Isabel Holowaty
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iholowaty.bsky.social
Isabel Holowaty
@iholowaty.bsky.social
650 followers 670 following 86 posts
Deputy Head of Humanities Libraries & History Librarian, Bodleian Libraries, Oxford. All views my own.
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iholowaty.bsky.social
In anticipation of tmw's budget statement, here is some 1970s advice for the Chancellor: 'There's a hole in my budget' by Flanders and Swann. youtu.be/3ecEMxrdULQ?... 😅

The archives of 'dear eyebrows' are @bodleian.ox.ac.uk by the way...https://tinyurl.com/5n8m8ff
Flanders and Swann - There's a hole in my budget
YouTube video by jonjamg
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
bho.bsky.social
New project launched to uncover Wales’s forgotten herbal medicine traditions

nation.cymru/news/new-pro...

#History #MedicalHistory #WelshHistory
New project launched to uncover Wales’s forgotten herbal medicine traditions
A major new research project will delve into Wales’s long and often overlooked history of herbal medicine, shedding light on how people treated illness and maintained their health before the arrival o...
nation.cymru
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
historyworkshop.org.uk
New publishing opportunity!

The London Record Society are looking for someone to edit a volume based on the archive of the Working Ladies' Guild, which supported impoverished women in late nineteenth-century Britain.

Further information and contact details in the text below.
A call for editors for a new edited volume on the Working Ladies Guild. The volume is expected to focus on the late-Victorian period, with the case-histories of women based in London who approached the Guild for relief providing the bulk of the material. The records of the Guild’s Chelsea group, covering the period 1884 to 1897, will provide the core of the material to be transcribed and edited. Readers who are interested in potentially taking on this task should contact Dr Anne Summers (chair@friendsofthewomenslibrary.org.uk) or Prof Jerry White, Honorary General Editor (Modern Records) of the LRS (jerry.white@bbk.ac.uk) to discuss the project further.
November 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
The Royal Historical Society has published a very helpful guide to its various membership categories, including the Fellowship. If you're engaged in History study, research or teaching (including in public history, journalism & GLAM) & keen to support the discipline, do have a look. #Skystorians
Joining the Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society: a brief guide if you’re considering an application | Historical Transactions
blog.royalhistsoc.org
November 24, 2025 at 10:07 AM
iholowaty.bsky.social
And good news also for those looking for UK theses: "interim, metadata-only version of EThOS (E-Theses Online Service) in early 2026" with links to repositories & further worked planned. 👍
hetanshah.bsky.social Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 3d
Latest update from @britishlibrary.bsky.social says they are launching a new version of their main catalogue on Monday 8 December and around that time also launch an interim version of their Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Hooray!
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
Restoring our services – November 2025 update
In the coming weeks and months we will be restoring a number of key functions.
www.bl.uk
November 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
royalhistsoc.org
This week we also launched a new Applied History Fellowship scheme, with @ihr.bsky.social and DC Thomson: bit.ly/4ijiuII

Fellowships will support recent post-doc historians and demonstrate the appeal of historical skills for employers. £12,000 for 6 months. Closing date: 31 Jan 2026 #Skystorians
Society launches call for new Applied History Fellowships, with the Institute of Historical Research and DC Thomson - RHS
In November 2025, the Society joins with partners the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) and publisher DC Thomson to launch a new Applied History Fellowship programme to support recent post-doctor...
bit.ly
November 22, 2025 at 4:26 PM
iholowaty.bsky.social
Reflecting on reflections.
November 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
iholowaty.bsky.social
This is what catalogue searches - information skills training used to be like in the 1950s. 😮 but fascinating....

"KEYS TO THE LIBRARY " 1950s EDUCATIONAL FILM CARD CATALOGS, ENCYCLOPEDIAS & DEWEY youtu.be/0Q7AwKVFd3o?...
" KEYS TO THE LIBRARY " 1950s EDUCATIONAL FILM CARD CATALOGS, ENCYCLOPEDIAS & DEWEY DECIMAL XD71644
YouTube video by PeriscopeFilm
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
iholowaty.bsky.social
A packed hall at Oxford Digital Festival with a focus on AI this year. Lots to explore, learn & discuss!
Photo of crowd of pple in a hall
November 20, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
bho.bsky.social
New, and very interesting, #OpenAccess article on Early English Books Online:

Opening the black box of EEBO

academic.oup.com/dsh/advance-...

#History 🗃️
Opening the black box of EEBO
Abstract. Digital archives that cover extended historical periods can create a misleading impression of comprehensiveness while in truth providing access t
academic.oup.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
iholowaty.bsky.social
Huge congrats to Prof Lyndal Roper @oxhistoryfaculty.bsky.social for winning the 2025 Cundill History Prize. "Summer of fire and blood : the German Peasants' War" is an epic & definitive history of the C16 uprising that revolutionised Europe. Several copies in @bodleian.ox.ac.uk tinyurl.com/mrxxby97
Book cover of Lyndal Roper's Summer of Fire and Blood. Shows a red coloured woodcut of a German peasant bearing arms on a green background.
November 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
wokestudies.bsky.social
"Higher education generated £24bn in export earnings for the UK in 2022-23, far above aircraft manufacturing with £12bn, legal services with £9.5bn and telecoms with £8.8bn."
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Less than Greggs? Public have no idea of value of top universities, study finds
Belief that snack chain’s revenues exceed those of Oxford’s one of many misconceptions about UK’s HE sector
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
iholowaty.bsky.social
Hear hear!!
hetanshah.bsky.social Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 8d
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
richove.bsky.social
There is still time to apply for one of our 50+ Visiting Fellowships @bodleian.ox.ac.uk for the 2026-27 academic year! A vibrant interdisciplinary research centre in the heart of one of the world’s great libraries!
bodleian.ox.ac.uk Bodleian Libraries @bodleian.ox.ac.uk · 13d
VISITING FELLOWSHIPS: Applications are now open for 2026-27!

The deadline for applications is Friday 28 November 2025.

For more information on how to apply: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowships/bodleian-visiting-fellowships
Promotional banner inviting applications for Visiting Fellowships at the Bodleian Libraries for 2026-27, featuring an interior view of the library.
November 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
sarahknott.bsky.social
ARCHIVAL FUNDING: Ann Ball Bodley Visiting Fellowship in Women’s History, to use Bodleian Libraries collections to advance scholarship in women’s history, of any geographical area and historical period. Deadline 28th Nov. www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
Bodleian Visiting Fellowships in Special Collections
www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
October 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
bodhumslib.bsky.social
You said, we did!
• Gate entry noises (except alarms)=off on both floors!
• Height-adjustable Quick Search machine=available!
• Shelf-ends for books=progressing!
• Two sets of piano headphones=in place!
• Monitors spread out=done!
Please keep the post-its and opinions coming; it really helps!
Photo of poster saying 'you said, we did'. Poster is surrounded by feedback post-its, with smaller post-its with tick marks next to them, to show they were completed. Text of poster included in main post. Photo of height-adjustable Quick Search PC. The PC is raised to be at eye-level when standing, and is positioned in the middle of the first floor of the library, in front of a casual seating area. Photo of librarian shushing the first-floor electronic entry gates. She has long blonde hair, and is wearing a Halloween-themed dress with cobwebs on it.
October 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
iholowaty.bsky.social
@kathryneccles.bsky.social congratulations! 👏
October 27, 2025 at 11:22 AM
iholowaty.bsky.social
My favourite view at Harcourt Arboretum. Truly stunning.
Photo of trees in autumn colours: red, orange, yellow , green
October 26, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
infinite-women.com
Thrilled to announce there are now more than 8,000 biographies in the Infinite Women database, across all different fields, from around the world and throughout history! Check them out at www.infinite-women.com
White text on a green background says 8,000 bios! with white firewoork illustrations above.
October 25, 2025 at 7:26 AM
iholowaty.bsky.social
When Open Scienes collides with Blake Morgan’s Polaris (sung by Voves 8). All I can hear now is Paul Ayris! 😆

@ucylpay.bsky.social it’s probably a bit too modern for you…
October 24, 2025 at 5:53 PM
iholowaty.bsky.social
Am so lucky to work here.. 🥰
Photo of the Radcliffe Camera & bits of All Souls’ College basking in orange glow of sun.
October 21, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
bodhumslib.bsky.social
Do you want a ✨library tour?✨

We're hosting tours for returning* students and staff every day this week at 11:30am and 2pm. No need to book, just turn up!

*New students and staff also welcome, if you missed our introductory tours last week!
A photograph of six armchairs and small tables arranged in front of a bookcase full of old books.
October 14, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
The October updates include, for example, 162 titles about the history of Wales, 229 records re histories of African nations, 359 publications re Scottish history, 448 records discuss the histories of the Americas and Atlantic Ocean, 468 publications focusing on Irish history, and much more.
October 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
stjohnsox.bsky.social
We’re honoured to be welcoming Lord Simon Woolley as our speaker for this year’s Black History Month Lecture: “In a climate of fear of ‘the other’, new leaders must emerge.”

📅 30th Oct, 5:00pm
📍 Garden Quad Auditorium, St John’s College
➡️ Register now for a free ticket

ow.ly/ueMI50X9KxE
Flyer advertising the lecture
October 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Reposted by Isabel Holowaty
radonlinearchives.bsky.social
Hello BlueSky! Starting this account to showcase the ever growing list of radical online archives and collections. Nearly 1000 collections from the around the world are listed at the link below.

Please follow for updates and collection highlights!

hatfulofhistory.com/radical-onli...
radical online collections and archives
I am very interested in the growing amount of radical literature from around the world that is being scanned and digitised. As there are so many and from many different places, I thought it would b…
hatfulofhistory.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:02 AM