Kirsten the Librarian
@librarykirsten.bsky.social
Research Intelligence Librarian, formerly NHS librarian. Co-founder of Fair Library Jobs. UCU rep. Scholarly communications, research metrics, equity, pedantry, cats. She/her.
Charitable donations are a drop in the ocean where there should be government funding, but for what it’s worth I’ve been asking to people to give to St Christopher’s Hospice in memory of my father, in memory of his love for my mother, who was cared for there. www.stchristophers.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Charitable donations are a drop in the ocean where there should be government funding, but for what it’s worth I’ve been asking to people to give to St Christopher’s Hospice in memory of my father, in memory of his love for my mother, who was cared for there. www.stchristophers.org.uk
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Solidarity to all colleagues at Lancaster university right now.
“The destructive programme of cuts at all while directing money to vanity projects abroad is completely unacceptable.” @drjogrady.bsky.social
We must come together. Vote YES.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“The destructive programme of cuts at all while directing money to vanity projects abroad is completely unacceptable.” @drjogrady.bsky.social
We must come together. Vote YES.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lancaster University staff to start industrial action over job cuts
The university is looking to save £30m amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Solidarity to all colleagues at Lancaster university right now.
“The destructive programme of cuts at all while directing money to vanity projects abroad is completely unacceptable.” @drjogrady.bsky.social
We must come together. Vote YES.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“The destructive programme of cuts at all while directing money to vanity projects abroad is completely unacceptable.” @drjogrady.bsky.social
We must come together. Vote YES.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Our student Lola Dibden does such an incredible job of breaking down the shortsightedness of our administration's planning decisions in this video
Which begs the question- if our students can see these shortcomings, why can't the university?
www.instagram.com/reel/DQzgG-N...
#stopthecuts
Which begs the question- if our students can see these shortcomings, why can't the university?
www.instagram.com/reel/DQzgG-N...
#stopthecuts
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Our student Lola Dibden does such an incredible job of breaking down the shortsightedness of our administration's planning decisions in this video
Which begs the question- if our students can see these shortcomings, why can't the university?
www.instagram.com/reel/DQzgG-N...
#stopthecuts
Which begs the question- if our students can see these shortcomings, why can't the university?
www.instagram.com/reel/DQzgG-N...
#stopthecuts
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Picket demonstrating feeling about announcements of cuts to courses at University of Nottingham @uonucu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Picket demonstrating feeling about announcements of cuts to courses at University of Nottingham @uonucu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
This week has been absolutely brutal, I am looking forward to community and cathartic shouting with union folks tomorrow.
Hey Nottingham people- we got events for you tomorrow.
November 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
This week has been absolutely brutal, I am looking forward to community and cathartic shouting with union folks tomorrow.
Please do sign these petitions! The change.org website will ask you for money - if you would like to donate to help stop the cuts, the local UCU hardship fund is a much more effective place for your generosity to go.
Direct bank details here: uonucu.org
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
Direct bank details here: uonucu.org
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
November 8, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Please do sign these petitions! The change.org website will ask you for money - if you would like to donate to help stop the cuts, the local UCU hardship fund is a much more effective place for your generosity to go.
Direct bank details here: uonucu.org
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
Direct bank details here: uonucu.org
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Sam Watts, composer of #TheTraitors theme and UoN music alumni, shares his thoughts on the newly renamed University of Little England course closures...
#StopTheCuts #SaveHE
c.org/pdK6xxk6yf
#StopTheCuts #SaveHE
c.org/pdK6xxk6yf
November 8, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Sam Watts, composer of #TheTraitors theme and UoN music alumni, shares his thoughts on the newly renamed University of Little England course closures...
#StopTheCuts #SaveHE
c.org/pdK6xxk6yf
#StopTheCuts #SaveHE
c.org/pdK6xxk6yf
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Quite a good illustration of why the problems of knowledge production are not about "misplaced incentives" but the degradation of the material conditions that allow us to do our work.
Scientists feel that the pressure to publish is rising, but that the time and resources they have to do the necessary research are falling, according to a survey of 3,200 researchers
go.nature.com/4hNDvuN
go.nature.com/4hNDvuN
Pressure to publish is rising as research time shrinks, finds survey of scientists
Researchers feel that pressures to publish are increasing, but the time and resources available to do research are decreasing, according to a survey by Elsevier.
go.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Quite a good illustration of why the problems of knowledge production are not about "misplaced incentives" but the degradation of the material conditions that allow us to do our work.
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
A significant new development in the Imperial College pay dispute.
The Joint Trade Unions have uncovered that key 2018 pay benchmarking recommendations—based on extensive staff consultation—were quietly set aside by College management.
Read the full update here: ucu.imperial.ac.uk/archives/1143
The Joint Trade Unions have uncovered that key 2018 pay benchmarking recommendations—based on extensive staff consultation—were quietly set aside by College management.
Read the full update here: ucu.imperial.ac.uk/archives/1143
Joint Trade Unions demand transparency over Imperial’s pay benchmarking
In brief (if you don’t have much time)
The Imperial Joint Trade Unions (JTU) have written to the University Negotiating Team (UNT) to raise serious concerns about the College’s handling of the 2018 Pa...
ucu.imperial.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 AM
A significant new development in the Imperial College pay dispute.
The Joint Trade Unions have uncovered that key 2018 pay benchmarking recommendations—based on extensive staff consultation—were quietly set aside by College management.
Read the full update here: ucu.imperial.ac.uk/archives/1143
The Joint Trade Unions have uncovered that key 2018 pay benchmarking recommendations—based on extensive staff consultation—were quietly set aside by College management.
Read the full update here: ucu.imperial.ac.uk/archives/1143
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
This week, UoN announced course suspensions for all modern languages, music, theology & religious studies, biosciences, mental health nursing and more.
@uonucu.bsky.social fighting management tooth & nail to prevent this reckless, shortsighted stupidity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
@uonucu.bsky.social fighting management tooth & nail to prevent this reckless, shortsighted stupidity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
This week, UoN announced course suspensions for all modern languages, music, theology & religious studies, biosciences, mental health nursing and more.
@uonucu.bsky.social fighting management tooth & nail to prevent this reckless, shortsighted stupidity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
@uonucu.bsky.social fighting management tooth & nail to prevent this reckless, shortsighted stupidity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
You know it's a pretty bad decision when the response from people is to create about 100 different petitions...
Sign every one. Let's fight this by all means necessary.
Sign every one. Let's fight this by all means necessary.
Although I am inevitably caught up in the likely dire implications for my department (Music), it isn’t just us in the Faculty of Arts or in the university under threat.
Do consider signing this petition in support of colleagues teaching Theology!
c.org/6kntRm2JVh
Do consider signing this petition in support of colleagues teaching Theology!
c.org/6kntRm2JVh
Sign the Petition
Stop the removal of Theology Undergraduate courses at the University of Nottingham
c.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 AM
You know it's a pretty bad decision when the response from people is to create about 100 different petitions...
Sign every one. Let's fight this by all means necessary.
Sign every one. Let's fight this by all means necessary.
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Devastated to share the news that was broken to colleagues in Music (and other departments) at the University of Nottingham yesterday. This is obviously a very difficult time for us and our students.
Please contact us on [email protected] if you would like to be involved.
Please contact us on [email protected] if you would like to be involved.
November 6, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Devastated to share the news that was broken to colleagues in Music (and other departments) at the University of Nottingham yesterday. This is obviously a very difficult time for us and our students.
Please contact us on [email protected] if you would like to be involved.
Please contact us on [email protected] if you would like to be involved.
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
It's not just music and language courses- it's 48 courses across the university.
But here's the thing- our UCU colleagues at other universities (like @Cardiffucu.bsky.social) have faced the exact same threats, fought back, and won. So we can too.
But here's the thing- our UCU colleagues at other universities (like @Cardiffucu.bsky.social) have faced the exact same threats, fought back, and won. So we can too.
November 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
It's not just music and language courses- it's 48 courses across the university.
But here's the thing- our UCU colleagues at other universities (like @Cardiffucu.bsky.social) have faced the exact same threats, fought back, and won. So we can too.
But here's the thing- our UCU colleagues at other universities (like @Cardiffucu.bsky.social) have faced the exact same threats, fought back, and won. So we can too.
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
I can't express how damaging this is, music and languages aren't just optional extras, they are at the core of what a university does: cultivate knowledge and culture in the next generation. And if they'll cut those, what's next? It's institutional self-destruction.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is "proposing to reduce its nursing offer".
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I can't express how damaging this is, music and languages aren't just optional extras, they are at the core of what a university does: cultivate knowledge and culture in the next generation. And if they'll cut those, what's next? It's institutional self-destruction.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
STRIKE RESUMES ON MONDAY!!!
On November 10th, we will commence with another 4 weeks of strikes. And we're kicking things off with a picket at the West Entrance of University Park. (Photo by @tregenza.bsky.social).
On November 10th, we will commence with another 4 weeks of strikes. And we're kicking things off with a picket at the West Entrance of University Park. (Photo by @tregenza.bsky.social).
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
STRIKE RESUMES ON MONDAY!!!
On November 10th, we will commence with another 4 weeks of strikes. And we're kicking things off with a picket at the West Entrance of University Park. (Photo by @tregenza.bsky.social).
On November 10th, we will commence with another 4 weeks of strikes. And we're kicking things off with a picket at the West Entrance of University Park. (Photo by @tregenza.bsky.social).
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Listen. We aren’t stopping til we win this thing.
STRIKE RESUMES ON MONDAY!!!
On November 10th, we will commence with another 4 weeks of strikes. And we're kicking things off with a picket at the West Entrance of University Park. (Photo by @tregenza.bsky.social).
On November 10th, we will commence with another 4 weeks of strikes. And we're kicking things off with a picket at the West Entrance of University Park. (Photo by @tregenza.bsky.social).
November 5, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Listen. We aren’t stopping til we win this thing.
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Call for Chapter Proposals for Disability Justice in Libraries. deadline December 1, 2025
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
CFP
Call for Chapter Proposals for Disability Justice in Libraries This call for chapter proposals is an invitation for abstract submissions for Disability Justice in Libraries, an anthology examining t...
docs.google.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Call for Chapter Proposals for Disability Justice in Libraries. deadline December 1, 2025
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Final quote from Carlos Chaccour: “The legitimate discussion risks being drowned by the synthetic noise.”
Kind of funny how people are identifying any place that publishes even the most inconsequential stuff and then flooding it with AI junk.
Letters to scientific journals surge as ‘prolific debutante’ authors likely use AI
New study reinforces worries about “mass production of junk” by unscrupulous scholars aiming to pad their CVs
www.science.org
November 4, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Final quote from Carlos Chaccour: “The legitimate discussion risks being drowned by the synthetic noise.”
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
If you missed the talk on class in HE librarians by @patchedelbows.bsky.social last week, don't despair! Here's the doi, you can catch up now 😀
doi.org/10.52843/cas...
doi.org/10.52843/cas...
Cassyni | Science starts with a seminar
Seamlessly organise, run and publish academic research seminars. Get started in minutes.
doi.org
November 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
If you missed the talk on class in HE librarians by @patchedelbows.bsky.social last week, don't despair! Here's the doi, you can catch up now 😀
doi.org/10.52843/cas...
doi.org/10.52843/cas...
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
In which @amylibrarian.bsky.social and I argue that if LIS journals had more rigorous guidelines for authors, things like that ridiculous "privacy of thought" article in C&RL wouldn't get published. crl.acrl.org/index.php/cr...
Seeking More Rigorous Author Guidelines at C&RL | Riegelman | College & Research Libraries
Seeking More Rigorous Author Guidelines at C&RL
crl.acrl.org
November 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
In which @amylibrarian.bsky.social and I argue that if LIS journals had more rigorous guidelines for authors, things like that ridiculous "privacy of thought" article in C&RL wouldn't get published. crl.acrl.org/index.php/cr...
First in person delivery of my research metrics session today and I woke up really dizzy. Breakfast seems to have sorted it, but please everyone send me good wishes that a) dizziness stays away b) I get at least one chatty person attending
November 3, 2025 at 10:43 AM
First in person delivery of my research metrics session today and I woke up really dizzy. Breakfast seems to have sorted it, but please everyone send me good wishes that a) dizziness stays away b) I get at least one chatty person attending
Lots of Ozymandias memes going around at the moment and I am choosing to believe they are all about this cat
November 1, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Lots of Ozymandias memes going around at the moment and I am choosing to believe they are all about this cat
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
Living wage, please.
This is WAY wider than the BL.
If the only way to keep things open, or on sale, or running, is to make your workers take the heat, yet again, you should close down.
And let’s see how long the leak of money upwards continues when we lose all our services and things we rely on.
This is WAY wider than the BL.
If the only way to keep things open, or on sale, or running, is to make your workers take the heat, yet again, you should close down.
And let’s see how long the leak of money upwards continues when we lose all our services and things we rely on.
November 1, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Living wage, please.
This is WAY wider than the BL.
If the only way to keep things open, or on sale, or running, is to make your workers take the heat, yet again, you should close down.
And let’s see how long the leak of money upwards continues when we lose all our services and things we rely on.
This is WAY wider than the BL.
If the only way to keep things open, or on sale, or running, is to make your workers take the heat, yet again, you should close down.
And let’s see how long the leak of money upwards continues when we lose all our services and things we rely on.
Reposted by Kirsten the Librarian
More authors booked for events at the British Library are pulling out in solidarity with our striking members
#BritishLibraryonStrike
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
#BritishLibraryonStrike
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Stephen King’s son among writers boycotting British Library event in solidarity with striking workers
King’s son, Joe Hill, joins V Castro and Keith Rosson in withdrawing from the Tales of the Weird festival this weekend in support of industrial action
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:25 PM
More authors booked for events at the British Library are pulling out in solidarity with our striking members
#BritishLibraryonStrike
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
#BritishLibraryonStrike
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Working from the sofa this afternoon so that Goblin can join @patchedelbows.bsky.social’s webinar
October 31, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Working from the sofa this afternoon so that Goblin can join @patchedelbows.bsky.social’s webinar