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Stewart Parsons

@libraryfiend.bsky.social

1.1K followers 1K following 1.5K posts

Founder of Get It Loud In Libraries www.loudinlibraries.com cool programme of doorstep library gigs with future BRIT & Grammy winners. Born to live in Scotland. Lover of music, books, libraries, radio, dogs, PNE & wife Elizabeth. A BEM, no less.

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · Jun 17

For 175 years, public libraries, despite often steeply declining Govt support, have served the educational, information and entertainment needs of the general public. Staffed by a committed national family of workers determined to transform the life chances of some 7.3mill people.Oh, and it's free.

Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · Jun 16

So,as a little thought-experiment, tell me something about the United Kingdom that works well and is actually quite impressive. I am not trying to sound like some boosterish politician. I just genuinely believe that making people believe that all is lost is a convenient pretext for shady characters.

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Reposted by Stewart Parsons

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 12h

Ever since I finished Question Time, Reform have massively been on the attack.

Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.

Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.

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Reposted by Stewart Parsons

BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 2d

📅 EVENT: If you'll be at Cheltenham Literature Festival this weekend, don't miss this session featuring Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social and our Co-CEO @anniecrombie.bsky.social!

They'll explore the power of shared reading in the early years:

https://bit.ly/3KLLU5k

The Reading Revolution | Cheltenham Festivals

Reading aloud to little ones really matters. Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, BookTrust’s Annie Crombie and early years expert Tracy Jackson explo

bit.ly

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Reposted by Stewart Parsons

David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 9h

Reading @londoncentric.media and reflecting on how everything wrong with Britain can be seen through Deliveroo:
- much of the economy is fraudulent
- people don’t go outside
- workers are underpaid and insecure
- the immigration system is broken
- society is being eroded by Big Tech

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 5h

To summarise: Donald J Trump wrote his own mad summary.

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 18h

Trump got a Covid vaccine today.

Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 8h

The uber rich are always forecasting the fall of civilisation as we know it, or bad times ahead, unless we follow their orders.

And it has always turned out to be relentless bollocks. These people are exhausting.

Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 9h

Quite.

Dale Vince @dalevince.com · 10h

Why does this tax exile 'foreigner' think our government should discuss policy with him? He should feck off back to Monaco. Made his choice based on his own interest, to avoid tax. Anything he has to say will be only in his own interests, again.

buff.ly/6XvNGfT

Miliband refused to discuss North Sea with me, says Ratcliffe

Ineos owner urges policymakers to reform net zero taxes or risk ‘irreversible decline’

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 9h

@gallovidiabooks.bsky.social where we do stock pretty much all of Graeme's books. Morning Graeme!

Graeme Thomson @graemethomson.bsky.social · 9h

It's #BookshopDay. A good day - as they all are - to visit your local independent book shop, or order something from @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social (where they currently have Our Secrets Are The Same on sale with a little discount)
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/our-...

Our Secrets Are The Same: Friendship & Fame at the Heart of Simple Minds

Friendship & Fame at the Heart of Simple Minds

uk.bookshop.org

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 1d

Was going to add a sprinkle of the NZ DNA of Crowded House and Split Enz peek through without showing their hand too demonstrably. A great band that deserve their breakthrough spotlight right now.

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 1d

Moody Blues' John Lodge passing reminds me that my wife & I have an exclusive group of beloved musicians whose deaths we must report in slow, quiet hushed tones, prefaced by 'Love, I have something to tell you...' I failed once with Leonard Cohen, but she got me back with Tom Petty. Hence the list..

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 1d

Given the subject matter, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read about a deeply unenjoyable politician. @iandunt.bsky.social dismantles Jenrick's curiously banal but forever ghoulish obsession with 'integration' & skin colour with aplomb.

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 1d

The empty horror of Robert Jenrick iandunt.substack.com/p/the-empty-...

The empty horror of Robert Jenrick

We deserve a better class of villain. Or at least a more memorable one.

iandunt.substack.com

Reposted by Stewart Parsons

Joe Walsh @walshfreedom.bsky.social · 1d

“When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”👇

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 1d

How does this information not filter through to his cultist base, who might ( or probably might not ) stop and think 'Oh, maybe this guy isn't the 'man of the people' we first thought?' ?

Reposted by Stewart Parsons

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 2d

Invading Norway because he didn't get the peace prize would be so on brand.

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 2d

another day in very normal times

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 1d

God bless America etc...

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 1d

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

Reposted by Stewart Parsons

Luca @lucazanzi.bsky.social · 1d

As a Venezuelan, this is beautiful.

It has felt for years as though the world had forgotten my country and given up.

Maduro has outright stolen elections, and the world pretty much shrugged.

Maria Corina Machado has been the one constant fighter who has never given up in over 20 years.

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 1d

'Well good', said 13-year old Donald J Trump...

Reposted by Stewart Parsons

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 1d

So refreshing to see someone challenge the smug, nasty Reform narrative

Anita R @venividiverily.bsky.social · 1d

I could watch Zack Polanski utterly wreck Zia Yusuf ALL DAY LONG.

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 1d

Just in case you haven't had quite enough of this fella this week....

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

Shadow Justice Secretary has made a symbolic gesture of support for Quran burning, both in law & apparently in practice too

Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 2d

'Flower Of Scotland'. Best national anthem bar none. #SCOGRE

Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 2d

So true.

rax ‘levon honkers’ king @raxkingisdead.bsky.social · 2d

every time i happen to hear a fountains of wayne bop all i can think about is what a goddamn waste it is that adam schlesinger is dead

Reposted by Stewart Parsons

JonSam @jonsam1961b.bsky.social · 7d

Love these.

My fav?

Shirley Manson

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9I4...

The Pretenders - I'm Only Happy When It Rains ft. Shirley Manson

YouTube video by ConcertsOnVEVO

www.youtube.com

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 2d

The reasons all these madcaps are now *ex* councillors could fill a book. Hair officially raised...

Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 2d

Chatted to a teen Adele on MySpace in 2006 which led to a library gig (£75) that led to a career that sent me round the world that in my near 60s has me nestled in a cottage by the sea with my beloved in dear old Scotland. So, yeah, MySpace, thank you. I owe you.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 3d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

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Sara Sheridan @sarasheridan.bsky.social · 5d

Doorway to winter #Glasgow

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Stewart Parsons @libraryfiend.bsky.social · 2d

I did not approve this photo! Haha. Lovely to chat books and culture on the run back to the station, Sara. Hope your train didn't drag its heels too long and you got home in a timely fashion. All best with future projects!