Rose A. McCandless
@rosemccandless.bsky.social
Bibliographer, rare book enthusiast, and special collections instruction librarian. Lover of books in all ways. I post about rare books & manuscripts, fine/small press, book arts, digital humanities, etc. MPhil, MLIS. Leftist. Silly goose. she/her
Pinned
This 26-year-old has a thing for 13th century manuscripts — and a prize to prove it
Rose McCandless says the real win is putting her “hands on something that is old and cool.”
www.cpr.org
So honored and grateful to have my book collection, and more importantly, my philosophy about rare books, featured on CPR news!
So little is online, AND digital surrogates are not capable of reproducing the physical experience of handling cultural heritage/historical objects in real life. The crackle of the turning pages, the smell of the glue or the parchment/paper, the nuances of the binding structure, and on and on and on
‘But it is all online’, is not a real argument for a historian focusing on a past that goes beyond the 21st century.
February 12, 2026 at 7:43 PM
So little is online, AND digital surrogates are not capable of reproducing the physical experience of handling cultural heritage/historical objects in real life. The crackle of the turning pages, the smell of the glue or the parchment/paper, the nuances of the binding structure, and on and on and on
Reposted by Rose A. McCandless
Has anyone studied how researchers and academics use library catalogues? I'm struggling to find any literature on researcher (not student) information needs and information seeking behavior. Any leads?
My focus is rare books/archives/special collections, but I'm looking broadly right now.
My focus is rare books/archives/special collections, but I'm looking broadly right now.
February 11, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Has anyone studied how researchers and academics use library catalogues? I'm struggling to find any literature on researcher (not student) information needs and information seeking behavior. Any leads?
My focus is rare books/archives/special collections, but I'm looking broadly right now.
My focus is rare books/archives/special collections, but I'm looking broadly right now.
Plant shopping in c. 1830s Japan!
Woodcuts by Hasagawa Settan (長谷川雪旦, 1778-1843). In 江戶名所圖會, a collection of plates and description of the important places in Edo.
In the Herman J. Albrecht Library of Historical Architecture, on deposit at OSU libraries.
Woodcuts by Hasagawa Settan (長谷川雪旦, 1778-1843). In 江戶名所圖會, a collection of plates and description of the important places in Edo.
In the Herman J. Albrecht Library of Historical Architecture, on deposit at OSU libraries.
February 11, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Plant shopping in c. 1830s Japan!
Woodcuts by Hasagawa Settan (長谷川雪旦, 1778-1843). In 江戶名所圖會, a collection of plates and description of the important places in Edo.
In the Herman J. Albrecht Library of Historical Architecture, on deposit at OSU libraries.
Woodcuts by Hasagawa Settan (長谷川雪旦, 1778-1843). In 江戶名所圖會, a collection of plates and description of the important places in Edo.
In the Herman J. Albrecht Library of Historical Architecture, on deposit at OSU libraries.
Absolutely DEVASTATED and yet enthralled by this past librarian’s “conservation effort” which resulted in the marring of this most famous of cover designs and yet also yielded a very interesting book object
February 10, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Absolutely DEVASTATED and yet enthralled by this past librarian’s “conservation effort” which resulted in the marring of this most famous of cover designs and yet also yielded a very interesting book object
Every Opening Ceremony, but this one in particular, has Eurovision levels of camp/wtf is happening and I love it.
Polychromatic moka pot fever dreams are the best dreams.
February 7, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Every Opening Ceremony, but this one in particular, has Eurovision levels of camp/wtf is happening and I love it.
Notgeld—local currency made in Germany during the Weimar Republic.
February 5, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Notgeld—local currency made in Germany during the Weimar Republic.
Got our Audubon facsimile out for class as a reminder that size matters!
February 3, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Got our Audubon facsimile out for class as a reminder that size matters!
Books + postcard + fabulous bookplate design I saw at work recently! book historians, chime in on printing technique of the postcard—would this be multicolor halftone? Traditional lithography? Also, descriptors for the style of the plaid bookbinding? Decorative paper boards…?
Details in alt
Details in alt
January 31, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Books + postcard + fabulous bookplate design I saw at work recently! book historians, chime in on printing technique of the postcard—would this be multicolor halftone? Traditional lithography? Also, descriptors for the style of the plaid bookbinding? Decorative paper boards…?
Details in alt
Details in alt
Reposted by Rose A. McCandless
It’s not enough to say Abolish ICE. It’s not enough to vote no on ICE funding. It’s not enough to confront Kristi Noem or Greg Bovino with Stern Words.
If you are a leader, what are you doing to protect your community? How are you using your power, privilege, and position to confront this threat?
If you are a leader, what are you doing to protect your community? How are you using your power, privilege, and position to confront this threat?
January 24, 2026 at 4:40 PM
It’s not enough to say Abolish ICE. It’s not enough to vote no on ICE funding. It’s not enough to confront Kristi Noem or Greg Bovino with Stern Words.
If you are a leader, what are you doing to protect your community? How are you using your power, privilege, and position to confront this threat?
If you are a leader, what are you doing to protect your community? How are you using your power, privilege, and position to confront this threat?
Reposted by Rose A. McCandless
Bill Siemering, founding program director of NPR, author of its mission statement, has asked me to inquire if any profs might be interested in a Zoom class visit? No honorarium necessary. Bill founded All Things Considered, Fresh Air, won a MacArthur, etc.
A Founding Father of NPR Worries About Its Fate
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Bill Siemering, founding program director of NPR, author of its mission statement, has asked me to inquire if any profs might be interested in a Zoom class visit? No honorarium necessary. Bill founded All Things Considered, Fresh Air, won a MacArthur, etc.
The semester starts in a week and we already have 85 class sessions scheduled in Special Collections. Departments from Biology to Landscape Architecture to Spanish to Theatre, all coming to use rare books and archives! Huzzah!
January 7, 2026 at 9:19 PM
The semester starts in a week and we already have 85 class sessions scheduled in Special Collections. Departments from Biology to Landscape Architecture to Spanish to Theatre, all coming to use rare books and archives! Huzzah!
First day back in office—mid-century printing and type catalogs. Could be worse!
January 5, 2026 at 5:53 PM
First day back in office—mid-century printing and type catalogs. Could be worse!
Reposted by Rose A. McCandless
JOB ALERT!
3-year postdoc at @girtoncollege.bsky.social - research anything you like in History, Archaeology or Anthropology in a wonderful, welcoming scholarly community.
PLEASE SHARE! Closes 12 January
www.girton.cam.ac.uk/job-vacancie...
3-year postdoc at @girtoncollege.bsky.social - research anything you like in History, Archaeology or Anthropology in a wonderful, welcoming scholarly community.
PLEASE SHARE! Closes 12 January
www.girton.cam.ac.uk/job-vacancie...
January 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM
JOB ALERT!
3-year postdoc at @girtoncollege.bsky.social - research anything you like in History, Archaeology or Anthropology in a wonderful, welcoming scholarly community.
PLEASE SHARE! Closes 12 January
www.girton.cam.ac.uk/job-vacancie...
3-year postdoc at @girtoncollege.bsky.social - research anything you like in History, Archaeology or Anthropology in a wonderful, welcoming scholarly community.
PLEASE SHARE! Closes 12 January
www.girton.cam.ac.uk/job-vacancie...
#MonthofDick getting off to a much better start than expected. I entered this book thinking for some reason I wouldn’t like it—but am instead finding it as humorous, fascinating, and unputdownable as 175 years of readers surely have as well. Also loving the Rockwell Kent illustrations!
January 1, 2026 at 5:34 PM
#MonthofDick getting off to a much better start than expected. I entered this book thinking for some reason I wouldn’t like it—but am instead finding it as humorous, fascinating, and unputdownable as 175 years of readers surely have as well. Also loving the Rockwell Kent illustrations!
Book reading highlights from 2025. The year of not as much reading as I may have wished, but a year in which I got to discover these awesome books and their writers—which makes it a great reading year!
December 31, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Book reading highlights from 2025. The year of not as much reading as I may have wished, but a year in which I got to discover these awesome books and their writers—which makes it a great reading year!
Book collecting highlights of 2025! Indulging my loves of Arthuriana, tactile and beautiful bindings, the fine press movement, Austen (in facsimile), and the works of Carlos Ruiz Zafón.
December 31, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Book collecting highlights of 2025! Indulging my loves of Arthuriana, tactile and beautiful bindings, the fine press movement, Austen (in facsimile), and the works of Carlos Ruiz Zafón.
I’m doing a survey of fine bindings (19th c. English, specifically) in our collection because I have the best job and it’s December 23rd. Enjoy some delicious gilt-tooled leather spines!
December 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I’m doing a survey of fine bindings (19th c. English, specifically) in our collection because I have the best job and it’s December 23rd. Enjoy some delicious gilt-tooled leather spines!
Reposted by Rose A. McCandless
An 18thC advertisement for the Greenwich bookbinder Joseph Naples, who offers to fit up gentlemen’s libraries ‘in the neatest and best manner, and on the most reasonable terms’. Another piece from an album of book trade ephemera, compiled by Tim Munby & now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social, Munby.b.131.
December 23, 2025 at 11:04 AM
An 18thC advertisement for the Greenwich bookbinder Joseph Naples, who offers to fit up gentlemen’s libraries ‘in the neatest and best manner, and on the most reasonable terms’. Another piece from an album of book trade ephemera, compiled by Tim Munby & now @theulspeccoll.bsky.social, Munby.b.131.
Reposted by Rose A. McCandless
Post-doc positions:
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
Call for Applications: Early Career Rescue Fellowship – Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies
uni-freiburg.de
December 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Post-doc positions:
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
I always love a surprise appearance from an old friend.
December 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I always love a surprise appearance from an old friend.
Happy holiday season from Kanga, who is NOT happy that he’s been prevented from batting at the newly hung ornaments. Plotting has commenced.
December 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Happy holiday season from Kanga, who is NOT happy that he’s been prevented from batting at the newly hung ornaments. Plotting has commenced.
So, SO delighted that four additional leaves of the Josephinum Bible (my longtime reconstruction project) have found their home at Ohio State! These are the first illuminated leaves in OSU’s collection, which now owns a total of 14 leaves from this parent codex broken in the late 1990s.
December 12, 2025 at 3:29 PM
So, SO delighted that four additional leaves of the Josephinum Bible (my longtime reconstruction project) have found their home at Ohio State! These are the first illuminated leaves in OSU’s collection, which now owns a total of 14 leaves from this parent codex broken in the late 1990s.
A collection that I engage with a lot at work is a library of historical architecture books and related materials. I’d like to share some things I have learned and observed about the early modern-contemporary pursuit of classical architecture and its relationship to white supremacy.
December 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
A collection that I engage with a lot at work is a library of historical architecture books and related materials. I’d like to share some things I have learned and observed about the early modern-contemporary pursuit of classical architecture and its relationship to white supremacy.
My review of @robertamazza.bsky.social’s “Stolen Fragments”—an excellent piece of detective work and a thoughtful commentary on our responsibilities as stewards of cultural heritage—is available OA in Manuscript Studies. I loved this book and I think you will too :)
Project MUSE - Stolen Fragments: Black Markets, Bad Faith, and the Illicit Trade in Ancient Artefacts by Roberta Mazza (review)
muse.jhu.edu
December 4, 2025 at 11:25 PM
My review of @robertamazza.bsky.social’s “Stolen Fragments”—an excellent piece of detective work and a thoughtful commentary on our responsibilities as stewards of cultural heritage—is available OA in Manuscript Studies. I loved this book and I think you will too :)
Reposted by Rose A. McCandless
The @scottpolar.bsky.social are looking for a librarian. This is a rare opportunity! Work with (probably) the world's largest dedicated polar library alongside archive and museum colleagues. The dream 😍
📜
📜
Librarian
The Library of the Scott Polar Research Institute is one of the most comprehensive collections of published polar information in the world. This highly specialist reference collection, which attracts
www.cam.ac.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The @scottpolar.bsky.social are looking for a librarian. This is a rare opportunity! Work with (probably) the world's largest dedicated polar library alongside archive and museum colleagues. The dream 😍
📜
📜