Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 6d

‘175 years ago this year, Queen Victoria gave her assent to “an Act for enabling town councils to establish public libraries & museums”, that enabled local authorities… to levy a ha’penny on the rates to establish a free public library.’ @richove.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

Libraries are palaces for the people. Their ramparts need...

The spirit of public improvement that led to the legislation that created free public libraries 175 years go needs to be rekindled

observer.co.uk

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John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 7d

Sic transit gardenia mundi.

My photo was on the wall once, you know...
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Cambridge kebab shop beloved by students shuts after 76 years

A takeaway, loved by Stephen Fry and Michael Portillo, closes for good, says the college landlord.

www.bbc.com

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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks @pressgazette for this report on @thenerve.news first week.

We’ve blasted past through our targets. New newsletter out today so please do sign up www.thenerve.news & a huge thank you to everyone who’s supported us so far! 🙏🙏 🙏

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Karen Brookfield @karenbrookfield.bsky.social · 12d

Glorious 5th Century CE mosaics in the Great Basilica at Heraclea Lyncestis, Bitola, North Macedonia 🇲🇰 A lovely site you can walk to from the town.
#MosaicMonday

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pasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 12d

#OnThisDay in London financial history, 1613: North London’s New River opens to supply drinking water to London. Public works funded by private money – the earliest Private Finance Initiative? The River was run for profit for centuries…
wp.me/p74yfw-Ti

Today in London financial history, 1613: North London’s New River opens – the earliest PFI?

Water, Moral Economy and the New River North London’s New River was built between 1609 and 1613, in an attempt to alleviate, but also to cash in on, the shortage of water in the City of Londo…

wp.me

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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 12d

'History and Archives in Practice, 2026': call for participation now open bit.ly/4pITZrs

HAP26 takes place @unisheffieldlib.bsky.social
on the theme of 'Shaping Societies, Improving Lives: The Impact of Archives & Historical Research'. With @ihr.bsky.social & @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy

Image of historical map with text: Call for papers: History and Archives in Practice, 16 April 2026, University of Sheffield. In partnership with the University of Sheffield Library.

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Art UK @artukdotorg.bsky.social · 14d

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway 🚂

In June 'Train Landscape’ by Eric Ravilious topped the @railway200.bsky.social vote for the UK’s favourite railway artwork!

Read more 👉 artuk.org/discover/sto...

📷 @abdnartmuseums.bsky.social #Railway200

Watercolour of a train interior with hills through the windows

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Ian R. Pearsall @ianrpearsall.bsky.social · 14d

Surely the most glorious building in Stoke-On-Trent, and I could say beyond, for some distance?
The design; the story of the city through symbolism and the technical skills to achieve it put this city on the World map!
If the city can't find a use for it what does that say?
An absolute tragedy.

Dave 'Him Over There' Proudlove 🏴‍☠️ @daveproudlove.bsky.social · 15d

The Wedgwood Memorial Institute #Burslem #ThePotteries #StokeOnTrent

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ianVisits @ianvisits.co.uk · 29d

If you have a VERY large room, Lambeth Palace Library is selling off its old bookshelves.

www.lassco.co.uk/product/the-...

The vast Lambeth Palace Library Bookcase - LASSCO - England's prime resource for Architectural Antiques, Salvage Curiosities

The vast Lambeth Palace Library Bookcase originally by Edward Blore c.1830, later reformatted c.1945

www.lassco.co.uk

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Gillian Darley @gmdarksky.bsky.social · Sep 11

Green grew the pavements, oh!

For older pedestrians, a zone of continuous peril. Thanks a bunch. One very near death experience in these days, enough.,

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Lucy Delap @lucydelap.bsky.social · Sep 9

Museum of Cambridge are looking for a #Disability Heritage Research Volunteer, to work remotely, creating histories of people with disabilities in Cambridgeshire. www.museumofcambridge.org.uk/wp-content/u...

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Karen Brookfield @karenbrookfield.bsky.social · Sep 10

Just purchased as my holiday reading!

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Municipal Dreams @municipaldreams.bsky.social · Sep 9

1/ It's #LiteracyDay. Libraries have offered shelter and succour to so many - a haven and a portal. Here's a random collection of images to remind ourselves how once they were valued (Gainsborough, Gloucester, Hendon and Barrow) ...

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C20 Society @c20society.bsky.social · Sep 7

EVENT: 🇫🇮 Aalto and Finmar - Furnishing London Lecture

🗓️ Wed 5 Nov 2025, 6.30pm – 8pm
📍 Cowcross Street Gallery + Online
🎟️ c20society.org.uk/events

Before WW2, 70% of Alvar Aalto furniture production was sold in London through Finmar. This lecture explores their clientele, popularity and legacy.

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The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · Sep 2

If parks become music venues then locals deserve more input, and a fairer share of the rewards.

Parks are public spaces – but private event organisers are muscling in

If parks become music venues then locals deserve more input, and a fairer share of the rewards.

tcnv.link

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Karen Brookfield @karenbrookfield.bsky.social · Aug 29

We all need more joy in our lives - find it in no lesser place than the Great Hall at Lambeth Palace on 25 September 🎶

Lambeth Palace Library @lampallib.bsky.social · Aug 28

The Arundel Choirbook in Concert!🎶

Two very exciting concerts are happening in September
in conjunction with our exhibition 'Sing Joyfully:
Exploring Music in Lambeth Palace Library'!

For more information, visit the link in our bio ✨

#LambethPalaceLibrary #Concert #Arundel

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Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · Aug 24

Hello, old friend, U Fv1992;157 Arlanda, Måby ägor. #Arlanda the only airport with its own #runestone.

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johndeath.bsky.social @johndeath.bsky.social · Aug 23

So here’s good news. Sarah’s won a prize for her years of involvement with the work of Frederika Bremer

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Karen Brookfield @karenbrookfield.bsky.social · Aug 23

Wonderful news! Congratulations to Sarah 🥳
#WomenInTranslation 🇸🇪

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British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · Aug 15

Today marks the 150th anniversary of composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) 🎼

From published scores, autograph manuscripts, and sound recordings, read our new blog post with an overview of our Coleridge-Taylor collections: bit.ly/BLBlogColeridgeTaylor

Photograph of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor who is standing by a table. It has been captioned 'S Coleridge-Taylor shortly before his marriage'.

Opening of the autograph manuscript of Coleridge-Taylor's piece 'Elëanore', together with a wax cylinder recording.

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Dr Jessamy Carlson @jessamycarlson.bsky.social · Aug 12

There’s a webinar coming up to launch Spaces, Places & Belonging! Learn about the new AHRC funded Community Hub, which will support inclusive, community led research across the UK GLAM and heritage sectors.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spaces-pla...

Spaces, Places and Belonging: Community Hub Launch Webinar

Learn about the new AHRC funded Community Hub, which will support inclusive, community led research across the UK GLAM and heritage sectors.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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University of Glasgow College of Social Sciences @uofgsocsci.bsky.social · Jul 29

Ever wondered why historic places matter to you?

Watch @imadgination03.bsky.social give a preview of her new book on emotion and place.

'Why Historic Places Matter Emotionally’ - coming soon to a bookshop near you…

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🇺🇸Boston Brian🇺🇦 @bostonbrian.com · Aug 10

“History will remember you as silent witnesses to a genocide you chose not to stop”- Anas Al-Sharif🙏🏼

Resist 🕎🍉 @antizionistjew.bsky.social · Aug 10

The message of journalist Anas Al-Sharif to the world, just one hour before he was assassinated by Israeli forces a short while ago.

(+ Includes Alt Text)

⚠️To Whom It May Concern,
The occupation is now openly threatening a full-scale invasion of Gaza.
For 22 months, the city has been bleeding under relentless bombardment from land, sea, and air.
Tens of thousands have been killed, and hundreds of thousands wounded.

If this madness does not end, Gaza will be reduced to ruins, its people’s voices silenced, their faces erased — and history will remember you as silent witnesses to a genocide you chose not to stop.

Please share this message and tag everyone who has the power to help end this massacre. Silence is complicity.

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George Padmore Institute @gpadmoreinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 4

Vanley Burke has kindly donated two prints to the GPI to help raise funds for the renovation of our building. Pictured here is Burke’s photograph entitled 'If We Must Die', 1972. The photograph depicts black demonstrators marching in Birmingham from Handsworth to Steelhouse Police Station.

A black and white photograph depicting black demonstrators marching in Birmingham from Handsworth to Steelhouse Police Station. A banner reads, ‘If we must die let it not be like hogs’, the very first line of Claude McKay’s classic poem ‘If We Must Die’. Trees appear on either side of the road, with a house partially captured on the left hand side.

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Karen Brookfield @karenbrookfield.bsky.social · Aug 4

And funders are too; they could easily require grantees to pay freelancers a minimum daily rate set at an appropriate level

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