Ian Gibson
@iangibson.bsky.social
Librarian. University of Guelph. Not terrific but competent.
Sounds to me like not enough money and no political will to get it done in a more timely manner… I’m sure things would be better if @mikeschreiner.bsky.social were premier tritag.github.io/blog/2025/11...
Waiting for the train: Why Kitchener still lacks all-day GO service
It’s a question every Waterloo Region commuter has asked while stuck on a packed GO bus or waiting in the cold at Kitchener GO: “why don’t we have reliable two-way, all-day GO train service to Toronto...
tritag.github.io
November 29, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Sounds to me like not enough money and no political will to get it done in a more timely manner… I’m sure things would be better if @mikeschreiner.bsky.social were premier tritag.github.io/blog/2025/11...
Reposted by Ian Gibson
Me: Claude 4.5 Opus, I need a strategy game based on the work of Weber
Claude: Here's one based on David Weber's space operas
Me: Not that Weber
C: Here's a game based on sociologist Max Weber
Me: Not that one
C: The operas of Carl Maria von Weber?
Me: No
C: Here is one using Weber grills!
Claude: Here's one based on David Weber's space operas
Me: Not that Weber
C: Here's a game based on sociologist Max Weber
Me: Not that one
C: The operas of Carl Maria von Weber?
Me: No
C: Here is one using Weber grills!
November 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Me: Claude 4.5 Opus, I need a strategy game based on the work of Weber
Claude: Here's one based on David Weber's space operas
Me: Not that Weber
C: Here's a game based on sociologist Max Weber
Me: Not that one
C: The operas of Carl Maria von Weber?
Me: No
C: Here is one using Weber grills!
Claude: Here's one based on David Weber's space operas
Me: Not that Weber
C: Here's a game based on sociologist Max Weber
Me: Not that one
C: The operas of Carl Maria von Weber?
Me: No
C: Here is one using Weber grills!
Reposted by Ian Gibson
there is a woman on TikTok who has been arguing for months now with randos that keep insisting that nobody called 3.5" disks "floppy disks" or "floppies" at the time. it's weird. no matter what kind of proof she provides or how many agree with her, people are coming out of the woodwork to disagree
November 24, 2025 at 12:15 AM
there is a woman on TikTok who has been arguing for months now with randos that keep insisting that nobody called 3.5" disks "floppy disks" or "floppies" at the time. it's weird. no matter what kind of proof she provides or how many agree with her, people are coming out of the woodwork to disagree
I have always loved this image…
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I have always loved this image…
Reposted by Ian Gibson
HEY! Look what's on sale for the Nintendo Switch! What a cute looking little game. So bright and colourful! So full of fun and adventure and silly physics. I bet this is a guaranteed good time had by all. www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro...
Moving Houses for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site
Buy Moving Houses and shop other great Nintendo products online at the official My Nintendo Store.
www.nintendo.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:13 PM
HEY! Look what's on sale for the Nintendo Switch! What a cute looking little game. So bright and colourful! So full of fun and adventure and silly physics. I bet this is a guaranteed good time had by all. www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro...
So frustrated with the state of Transit between Guelph and Toronto. Meeting coming up in Ottawa and there's no combination of trains that doesn't either leave me stranded in Toronto for 2 hours or involve a 2.5 hour bus odyssey OR BOTH at the end of it! Ridiculous...
I guess I will be flying.
I guess I will be flying.
November 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
So frustrated with the state of Transit between Guelph and Toronto. Meeting coming up in Ottawa and there's no combination of trains that doesn't either leave me stranded in Toronto for 2 hours or involve a 2.5 hour bus odyssey OR BOTH at the end of it! Ridiculous...
I guess I will be flying.
I guess I will be flying.
Reposted by Ian Gibson
ICYMI: We're hiring for a new role at OCUL.
Deadline for applications is coming up fast!
Deadline for applications is coming up fast!
We're hiring: Network Zone Collections Coordinator.
Join the collaborative OCUL team and support shared library systems, licensing workflows and consortial resource access across Ont. academic libraries.
Applications due Nov. 27 @ 5 p.m. ET.
Full job & application info: ocul.on.ca/job-network-...
Join the collaborative OCUL team and support shared library systems, licensing workflows and consortial resource access across Ont. academic libraries.
Applications due Nov. 27 @ 5 p.m. ET.
Full job & application info: ocul.on.ca/job-network-...
November 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
ICYMI: We're hiring for a new role at OCUL.
Deadline for applications is coming up fast!
Deadline for applications is coming up fast!
I'm always struck in these kinds of comparisons just how well Guelph, MPOW, scores. I always use Dal, Queen's, USask (and UVic and SFU) as comparators but maybe it's time to throw Manitoba into the mix too!
Today's blog is a tour through comparitive bibliometrics. Some universities (UVic, MUN) punch way above their weight while others (Alberta, Manitoba) pack curiously little punch. And our very best universities don't seem to match well against the best in places like CH, NL & AU.
Scholarly Outputs | HESA
Every couple of years, I do an analysis of Candian university research ouptut data from the Leiden rankings, which always provide excellent and transparent data on publications and citations linked to...
higheredstrategy.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I'm always struck in these kinds of comparisons just how well Guelph, MPOW, scores. I always use Dal, Queen's, USask (and UVic and SFU) as comparators but maybe it's time to throw Manitoba into the mix too!
I wish we had something like the REM linking together KW, Cambridge, Guelph and maybe even Hamilton… routes where a full sized GO train is probably overkill but the route is probably too much for Ion style light rail…
Montreal’s Biggest REM Expansion Yet! (with Reece Martin)
Montreal’s Biggest REM Expansion Yet! (with Reece Martin)
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I wish we had something like the REM linking together KW, Cambridge, Guelph and maybe even Hamilton… routes where a full sized GO train is probably overkill but the route is probably too much for Ion style light rail…
Reposted by Ian Gibson
The only way publishing does not cost what it costs is if people choose to publish less. And I am not seeing this happening (not to mention they should publish less for the *right* reasons).
November 15, 2025 at 11:37 AM
The only way publishing does not cost what it costs is if people choose to publish less. And I am not seeing this happening (not to mention they should publish less for the *right* reasons).
Reposted by Ian Gibson
Save the date: the 2026 DH@Guelph Summer Workshops will take place May 19th-22nd!
We are looking for folks to run workshops on UX, DataVis, and Videogames, with an emphasis on equity and diversity. Pls see full call here: www.uoguelph.ca/arts/researc...
Applications due December 15th. #DH
We are looking for folks to run workshops on UX, DataVis, and Videogames, with an emphasis on equity and diversity. Pls see full call here: www.uoguelph.ca/arts/researc...
Applications due December 15th. #DH
Summer Workshops
DH@Guelph 2026 Summer Workshops DH@Guelph is thrilled to announce that our annual workshops will take place May 19th-22nd, 2026! Please save the date! Every May for the past decade, the digital humani...
www.uoguelph.ca
November 13, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Save the date: the 2026 DH@Guelph Summer Workshops will take place May 19th-22nd!
We are looking for folks to run workshops on UX, DataVis, and Videogames, with an emphasis on equity and diversity. Pls see full call here: www.uoguelph.ca/arts/researc...
Applications due December 15th. #DH
We are looking for folks to run workshops on UX, DataVis, and Videogames, with an emphasis on equity and diversity. Pls see full call here: www.uoguelph.ca/arts/researc...
Applications due December 15th. #DH
Reposted by Ian Gibson
Media Coverage: Retraction Watch "Bug in Springer Nature #Metadata May Be Causing ‘Significant, Systemic’ Citation Inflation" retractionwatch.com/2025/11/11/b...
@retractionwatch.com
@retractionwatch.com
Bug in Springer Nature metadata may be causing ‘significant, systemic’ citation inflation
Millions of researchers could be affected by a “dramatic distortion of citation counts” likely caused by flaws in how the academic publishing giant Springer Nature handles article metadata, accordi…
retractionwatch.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Media Coverage: Retraction Watch "Bug in Springer Nature #Metadata May Be Causing ‘Significant, Systemic’ Citation Inflation" retractionwatch.com/2025/11/11/b...
@retractionwatch.com
@retractionwatch.com
I sympathize with this person after taking the train a few times recently … www.guelphtoday.com/letters-to-t...
LETTER: 'Guelph, I feel like I'm cheating on you'
Reader feels like she's being unfaithful for driving to Acton to take advantage of free parking for the GO Train
www.guelphtoday.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I sympathize with this person after taking the train a few times recently … www.guelphtoday.com/letters-to-t...
Yes I am wearing gloves in my office right now... the joys of library HVAC.
November 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Yes I am wearing gloves in my office right now... the joys of library HVAC.
Couldn’t find the commercials he put out in my childhood but this more recent example is representative youtu.be/_0sBLJ7Lq4M
November 10, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Couldn’t find the commercials he put out in my childhood but this more recent example is representative youtu.be/_0sBLJ7Lq4M
This is an interesting opportunity as UBC is simultaneously looking for a new University Librarian. Kudos to them for attempting to minimize the interim/acting hell that sometimes accompanies these changes.
#LibraryJobs @ubclibrary.bsky.social seeks applications for the position of Associate University Librarian, Collections. Deadline: December 4, 2025.
Details: partnershipjobs.ca/job/associat...
Details: partnershipjobs.ca/job/associat...
Associate University Librarian, Collections | The Partnership Job Board
INVITATION TO APPLY Associate University Librarian, Collections Library Administration, UBC Library | Vancouver Campus Full-time, five-year renewable administrative appointment Anticipated Start Dat...
partnershipjobs.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This is an interesting opportunity as UBC is simultaneously looking for a new University Librarian. Kudos to them for attempting to minimize the interim/acting hell that sometimes accompanies these changes.
Reposted by Ian Gibson
David Rodríguez with an incredible bicycle kick goal to level the game for Ottawa
November 9, 2025 at 11:06 PM
David Rodríguez with an incredible bicycle kick goal to level the game for Ottawa
Reposted by Ian Gibson
Chatbots and AI models are challenging ideas about who — or what — can create art, music and more
go.nature.com/4qMerbF
go.nature.com/4qMerbF
Can AI be truly creative?
Nature - Chatbots and AI models are challenging ideas about who — or what — can create art, music and more.
go.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Chatbots and AI models are challenging ideas about who — or what — can create art, music and more
go.nature.com/4qMerbF
go.nature.com/4qMerbF
Reposted by Ian Gibson
I keep warning that so many of our systems are still built around the assumption that quality writing and analysis are costly and therefore meaningful signals.
Our systems are very much not ready for the revelation that this is no longer true, as this planning objection AI shows
Our systems are very much not ready for the revelation that this is no longer true, as this planning objection AI shows
November 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I keep warning that so many of our systems are still built around the assumption that quality writing and analysis are costly and therefore meaningful signals.
Our systems are very much not ready for the revelation that this is no longer true, as this planning objection AI shows
Our systems are very much not ready for the revelation that this is no longer true, as this planning objection AI shows
Reposted by Ian Gibson
Once again millions of Canadians literally forget how to drive after first snowfall
Once again millions of Canadians literally forget how to drive after first snowfall
OTTAWA – Ministry of Transportation offices across Canada are once again finding themselves overrun with what has become a familiar sight each winter, as hundreds of thousands of Canadians must restar...
www.thebeaverton.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Once again millions of Canadians literally forget how to drive after first snowfall
Reposted by Ian Gibson
Better question: Did men ruin the entire fkng world?
November 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Better question: Did men ruin the entire fkng world?
Yes to this letter. Metrolinx comms at Guelph is shambolic…
www.guelphtoday.com/letters-to-t...
www.guelphtoday.com/letters-to-t...
November 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Yes to this letter. Metrolinx comms at Guelph is shambolic…
www.guelphtoday.com/letters-to-t...
www.guelphtoday.com/letters-to-t...
Reposted by Ian Gibson
We're hiring: Network Zone Collections Coordinator.
Join the collaborative OCUL team and support shared library systems, licensing workflows and consortial resource access across Ont. academic libraries.
Applications due Nov. 27 @ 5 p.m. ET.
Full job & application info: ocul.on.ca/job-network-...
Join the collaborative OCUL team and support shared library systems, licensing workflows and consortial resource access across Ont. academic libraries.
Applications due Nov. 27 @ 5 p.m. ET.
Full job & application info: ocul.on.ca/job-network-...
November 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
We're hiring: Network Zone Collections Coordinator.
Join the collaborative OCUL team and support shared library systems, licensing workflows and consortial resource access across Ont. academic libraries.
Applications due Nov. 27 @ 5 p.m. ET.
Full job & application info: ocul.on.ca/job-network-...
Join the collaborative OCUL team and support shared library systems, licensing workflows and consortial resource access across Ont. academic libraries.
Applications due Nov. 27 @ 5 p.m. ET.
Full job & application info: ocul.on.ca/job-network-...
Reposted by Ian Gibson
Oxford University Press Announces Agreement to Acquire Karger www.infodocket.com/2025/11/04/o... #publishing #scholcomm #libraries
November 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Oxford University Press Announces Agreement to Acquire Karger www.infodocket.com/2025/11/04/o... #publishing #scholcomm #libraries
Well that was horse shit.
November 2, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Well that was horse shit.