Simon Bains
@simonjbains.bsky.social
University Librarian, University of Aberdeen
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/simon.bains
Open research, digital preservation, library spaces, running.
REF2029 People Culture & Environment pilot panel member
Views my own, and often of nice sunrises/sunsets
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/simon.bains
Open research, digital preservation, library spaces, running.
REF2029 People Culture & Environment pilot panel member
Views my own, and often of nice sunrises/sunsets
Pinned
Simon Bains
@simonjbains.bsky.social
· Jan 27
A few more great library leaders added to this pack just now. Happy to hear of any others to add to the list.
go.bsky.app/7DgUMvf
go.bsky.app/7DgUMvf
I'm looking for a new deputy here at @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social!
If you're seeking a rewarding role on a career path as a library leader, there's no better place to be than the lovely Sir Duncan Rice Library. A great job _and_ amazing views - what's not to like?
www.abdnjobs.co.uk/vacancy/depu...
If you're seeking a rewarding role on a career path as a library leader, there's no better place to be than the lovely Sir Duncan Rice Library. A great job _and_ amazing views - what's not to like?
www.abdnjobs.co.uk/vacancy/depu...
Deputy University Librarian (LIB253A) | University of Aberdeen
This is an exciting opportunity to take a senior leadership role in the Library at the University of Aberdeen. The University was founded over 500 years ago on the principle of being ‘open to all’, an...
www.abdnjobs.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 1:51 PM
I'm looking for a new deputy here at @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social!
If you're seeking a rewarding role on a career path as a library leader, there's no better place to be than the lovely Sir Duncan Rice Library. A great job _and_ amazing views - what's not to like?
www.abdnjobs.co.uk/vacancy/depu...
If you're seeking a rewarding role on a career path as a library leader, there's no better place to be than the lovely Sir Duncan Rice Library. A great job _and_ amazing views - what's not to like?
www.abdnjobs.co.uk/vacancy/depu...
Splendid to have reached this milestone for @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social; it’s been a long road. Well done to all involved - a great project team 👏🏻
Part of our mission to make scholarship available has to include making sure those works can technically be accessed into the future. So, we're excited to announce a new partnership with @jisc.bsky.social and Libnova for long term preservation of our digital archives www.abdn.ac.uk/news/24712/
Preserving tomorrow's history today with new digital partnership
Books and manuscripts held in the University of Aberdeen's collections date back centuries.
www.abdn.ac.uk
October 2, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Splendid to have reached this milestone for @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social; it’s been a long road. Well done to all involved - a great project team 👏🏻
At the #TallShips event in #Aberdeen, where the weather could be better but we are all making the best of it, especially the seagulls.
July 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
At the #TallShips event in #Aberdeen, where the weather could be better but we are all making the best of it, especially the seagulls.
Reposted by Simon Bains
Despite the rhetoric of the right, the allowance provided to people seeking asylum is miniscule. It is not enough for most to survive on. If this government wants to stop unscrupulous employers, they need to provide asylum seekers with the right to work.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Home Office announces ‘nationwide blitz’ on asylum seekers taking jobs
Government under pressure on issue after stories of asylum seekers working illegally as takeaway delivery riders
www.theguardian.com
July 5, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Despite the rhetoric of the right, the allowance provided to people seeking asylum is miniscule. It is not enough for most to survive on. If this government wants to stop unscrupulous employers, they need to provide asylum seekers with the right to work.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Simon Bains
Reform UK councillor’s boast about removing ‘trans-ideological’ books from children’s library sections falls flat (they were never there) | The Guardian share.google/ZQVeLnLWpdw2...
Reform councillor’s boast about removing ‘trans-ideological’ books from children’s library sections falls flat
Paul Webb said he ensured books and material were pulled from children’s section of Kent libraries, but it emerges they were never there
www.theguardian.com
July 5, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Reform UK councillor’s boast about removing ‘trans-ideological’ books from children’s library sections falls flat (they were never there) | The Guardian share.google/ZQVeLnLWpdw2...
Last week @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social hosted @scurlscottish.bsky.social #SCURL2025 in @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social - I've never seen a happier group of conference delegates!
June 28, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Last week @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social hosted @scurlscottish.bsky.social #SCURL2025 in @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social - I've never seen a happier group of conference delegates!
Reposted by Simon Bains
Great to see @cilipscotland.bsky.social and others fighting for the rights of Glasgow's children and young people
Glasgow school library cuts will ‘severely diminish’ services
https://www.europesays.com/uk/208209/
Sean McNamara, the director of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS), has now written…#uk #news #uknews
https://www.europesays.com/uk/208209/
Sean McNamara, the director of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS), has now written…#uk #news #uknews
Glasgow school library cuts will 'severely diminish' services - United Kingdom
Sean McNamara, the director of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS), has now written to all councillors on the
www.europesays.com
June 24, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Great to see @cilipscotland.bsky.social and others fighting for the rights of Glasgow's children and young people
If our audience looked past the slides and out of the window, they would be able to see the University’s Cruickshank Botanic Garden just across the main road. There must be some library/garden plant humanities project funding potential here 🤔
#SCURL2025
#SCURL2025
Discussion Plant Humanities - none of us had heard of it! Where the Arts, Plants & Humanities collide. International, bridges between academic and non-academic, current issues in biodiversity, climate change etc.
#SCURL2025
#SCURL2025
June 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
If our audience looked past the slides and out of the window, they would be able to see the University’s Cruickshank Botanic Garden just across the main road. There must be some library/garden plant humanities project funding potential here 🤔
#SCURL2025
#SCURL2025
I was hugely impressed by what GCU are doing and need to do a field trip. They’ve actually doing what I’ve only been aspiring to.
#SCURL2025
#SCURL2025
Now - Jimi Mitchell, Senior Library Administrator, Glasgow Caledonian University.
Talking about how academic libraries can support people seeking sanctuary.
#SCURL2025
Talking about how academic libraries can support people seeking sanctuary.
#SCURL2025
June 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I was hugely impressed by what GCU are doing and need to do a field trip. They’ve actually doing what I’ve only been aspiring to.
#SCURL2025
#SCURL2025
I was thrilled to announce this today, at the @scurlscottish.bsky.social annual meeting, here @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social
www.abdn.ac.uk/news/24473?d...
www.abdn.ac.uk/news/24473?d...
June 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I was thrilled to announce this today, at the @scurlscottish.bsky.social annual meeting, here @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social
www.abdn.ac.uk/news/24473?d...
www.abdn.ac.uk/news/24473?d...
Thread.
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The N8 Research Partnership has today released a landmark statement urging fundamental reform in the way scholarly research is published
June 12, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Thread.
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Thanks @louiscoiffait-gunn.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social for a shout out for @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social partnership with Aberdeen City to host a public library in our library building. That’s a good plug for my panel talk later! #cilips25
June 2, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Thanks @louiscoiffait-gunn.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social for a shout out for @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social partnership with Aberdeen City to host a public library in our library building. That’s a good plug for my panel talk later! #cilips25
Heading to Dundee to join a panel with @scurlscottish.bsky.social colleagues at #cilips25. I never tire of the view along the Scottish east coast, though many folk clearly aren’t ready for Monday morning and are napping with their window blinds down.
@cilipscotland.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social
@cilipscotland.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social
June 2, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Heading to Dundee to join a panel with @scurlscottish.bsky.social colleagues at #cilips25. I never tire of the view along the Scottish east coast, though many folk clearly aren’t ready for Monday morning and are napping with their window blinds down.
@cilipscotland.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social
@cilipscotland.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon Bains
Anyone sane urges Labour to root out Blue Labour to get back to being decent and intelligent.
Blue Labour group urges ministers to ‘root out DEI’ to win over Reform voters
Blue Labour group urges ministers to ‘root out DEI’ to win over Reform voters
Faction influencing No 10 says government should legislate against DEI in hiring, sentencing and ‘wherever else’
The Labour faction influencing Downing Street’s pitch to Reform UK voters has urged ministers to “root out DEI”.
An article from the Blue Labour campaign group, titled What is to be Done, calls for the government to legislate against diversity, equity and inclusion, echoing the rightwing backlash from Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
June 2, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Anyone sane urges Labour to root out Blue Labour to get back to being decent and intelligent.
The view from @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social this afternoon during a short shower. At least one of the ends appeared to be on campus. Goodness knows we could do with a pot of gold just now.
May 28, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The view from @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social this afternoon during a short shower. At least one of the ends appeared to be on campus. Goodness knows we could do with a pot of gold just now.
Reposted by Simon Bains
2024/25 SCOTTISH CUP WINNERS 🏆
May 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
2024/25 SCOTTISH CUP WINNERS 🏆
Reposted by Simon Bains
tired: people AI-generating rando images of themselves as anime
WIRED: AI’s energy use already represents as much as 20 percent of global data-center power demand, new analysis has found
WIRED: AI’s energy use already represents as much as 20 percent of global data-center power demand, new analysis has found
AI Is Eating Data Center Power Demand—and It’s Only Getting Worse
A new analysis of AI hardware being produced and how it is being used attempts to estimate the vast amount of electricity being consumed by AI.
www.wired.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
tired: people AI-generating rando images of themselves as anime
WIRED: AI’s energy use already represents as much as 20 percent of global data-center power demand, new analysis has found
WIRED: AI’s energy use already represents as much as 20 percent of global data-center power demand, new analysis has found
A snakebite and black toast to the @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social Open Research team for finding an open access publishing angle to World Goth Day 🦇 Kudos!
Happy World Goth Day! Remember there's nothing more counter-cultural than fighting for a more equitable and open scholarly publishing landscape. So here's a black cat in front of Slains Castle telling you to do your part for Open Research on our webpages! www.abdn.ac.uk/library/open...
May 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
A snakebite and black toast to the @aberdeenunilib.bsky.social Open Research team for finding an open access publishing angle to World Goth Day 🦇 Kudos!
I am in sunny Stirling for this event tomorrow, where I shall be ranting about the state of academic publishing to geoscientists.
I notice there are two #sages2025 hashtag events on Bluesky, and am guessing that this isn’t the one that’s discussing colorectal emergencies 🤔
I notice there are two #sages2025 hashtag events on Bluesky, and am guessing that this isn’t the one that’s discussing colorectal emergencies 🤔
Save the Date: SAGES Annual Science Meeting 2025!
📅 21st - 22nd May 2025
📍 University of Stirling, Pathfoot Lecture Theatre
🔗 Register here: sages.ac.uk/events/asm-2...
#SAGES2025 #AnnualScienceMeeting #EnvironmentalResearch #Geosciences #Networking #ClimateAction
📅 21st - 22nd May 2025
📍 University of Stirling, Pathfoot Lecture Theatre
🔗 Register here: sages.ac.uk/events/asm-2...
#SAGES2025 #AnnualScienceMeeting #EnvironmentalResearch #Geosciences #Networking #ClimateAction
ASM 2025 – SAGES
sages.ac.uk
May 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I am in sunny Stirling for this event tomorrow, where I shall be ranting about the state of academic publishing to geoscientists.
I notice there are two #sages2025 hashtag events on Bluesky, and am guessing that this isn’t the one that’s discussing colorectal emergencies 🤔
I notice there are two #sages2025 hashtag events on Bluesky, and am guessing that this isn’t the one that’s discussing colorectal emergencies 🤔
Reposted by Simon Bains
"Reading #ethnographies is a very important part of learning about #anthropology ... but there’s very uneven access to those books."
Find out why @robotforaday.bsky.social chose to publish his book #OpenAccess and remove barriers to teaching and learning in this new blog post:
👉 bit.ly/3ZlKK52
Find out why @robotforaday.bsky.social chose to publish his book #OpenAccess and remove barriers to teaching and learning in this new blog post:
👉 bit.ly/3ZlKK52
New St Andrews book from Scottish Universities Press – St Andrews Open Research
openresearch.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk
May 20, 2025 at 1:38 PM
"Reading #ethnographies is a very important part of learning about #anthropology ... but there’s very uneven access to those books."
Find out why @robotforaday.bsky.social chose to publish his book #OpenAccess and remove barriers to teaching and learning in this new blog post:
👉 bit.ly/3ZlKK52
Find out why @robotforaday.bsky.social chose to publish his book #OpenAccess and remove barriers to teaching and learning in this new blog post:
👉 bit.ly/3ZlKK52
It’s been six years now, and I’m still enjoying the novelty of working so close to the beach!
The best thing about Aberdeen might just be how quickly you can get from work to the beach with an ice-cream in your hand 🍦☀️🏖️
May 20, 2025 at 7:18 PM
It’s been six years now, and I’m still enjoying the novelty of working so close to the beach!
Reposted by Simon Bains
We're pleased to announce the release of the latest issue of the Journal of Scottish Thought, available #OpenAccess at jst.aberdeenunipress.org/issue/37/info/
This issue focuses on the Scottish Presbyterian minister and thinker, and American Founding Father, John Witherspoon
This issue focuses on the Scottish Presbyterian minister and thinker, and American Founding Father, John Witherspoon
May 16, 2025 at 11:16 AM
We're pleased to announce the release of the latest issue of the Journal of Scottish Thought, available #OpenAccess at jst.aberdeenunipress.org/issue/37/info/
This issue focuses on the Scottish Presbyterian minister and thinker, and American Founding Father, John Witherspoon
This issue focuses on the Scottish Presbyterian minister and thinker, and American Founding Father, John Witherspoon
Reposted by Simon Bains
Good piece from @richove.bsky.social on the threat of the US govt to libraries, archives and thus knowledge
on.ft.com/3FbaZ7h
on.ft.com/3FbaZ7h
May 13, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Good piece from @richove.bsky.social on the threat of the US govt to libraries, archives and thus knowledge
on.ft.com/3FbaZ7h
on.ft.com/3FbaZ7h
Librarian of Congress fired by Trump by email. I had the pleasure of meeting Carla Hayden in 2017 and hugely admire her commitment to access and opportunity for all. The antithesis of the present administration.
www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
Heinrich Reacts to Trump’s Firing of Librarian of Congress | U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, released the...
www.heinrich.senate.gov
May 9, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Librarian of Congress fired by Trump by email. I had the pleasure of meeting Carla Hayden in 2017 and hugely admire her commitment to access and opportunity for all. The antithesis of the present administration.
www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
This is a good response to recent criticism. PCE is doing the right thing. Now we need to focus on doing it right. That’s what the pilot process now underway is all about.
May 6, 2025 at 12:35 PM
This is a good response to recent criticism. PCE is doing the right thing. Now we need to focus on doing it right. That’s what the pilot process now underway is all about.