Matt Shaw
@matthewshaw.bsky.social
In a library. Most likely just off Queen's Lane. #PrintHistory #Time #Newspapers
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/an-inky-business-a-history-of-newspapers-from-the-english-civil-wars-to-the-american-civil-war-matthew-j-shaw/5911999?ean=9781789143867
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/an-inky-business-a-history-of-newspapers-from-the-english-civil-wars-to-the-american-civil-war-matthew-j-shaw/5911999?ean=9781789143867
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Major Owens was a librarian who helped found the NY Social Responsibilities Round Table. He went on to become a NY State Senator and then a US Rep, following Shirley Chisolm. He shepherded the Americans with Disabilities Act through the House. #BlackHistoryMonth
www.bklynlibrary.org/blog/2021/05...
www.bklynlibrary.org/blog/2021/05...
February 16, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Major Owens was a librarian who helped found the NY Social Responsibilities Round Table. He went on to become a NY State Senator and then a US Rep, following Shirley Chisolm. He shepherded the Americans with Disabilities Act through the House. #BlackHistoryMonth
www.bklynlibrary.org/blog/2021/05...
www.bklynlibrary.org/blog/2021/05...
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Biblio-nerdy chuckle of the afternoon (with a chocolate theme!):
Francis Fry (1803-1886) has been described as “a Quaker and a maker of Chocolate and Bibles, which he makes up from imperfect copies”.
And here he is in 1865, exposed, buying an imperfect Cranmer “‘most useful for completing copies”
Francis Fry (1803-1886) has been described as “a Quaker and a maker of Chocolate and Bibles, which he makes up from imperfect copies”.
And here he is in 1865, exposed, buying an imperfect Cranmer “‘most useful for completing copies”
February 16, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Biblio-nerdy chuckle of the afternoon (with a chocolate theme!):
Francis Fry (1803-1886) has been described as “a Quaker and a maker of Chocolate and Bibles, which he makes up from imperfect copies”.
And here he is in 1865, exposed, buying an imperfect Cranmer “‘most useful for completing copies”
Francis Fry (1803-1886) has been described as “a Quaker and a maker of Chocolate and Bibles, which he makes up from imperfect copies”.
And here he is in 1865, exposed, buying an imperfect Cranmer “‘most useful for completing copies”
Deaccessioning (and the UK PBC) makes it to The Times
February 16, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Deaccessioning (and the UK PBC) makes it to The Times
Don't forget this CFP cmtc.queens.ox.ac.uk/call-for-pap...
Call for Papers: Forgotten Libraries: Lost, Dispersed, and Marginalised Manuscript Collections - Centre for Manuscript and Text Cultures
The Centre for Manuscript and Text Cultures (CMTC) is pleased to invite Oxford-based researchers to participate in the workshop Forgotten Libraries to be held at The Queen’s College (Oxford)...
cmtc.queens.ox.ac.uk
February 16, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Don't forget this CFP cmtc.queens.ox.ac.uk/call-for-pap...
Reposted by Matt Shaw
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. RSC - Swan Theatre. An absolutely joyous production 👏👏👏💐💐💐 Featuring “The wobbly Giraffe with three legs”
February 10, 2026 at 11:43 PM
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. RSC - Swan Theatre. An absolutely joyous production 👏👏👏💐💐💐 Featuring “The wobbly Giraffe with three legs”
I almost forgot what day it was
February 14, 2026 at 5:42 PM
I almost forgot what day it was
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Here at Swarthmore we are celebrating @douglassday.bsky.social with this stunning cake and an exhibit from the Friend Historical Library #DouglassDay
February 13, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Here at Swarthmore we are celebrating @douglassday.bsky.social with this stunning cake and an exhibit from the Friend Historical Library #DouglassDay
Reposted by Matt Shaw
We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Librarian in Marsh's Library. This will be a great position for an early-career librarian. Further details at: marshlibrary.ie/assistant-li...
Seeking an Assistant Librarian - Marsh's Library
We are seeking to recruit an Assistant Librarian for Marsh’s Library in central Dublin. Location: St. Patrick’s Close, Dublin 8 Reporting to: Assistant Director, Marsh’s Library Salary: €40,000 – €45,...
marshlibrary.ie
February 13, 2026 at 5:10 PM
We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Librarian in Marsh's Library. This will be a great position for an early-career librarian. Further details at: marshlibrary.ie/assistant-li...
Reposted by Matt Shaw
On ransomware and under-funded GLAMs: 'At no point was the British Library particularly negligent or unprepared. Instead, it was hindered by vulnerabilities shared by the majority of cultural institutions. ...the attack [is] a warning to the whole sector.' informationsecuritybuzz.com/the-cyberatt...
The Cyberattack That Exposed The Fragility Of Digital Heritage
Saturday 28 October 2023 is a date that will live long in the memory of staff at the British Library. As they arrived for work that day, they encountered
informationsecuritybuzz.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:20 PM
On ransomware and under-funded GLAMs: 'At no point was the British Library particularly negligent or unprepared. Instead, it was hindered by vulnerabilities shared by the majority of cultural institutions. ...the attack [is] a warning to the whole sector.' informationsecuritybuzz.com/the-cyberatt...
Reposted by Matt Shaw
now with authenticator app!
PLR’s out! That’s *checks notes* half a week’s shopping covered!
February 12, 2026 at 3:06 PM
now with authenticator app!
Reposted by Matt Shaw
If research excellence is linked to research specialisation, why don't more specialist universities routinely outcompete more generalist ones in global league tables?
And should UK HEIs intent to climb the rankings think twice before mothballing their Arts & Humanities?
Asking for a friend. 1/5
And should UK HEIs intent to climb the rankings think twice before mothballing their Arts & Humanities?
Asking for a friend. 1/5
World University Rankings 2026 | Times Higher Education (THE)
Explore the 2026 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education. Compare over 2,000 top universities and discover this year’s leading institutions.
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:21 PM
If research excellence is linked to research specialisation, why don't more specialist universities routinely outcompete more generalist ones in global league tables?
And should UK HEIs intent to climb the rankings think twice before mothballing their Arts & Humanities?
Asking for a friend. 1/5
And should UK HEIs intent to climb the rankings think twice before mothballing their Arts & Humanities?
Asking for a friend. 1/5
As someone once assigned to be an Olympic dove, I appreciate this line of journalistic enquiry
February 10, 2026 at 2:38 PM
As someone once assigned to be an Olympic dove, I appreciate this line of journalistic enquiry
February 10, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Matt Shaw
I want to say a bit more about our initiative to hire scholars to 3yr Research Associate positions.
None of us know what the twinning of humanities research support and employment will look like in another 5(?) years. But we do know that we need it. As a matter of social and cultural health. 1/
None of us know what the twinning of humanities research support and employment will look like in another 5(?) years. But we do know that we need it. As a matter of social and cultural health. 1/
Please share widely!
The JCB is hiring two three-year research associates for collaborative work on religions and freedoms in the early Americas.
Details at jcblibrary.org!
The JCB is hiring two three-year research associates for collaborative work on religions and freedoms in the early Americas.
Details at jcblibrary.org!
January 28, 2026 at 12:27 PM
I want to say a bit more about our initiative to hire scholars to 3yr Research Associate positions.
None of us know what the twinning of humanities research support and employment will look like in another 5(?) years. But we do know that we need it. As a matter of social and cultural health. 1/
None of us know what the twinning of humanities research support and employment will look like in another 5(?) years. But we do know that we need it. As a matter of social and cultural health. 1/
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Macbeth: SHIT
February 9, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Macbeth: SHIT
Reposted by Matt Shaw
THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH A HISTORY MAJOR
Bad Bunny has a consulting historian. news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
Pop star Bad Bunny needed a Puerto Rican history scholar. UW–Madison had just the one.
Bad Bunny collaborated with UW–Madison history professor Jorell Meléndez-Badillo on Puerto Rican narratives that accompany the new album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
news.wisc.edu
February 9, 2026 at 5:44 AM
THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH A HISTORY MAJOR
speaking from experience, this is a great job www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQH179/l.... Although chron. sucks if you are into Giordano Bruno or are a Jefferson scholar.
Lead Curator: Modern Archives & Manuscripts (1601 – 1800) at British Library
Discover an exciting academic career path as a Lead Curator: Modern Archives & Manuscripts (1601 – 1800) at jobs.ac.uk. Don't miss out on this job opportunity - apply today!
www.jobs.ac.uk
February 9, 2026 at 9:37 AM
speaking from experience, this is a great job www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQH179/l.... Although chron. sucks if you are into Giordano Bruno or are a Jefferson scholar.
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“The professional standard is clean, dry hands, and has been for all of this century.”
“The professional standard is clean, dry hands, and has been for all of this century.”
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“It doesn’t have to be good. It just has to be finished.”
“It doesn’t have to be good. It just has to be finished.”
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"Twist a thin-cut swatch of lemon peel over the top."
"Twist a thin-cut swatch of lemon peel over the top."
February 7, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“The professional standard is clean, dry hands, and has been for all of this century.”
“The professional standard is clean, dry hands, and has been for all of this century.”
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Sarcasm aside for a moment, it is a really good speech, spoken with passion and a genuine call for unity. This is good.
February 6, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Sarcasm aside for a moment, it is a really good speech, spoken with passion and a genuine call for unity. This is good.
Interesting cut to Denmark
February 6, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Interesting cut to Denmark
Reposted by Matt Shaw
I urge anyone to read this thread if you want some light relief. And we can certainly do with a bit of that.
I feel bad for the presenters of the BBC Winter Olympics coverage, currently trying to make puffer jackets seem interesting as they grasp for anything to say.
February 6, 2026 at 9:11 PM
I urge anyone to read this thread if you want some light relief. And we can certainly do with a bit of that.
Casting a professional eye on the opening ceremony.
February 6, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Casting a professional eye on the opening ceremony.
Some bibliographic ephemera
![Come dates for fans of the redoubtabl
Oxtord Bibliographical soclety and l regular series of talks: February 12 (when Francesca Galligan will speak about
"reconstructing an Elizabethan library");
March 12 (Sarah Cusk and Sophie Floate,
"Printed books from the libraries of some early Oxford humanists"); May 21 (Alice Wickenden, "The 'sticky' materiality of early-modern book provenances"); and June 11 (Borna Izadpanah, "Printing the Qur'an across empires"). These talks start at 5:15pm; venues vary, so check the OBS website (oxbibsoc.org.uk) for further details. Everyone is welcome, we gather, either in person or on Zoom. [TLS]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rqmcbeqbybvgja4e5eokzhud/bafkreihxob4l6dg6bwar63pq77zxy5jvtgk7f6567ukkhq33ca4lo6asvy@jpeg)
February 6, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Some bibliographic ephemera