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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Danny Kingsley @dannykay68.bsky.social · 16h

ATTACKS from bots are a major problem for libraries scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/10/07/g...
"Can we differentiate the behavior in our systems from the motives of the operating individual or organization, and should we be in the business of judging “good” and “bad” site visitors and uses?"

Guest Post - “Have You Proved You’re Human Today?” Open Content and Web Harvesting in the AI Era - The Scholarly Kitchen

AI web harvesting bots are different from traditional web crawlers and violate many of the established rules and practices in place. Their rapidly expanding use is emerging as a significant IT managem...

scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · 19h

Still time to sign up!

Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · 7d

Next Wednesday 8th October, 12.30-1.30: Jiří Vnouček on "A Tale of Two Parchments" - insular and continental parchment preparation.
In person: @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library, Lecture Theatre
Or livestreamed.
Free: book here visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/oct25/...

A tale of two parchments

In this talk, Dr. Jiří Vnouček discusses differences in species choice and membrane preparation of 'Insular' and 'Continental' parchment used for book-making in the early Middle Ages.

visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Erik Inglis @allthebeset.bsky.social · 4d

First time I’ve been a first to follow! Join me!

Liturgica Poloniae @liturgica-poloniae.bsky.social · 4d

The LITURGICA POLONIAE project, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science, has been carried out since 2022 at the Institute of Art, PAS. Our team catalogs 130 liturgical manuscripts c.1300 in Polish collections and abroad.

Join us on this journey! 🖋️

#manuscripts #medieval

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Lauren Randall @laurenrndll.bsky.social · 5d

CFP: “Shaping the Word: the Form and Use of Biblical Manuscripts in the Early Medieval West” at Durham University in July 2026. We are interested in a wide range of papers exploring ways in which scriptural texts (produced roughly c. 500-1000) were presented and used.

Durham Uni, 2–5 July 2026
From c. 500-1000, Christian scriptures were produced and used in a diverse range of forms and contexts. A manuscript may include a single biblical text (the psalter, a gospel), a collection of texts (the Hexateuch, the gospels), or, rarely, a complete “New Testament” or “Bible” in the modern sense. The distinctiveness of a manuscript is shown by content and textual affiliation, its palaeographical and codicological characteristics, and its paratextual features – from illustrations of biblical narratives, author portraits, and illuminated lettering to canon tables, capitula, prefatory materials, and glosses. Once in circulation, a manuscript’s contexts of use may also vary. Different uses correspond to different users with distinct and perhaps conflicting priorities/goals. Production and use(s) may occur at the same site or at far distant times and places.

This conference aims to explore topics related to both the physical presentation and the use of scriptural manuscripts produced in the Early Medieval period (c. 500–1000 CE). We welcome paper proposals from scholars working in all areas of this field, including PhD students. Whatever the specific topic, priority may be given to papers that also relate it to the wider focus of the conference on both “form” (or “production”) and “use”. We hope to be able to cover presenters’ full conference costs with the exception of travel.
Titles and Abstracts of proposed papers should be submitted to Lauren Randall (lauren.m.randall@durham.ac.uk), copied to Francis Watson (francis.watson@durham.ac.uk), by Monday 17 November. Abstracts should not exceed 150 words. Papers should be 25 minutes, allowing 20 minute discussion. There will be keynote papers/presentations. Please contact us if you have any questions!

This event forms part of our sub-project “Text, Format, and Reader”, focused on Codex Amiatinus and funded by the Glasgow-based “Paratexts Seeking Understanding” project (Templeton Religion Trust)

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Daryl Green @ilikeoldbooks.bsky.social · 7d

very pleased to be offering an open ended Archives Cataloguing post working with the University of Edinburgh's wide and deep literary archives. please do share with anyone interested! elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Scottish Literary Archives Cataloguer (Corson Endowment)

Scottish Literary Archives Cataloguer (Corson Endowment) The Opportunity: The Heritage Collections department is pleased to advertise an opportunity to join our team as the Scottish Literary Archives ...

elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Victoria County History @vch-home.bsky.social · 8d

#HistoryJob - just a reminder that our colleagues in VCH Herefordshire are looking for *two* contributing editors to bring their first #BigRedBook for over 100 years to fruition.

Details in the link, applications close on 10 October.

Contributing Editors at The Herefordshire Victoria County History Trust

Apply for the Contributing Editors role on jobs.ac.uk, the top job board for academic positions in higher education. View details and apply now.

www.jobs.ac.uk

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · 7d

Next Wednesday 8th October, 12.30-1.30: Jiří Vnouček on "A Tale of Two Parchments" - insular and continental parchment preparation.
In person: @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library, Lecture Theatre
Or livestreamed.
Free: book here visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/oct25/...

A tale of two parchments

In this talk, Dr. Jiří Vnouček discusses differences in species choice and membrane preparation of 'Insular' and 'Continental' parchment used for book-making in the early Middle Ages.

visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

laurajcleaver.bsky.social @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 14d

FRAGMENTS GALORE 👇

Dr Manuel Muñoz García @manuelmunoz.bsky.social · 15d

Now that I'm back in the UK, a little announcement: I'll be speaking at the Medieval Manuscripts Seminar (Senate House Library) on Tues 30th. Expect fragments galore!

The event is held in person & online!
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

Pieces of the past: the Small Fragment folder in the Rosenthal Collection at Keio University

ies.sas.ac.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Alex Bamji @alexbamji.bsky.social · 20d

Short-term post-doc for arts/humanities researchers! Do you love rare books, manuscripts, archives, art and/or objects? Would you like to explore one of our amazing Cultural Collections @universityofleeds.bsky.social for c. 6 weeks (longer part-time)? Find out more lahri.leeds.ac.uk/brotherton-f...

Brotherton Fellowship | Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute

lahri.leeds.ac.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

The Warburg Institute @warburginstitute.bsky.social · 21d

Interested in bookbindings?

Learn all about Greek-style bindings in early modern Venice in this talk and book launch with author Anna Gialdini in conversation with Nicholas Pickwoad

warburg.sas.ac.uk/events/greek...

8 October 2025, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

#BookBindings #EarlyModern #BookHistory

Greek-style bookbindings in early modern Venice and beyond

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

warburg.sas.ac.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Pieter Beullens @pieterbeullens.bsky.social · Aug 28

Want to work with the FitMA-team? Here is your chance! Join our great project and get paid for it! Two postdoc positions open! #classicsky #medievalsky #philsky
www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...

2 postdoctoral fellows for the ERC-project ‘Fluidity in the Medieval Aristotle. Readers and Readings of the Greek-Latin Translations’ (FitMA)

Intrigued by the Medieval Aristotle? Join our research group!

www.kuleuven.be

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · Aug 22

Enjoying the historically informed street signs in Basel. Why don't we see this in more places?

A Basel street sign. Small text underneath explains the origin of the street name.

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · Aug 7

Call for papers, Leeds IMC 2026 - Big data and medieval manuscripts. Please consider submitting a proposal!

Call for Papers for the International Medieval Congress 2026
6th–9th July 2026, University of Leeds, UK
Sponsor: ‘Enabling digital research on manuscript catalogue data,’ a project at the Bodleian Libraries,
funded by Digital Scholarship @ Oxford, which seeks to facilitate quantitative analysis of the Bodleian’s
western medieval manuscript catalogues.
Organisers: Dr Matthew Holford and Dr Sebastian Dows-Miller (Bodleian Libraries, University of
Oxford)
Computational research into the contents, codicology and history of medieval manuscripts is wellestablished. “Quantitative codicology” has since the 1960s used statistical analysis to explore topics
from the dimensions of the manuscript page to overall patterns of book production, but many research
questions remain open.
This session seeks to bring together scholars from across medieval studies who are engaged in the
examination of medieval manuscripts through the lens of ‘Big Data’, to facilitate cross-disciplinary
exchange within the still underdeveloped fields of quantitative palaeography and codicology.
We welcome proposals from all areas of manuscript studies. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
• Networks of texts and people associated with manuscripts.
• Quantitative approaches to the palaeographic analysis of scripts and hands.
• The application of AI and ML to large corpora of manuscript data.
• Issues of data quality and provenance in quantitative manuscript studies.
• The use of ‘Big Data’ as a tool for teaching manuscript studies.
Potential contributors interested in using the tabular outputs of the sponsoring project can find them at
the project’s GitHub repository
Please send abstracts of maximum 150 words, along with 5 subject keywords and your
contact details, to matthew.holford@bodleian.ox.ac.uk. The deadline for receipt of
these details is 23:59 BST on 29th August 2025.
If you would like to apply to the IMC separately for financial
assistance, see the their advice here.

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · Jul 25

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022... maybe? Not especially cheeky though

Woman’s name and tiny sketches found in 1,300-year-old medieval text

Exclusive: Old English name, Eadburg, repeatedly scored into manuscript had remained hidden for more than 12 centuries

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Mohamed Qassiti @mqassiti.bsky.social · Jul 24

Over 300 medieval #manuscripts from the collection of the Cistercian Abbey of Stams now digitised.
Thanks for sharing, @buecherwurm99.bsky.social!

#medievalsky

Petra Neussl @buecherwurm99.bsky.social · Jul 24

Über 300 mittelalterliche Handschriften aus der Sammlung des Zisterzienserstiftes Stams wurden im Rahmen des Projekts „Libri Stamsenses“ digitalisiert und stehen nun online im österreichischen Kulturpool (kulturpool.at/inhalte/ulb-...) zur Verfügung.
www.uibk.ac.at/de/newsroom/...

Mittelalterliche Tiroler Handschriften nun digital verfügbar

Über 300 mittelalterliche Handschriften aus der Sammlung des Stiftes Stams sind ab sofort im österreichischen Kulturpool online abrufbar. Die Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol (ULB Tirol) leist...

www.uibk.ac.at

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jul 24

Interested in rare books collections and all things library? We’re looking for a Graduate Trainee Library Assistant to join our team!
Find out more here:

jobs.reading.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Graduate Trainee Library Assistant :Whiteknights Reading UK

Full time, fixed term contact for 12 months

jobs.reading.ac.uk

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · Jul 20

In awe of the Comms person at Cambridge who has made a textual emendation based on a change of a single letter go viral.

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Leonie V. Hicks @lvhicks.bsky.social · Jul 12

Now, if you are wanting to read some good work on #BayeuxTapestry, here's a thread. By the way, the pun wasn't intentional on Wednesday and isn't now. I'm not that funny. First up: Gale Owen-Crocker, textile historian par excellence www.medats.org.uk/officer/gale... #medievalsky 1/

Gale R. Owen-Crocker – MEDATS

www.medats.org.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

Teaching the Codex @teachingcodex.bsky.social · Jul 1

Ever wished someone would sit down and explain how to collate an early printed book? The marvellous ‪‬@sianwitherden.bsky.social has done exactly that in a brand new series for Teachable Features: teachingthecodex.com/how-to-colla... #bookhistory #incunabula #teachingcodex

How to collate an early printed book

This mini series by Dr Sian Witherden (Rare books and manuscripts specialist) explains how to collate early printed books. These blog posts work through several practical examples from the Bodleian…

teachingthecodex.com

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · Jun 30

Also available in a more recent full digitisation! digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/d3ea...

Bodleian Library MS. Top. Glouc. d. 2

View high resolution digitized images of Bodleian Library MS. Top. Glouc. d. 2 Founder's and benefactors' book of Tewkesbury Abbey

digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · Jun 30

The Ramon Lull database www.ub.edu/llulldb/ is full of useful information. You do have to register for a free account to access it though.

Base de Dades Ramon Llull

www.ub.edu

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

KU Leuven Libraries Special Collections @speccoll-kuleuven.bsky.social · Jun 20

Are you a researcher working on book or reading culture in Flanders or the Netherlands? If so, you can apply for a fellowship from the Tiele Foundation. tinyurl.com/y24y2hxy

tinyurl.com

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Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · Jun 18

Great postdoc on the INSULAR project for an early medieval Germanist with manuscript interests

Alan van Beek @thiliel.bsky.social · Jun 18

In Göttingen ist eine Postdoc-Stelle (befristet) in frühmittelalterlicher Handschriftenkunde und germanischer Philologie ausgeschrieben: www.uni-goettingen.de/de/644546.ht.... Bewerbungsfrist ist der 14.07. #medievalsky

Stellenanzeigen - Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Webseiten der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

www.uni-goettingen.de

Matthew Holford @matthewholford.bsky.social · Jun 16

Isn't it wonderful. One of the highlights of the Siena exhibition.

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Reposted by Matthew Holford

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jun 16

We are celebrating the opening of Joyce’s personal archive next year, and displaying items which reveal more about the author behind the puzzles of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. The exhibition is in the Museum of English Rural life staircase hall from 7 Oct 2025 - 9 Feb 2026. More details to follow!

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