Jo Simons (she/her)
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josimons.bsky.social
Jo Simons (she/her)
@josimons.bsky.social
480 followers 730 following 43 posts
Dr. Jo, Pākehā, Academic Librarian in Aotearoa NZ, Plant enthusiast, fibre crafter, hoarder of pens, herder of children and cats

Working with Digital Library team at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland, opinions mine not my employers
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
parrykylie.bsky.social
I can't do the 9 books thing. It's fun but I just can't get past the should.

Read whatever brings you joy. With your eyes, your ears or your fingers.

Engage with story and don't let anyone ever tell you that the stories you connect with aren't enough.
November 11, 2025 at 6:38 AM
josimons.bsky.social
My team came back from #iPRES2025 with all sorts of sticker swag to share. I’m particularly fond of this one from  ‪@dpc-chat.digipres.club.ap.brid.gy‬ but can’t decide where to put it as I have too many things I want to stick it to! #digipres #libraries
A green sticker from the digital preservation coalition states: this is not an archive. It is sitting balanced on a stack of external hard drives labelled with post it notes.
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
openculture.bsky.social
Dozens of M.C. Escher Prints Have Been Digitized & Put Online by the Boston Public Library
Dozens of M.C. Escher Prints Have Been Digitized & Put Online by the Boston Public Library
In addition to the iconic scene in Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, or appearances in animated TV shows and video games, M.C.
www.openculture.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
nathankhensley.bsky.social
Yes! The thing abt public libraries that is so beautiful & crucial is the idea that *anybody* could do this — you need no credential, there’s no gatekeeping, literally any person can be an intellectual. You can come from absolutely nothing & yet, by means of curiosity + work, create real knowledge
jeffreyinsko.bsky.social Jeffrey Insko @jeffreyinsko.bsky.social · 2d
I wrote a significant chunk of my first book at a Chicago Public Library, an amazing public space where people could read books and newspapers, access the internet, or just keep warm for a while on a cold day. This is appalling.
casella.bsky.social Jake Casella Brookins @casella.bsky.social · 2d
CPL is an absolute palace to the people and these proposed cuts are abominable. Artificial austerity. Chicago folks, read this, check the links to bug the mayor and your alders—this can be fought and won.
November 8, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
ginamurrell1.bsky.social
My fave work in the exhibit: “Three Figures,” 2014, which incorporates the famous May 4, 1963, news photo of three Black teen schoolchildren holding hands to stay together while being blasted by high-powered fire hoses during an anti-segregation children’s march in Alabama. Powerful. #art #Blackart
Lorna Simpson artwork “Three Figures,” 2014, ink and screenprint on 12 Claybord panels. The artwork is black and white, same as the image it incorporates: a black and white photograph of three teen schoolchildren holding hands while being sprayed with high-power fire hoses amid a Civil Rights demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.
November 11, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
cni-org.bsky.social
The Responsible AI in Libraries and Archives team has released Viewfinder: A toolkit for values-driven AI in libraries and archives that was created by librarians and tech ethicists at four universities.

Print-at-home PDF: osf.io/yue9s
Interactive website: www.lib.montana.edu/responsible-...
Responsible AI - MSU Library | Montana State University
www.lib.montana.edu
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
josimons.bsky.social
Excited to be playing #SecretSantaAoNZ again this year! Half my brain is saying “Argh too busy” but the other half is just going “Squeeeee!!!!”
Christmas tree in the atrium of the ClockTower building at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland from 2024. I wonder what it will look like this year?
November 10, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
rbgkew.bsky.social
Once on the edge of extinction in England, the rare Fen Orchid is making a comeback 🎉🌸 Careful conservation has helped this delicate plant reclaim its place in wetlands - one of many hopeful stories from the new GB Red List for vascular plants 🧵👇🌿
The rare Fen Orchid with small flowers
November 10, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
michaelplanknz.bsky.social
"Universities teach us to ask questions without tidy answers. They train us to look for truths we didn’t know existed and to challenge assumptions we didn’t realise we held. At their best, they remind us that intellect isn’t about having opinions, it’s about earning them."
November 10, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
adzebill.bsky.social
The Wiki Science photo competition is running until mid-December! Be in to win cash prizes by donating your science photos for use in Wikipedia. Categories include people in science, microscopy, wildlife and nature, and astronomy. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons...
Commons:Wiki Science Competition 2025 in Australia and New Zealand - Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
doaj.bsky.social
Using DOAJ for your research?

Historical DOAJ data is now available on Zenodo (an open access research repository).

DOAJ data on Zenodo https://bit.ly/49cbDyi
##OpenData #OpenAccess
November 10, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
drjulieb.bsky.social
We’re snail posting, post your snails
November 10, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
mikejonesphd.bsky.social
Currently doing some marking. A reminder to everyone involved in archives and collections: digitisation is not preservation. If I digitise a box of records and put the files on a USB stick I haven't preserved a thing. It's all about what you do with the files post-digitisation. #archives #digipres
Colour photograph of a white USB stick. Printed text on the USB stick reads: '...this is not an archive.'
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
diane.dianeduane.com
This is the Way. 😄
lockdownyourlife.com Lock Down Your Life @lockdownyourlife.com · Sep 13
This week has been a long year. But you know what to do. 😍
November 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
secretsanta.nz
It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas,
With sign up going live!🎶🎵

So here's the Bluesky Secret Santa AoNZ, with some friends from Mastodon along for the ride. We hope you are looking forward to some fun, and that we can bring it to you 🎄
Official hashtag: #SecretSantaAoNZ
App: secretsanta.nz
The Bluesky Mastodon Secret Santa Aotearoa New Zealand rules are: The FIRST RULE of Secret Santa is: Be kind, please. The SECOND RULE of Secret Santa is: Be excellent to each other. The THIRD RULE of Secret Santa is to closely follow these instructions: You must enter an up to date postal address (or PO Box) on the Secret Santa App. Your gift must be sent by Tracked Post / Courier by 5th Dec AND your tracking number loaded into the Secret Santa App. If your address changes after 19th Nov you MUST DM @secretsanta.nz If your situation changes and you can no longer play after the matches are assigned you MUST DM @secretsanta.nz If your gift is being sent to work, you must take it home as soon as you receive it in case covid/life gets in the way The FOURTH RULE of Secret Santa is you must post some hints for your Santa using the hashtag #SecretSantaAoNZ. Post likes/dislikes, hobbies, interests, current hyperfixations, allergies, sock size etc - important stuff. The more the better! Stuck on what to post? Check out what others are sharing on the hashtag. The FIFTH RULE of Secret Santa is: Put aroha into your gift and ONLY SPEND WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD. It's the thought that counts is very much the foundation and spirit of Secret Santa. The SIXTH RULE of Secret Santa is: Opening Day is 17th Dec when you will open your gift and post videos or photos and much excitement! If you cannot do this date, please post in advance and again on the day when you will be opening. We understand that life might happen. The SEVENTH RULE of Secret Santa is that if you are disappointed in your gift, please do not post it onto your account. Let @secretsanta.nz know why in a DM and we can go from there.
November 9, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
bauhausandmies.bsky.social
I’ve signed up for the best community event on Bluesky and Mastodon. Do you want to sign up too? #SecretSantaAoNZ
secretsanta.nz Secret Santa Aotearoa @secretsanta.nz · 1d
It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas,
With sign up going live!🎶🎵

So here's the Bluesky Secret Santa AoNZ, with some friends from Mastodon along for the ride. We hope you are looking forward to some fun, and that we can bring it to you 🎄
Official hashtag: #SecretSantaAoNZ
App: secretsanta.nz
The Bluesky Mastodon Secret Santa Aotearoa New Zealand rules are: The FIRST RULE of Secret Santa is: Be kind, please. The SECOND RULE of Secret Santa is: Be excellent to each other. The THIRD RULE of Secret Santa is to closely follow these instructions: You must enter an up to date postal address (or PO Box) on the Secret Santa App. Your gift must be sent by Tracked Post / Courier by 5th Dec AND your tracking number loaded into the Secret Santa App. If your address changes after 19th Nov you MUST DM @secretsanta.nz If your situation changes and you can no longer play after the matches are assigned you MUST DM @secretsanta.nz If your gift is being sent to work, you must take it home as soon as you receive it in case covid/life gets in the way The FOURTH RULE of Secret Santa is you must post some hints for your Santa using the hashtag #SecretSantaAoNZ. Post likes/dislikes, hobbies, interests, current hyperfixations, allergies, sock size etc - important stuff. The more the better! Stuck on what to post? Check out what others are sharing on the hashtag. The FIFTH RULE of Secret Santa is: Put aroha into your gift and ONLY SPEND WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD. It's the thought that counts is very much the foundation and spirit of Secret Santa. The SIXTH RULE of Secret Santa is: Opening Day is 17th Dec when you will open your gift and post videos or photos and much excitement! If you cannot do this date, please post in advance and again on the day when you will be opening. We understand that life might happen. The SEVENTH RULE of Secret Santa is that if you are disappointed in your gift, please do not post it onto your account. Let @secretsanta.nz know why in a DM and we can go from there.
November 9, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
secretsantanz.mastodon.nz.ap.brid.gy
Welcome to #secretsantaaonz
Sign ups are now open at https://secretsanta.nz/

Remember to follow @bsky.brid.gy to be able to connect and interact with Bluesky players!

Rules and more info to come soon!

Let the fun commence!
November 9, 2025 at 9:56 PM
josimons.bsky.social
First strawberries of the summer out of the garden! They smell amazing but we are saving them for after dinner. #gardening #TamakiMakaurau #Summer
Four ripe red strawberries of assorted sizes and shapes sitting on a white kitchen bench top
November 9, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
afcossham.bsky.social
Proud of my husband, Chris Coad's photographic work in this exhibition.
(which doesn't show well in the poster, but you can see his work here too: www.chriscoad.co.nz/new-gallery)
#tewhanganuiatara #wellington #photography #exhibitions
A poster advertising a group photographic exhibition in Wellington. Three narrow slices of the photographers' work: a cowboy, a dairy, a sea urchin.
November 8, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
lyndacarter.bsky.social
Hey!
Calling all Wonder Women!
We all are sisters…pulling together with one spirit.
50 years ago today the first episode of the series Wonder Woman aired.
November 8, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
librarianth.bsky.social
A bit of light Friday reading

5 inconvenient facts that all librarians (or folks with an interest in Library related skullduggery) should know about e-books
5 Inconvenient Facts All Librarians Should Know About E-Books
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the promise of the digital library became clearer than ever. As physical doors closed, e-books offered a vital lifeline, foregrounding the incredible potential of on-demand access to information and culture. Yet this moment of digital promise also cast a harsh light on the dysfunctional infrastructure, predatory business models, and outdated legal frameworks that govern the lending of digital content.
librarianth.home.blog
November 7, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
georgepenney.bsky.social
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A woman (70s?) is laughing as her husband tries to read a menu.
She says: "Forgot your glasses didn't you?"
"Yep."
"Want help?"
"Nope."
"Good. Because I wasn't gonna offer."
He gives her a fierce faux scowl, then stalks off to inspect the cakes. (1)
November 7, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
measuredandslow.bsky.social
Hi do you have someone in your life who likes yarn and maybe that person needs a present for an upcoming holiday??? Because I have HOMES FOR YARN (and other craft stuff) available for adoption this holiday season ☺️🧶 #knitting #crochet

measuredandslow.studio/shop?categor...
A yarn bowl in a pastel rainbow gradient shaped like a curled up dragon. There is yellow yarn in the bowl and a wooden crochet hook and scissors in the front holes A yarn bowl shaped like a cauldron with a skull on it printed in black filament A yarn bowl shaped like a white unicorn with a mint blue tail and a gold horn A 3D printed yarn bowl shaped like a very short pencil
November 6, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
paulisci.bsky.social
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women

🧵
November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Jo Simons (she/her)
thoughtfulnz.bsky.social
For the #30DayMapChallenge day 7 Accessibility, in 2021 to help someone looking at health equity and the vaccine rollout, I worked out the road travel distance from every SA2 centre point to every hospital using purely open sources so that it could be freely used. #rstats code in alt text.
library(ggplot2) library(dplyr) library(sf) library(rmapshaper) # https://github.com/thoughtfulbloke/SA2hospital # Koordinates.com Statistical Area 2 2021 Clipped (generalised) KML distances <- read.csv("github/SA2Hopital.csv") SA2_index <- read.csv("koordinates/statistical_area_2_2021_clipped_csv.csv") SA2_map <- st_read("koordinates/statistical-area-2-2021-clipped-generalised.kml", quiet=TRUE) # simplify the graph to what is visually useful SA2 <- ms_simplify(SA2_map, keep=0.05) distances |> arrange(SA2,distance_km) |> group_by(SA2) |> slice(1) |> ungroup() |> filter(distance_km < 450) |> inner_join(SA2_index, join_by(SA2 == SA22021_V1_00)) |> inner_join(SA2, join_by(SA22021_V1_00_NAME == Name)) |> ggplot(aes(geometry=geometry, fill=distance_km)) + geom_sf(size=0.01, colour="white") + coord_sf(ylim=c(-48,-32), xlim=c(163,179))+ scale_fill_viridis_c(name = "Distance (km)") + theme_void() + labs(title="#30DayMapChallenge Day 7. Accessibility", subtitle="SA2 midpoint road travel distance to closest hospital", caption="https://github.com/thoughtfulbloke/SA2hospital\nKoordinates.com Statistical Area 2 2021 Clipped (generalised) KML") ggsave(filename="~/Desktop/day07.jpg", height=4.5, width = 8, dpi=150, units = "in", bg = "white")
November 7, 2025 at 12:10 AM