament.uk/egg-timer/hu...
(Always the eggtimer to me )
(Always the eggtimer to me )