Headstrongways
@headstrongways.bsky.social
Rare books, manuscripts, special collections. Also allotments, nature, etc.
Nice blog on Royal College of Physicians collections from @girlinthe.bluesky.social - libraryservices.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2026/02/h...
Heritage Library, Royal College of Physicians – Library services
libraryservices.jiscinvolve.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Nice blog on Royal College of Physicians collections from @girlinthe.bluesky.social - libraryservices.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2026/02/h...
Reposted by Headstrongways
Coptic spell to Acquire a Beautiful Voice, 6th–7th century CE, Egypt, ink on papyrus, 37.3 x 25.4 cm (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven)
archives.yale.edu/repositories...
archives.yale.edu/repositories...
January 10, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Coptic spell to Acquire a Beautiful Voice, 6th–7th century CE, Egypt, ink on papyrus, 37.3 x 25.4 cm (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven)
archives.yale.edu/repositories...
archives.yale.edu/repositories...
Oral Histories of the Environmental Movement: Making an Activist Archive url: academic.oup.com/hwj/article/...
Oral Histories of the Environmental Movement: Making an Activist Archive
Abstract. This article considers the making of an archive of environmental activism through the life histories of 100 campaigners involved in environmental
academic.oup.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Oral Histories of the Environmental Movement: Making an Activist Archive url: academic.oup.com/hwj/article/...
Literary archaeology and a #provenance spreadsheet for Oscar Wilde manuscripts at @britishlibrary.bsky.social
Suzy Corrigan explores the provenance of Oscar Wilde’s manuscripts in the Eccles Bequest and describes the outputs of a PhD placement at the British Library www.bl.uk/stories/blog...
Researching manuscripts in the Lady Eccles Oscar Wilde Collection
The Eccles Bequest elevates the British Library as a premier site for Wilde scholarship.
www.bl.uk
January 22, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Literary archaeology and a #provenance spreadsheet for Oscar Wilde manuscripts at @britishlibrary.bsky.social
Reposted by Headstrongways
Great news here about Ronald Blythe's archive. (Keep an eye out, too, for what Essex Wildlife Trust is doing with his house, which was left to them: it needs a fair bit of work before it can be made accessible to the public but it's going to be great when that's done. www.essexwt.org.uk/bottengoms)
British Library acquires archive of rural life writer and essayist Ronald Blythe
British Library acquires archive of rural life writer and essayist Ronald Blythe
Exclusive: Collection includes workbooks and index cards, and papers that show his research for bestseller Akenfield
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Great news here about Ronald Blythe's archive. (Keep an eye out, too, for what Essex Wildlife Trust is doing with his house, which was left to them: it needs a fair bit of work before it can be made accessible to the public but it's going to be great when that's done. www.essexwt.org.uk/bottengoms)
Reposted by Headstrongways
The life of Frederic Madden, in his words, 200 years after the events described. Transcribed from his journal by students @ies-sas.bsky.social. Released daily in 2026.👇
madden1826.com
madden1826.com
Madden1826
Frederic Madden's Journal, 1826
madden1826.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The life of Frederic Madden, in his words, 200 years after the events described. Transcribed from his journal by students @ies-sas.bsky.social. Released daily in 2026.👇
madden1826.com
madden1826.com
Hurrah for the return of @britishlibrary.bsky.social Archives and manuscripts (interim) catalogue! This is a huge step forward
We’re excited to share our new main catalogue, making it easier for you to find and request the majority of our published collection. We’ve also launched an interim version of our Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Find out how to start searching and requesting on our website bit.ly/BLNewCatalogues
December 16, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Hurrah for the return of @britishlibrary.bsky.social Archives and manuscripts (interim) catalogue! This is a huge step forward
Reposted by Headstrongways
We installed a new Jane Austen display case in time for Jane's 250th birthday in December. The display is available in the Treasures Gallery (free) at the British Library in London until 15 March 2026. Blogpost: www.bl.uk/stories/blog...
November 20, 2025 at 4:10 PM
We installed a new Jane Austen display case in time for Jane's 250th birthday in December. The display is available in the Treasures Gallery (free) at the British Library in London until 15 March 2026. Blogpost: www.bl.uk/stories/blog...
Useful charm against rats for librarians and archivists (or any of us really) from @theul.bsky.social
Listen to two new choral works from the Timeline Choir inspired by our #CuriousCures exhibition! 🐀
‘A Charm Against Rats’ by composer Charlotte Baskerville is inspired by a 15th-century manuscript (@caiuscollege.bsky.social, MS 457/395, f. 1v).
Hear the full version: https://loom.ly/2fJO_xs
‘A Charm Against Rats’ by composer Charlotte Baskerville is inspired by a 15th-century manuscript (@caiuscollege.bsky.social, MS 457/395, f. 1v).
Hear the full version: https://loom.ly/2fJO_xs
October 29, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Useful charm against rats for librarians and archivists (or any of us really) from @theul.bsky.social
Hello Bluesky people! Rome info needed! Any tips for good things to see and do on a short visit (besides forum, Vatican, etc)? Especially nice eating places in Trastevere or centre?
October 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Hello Bluesky people! Rome info needed! Any tips for good things to see and do on a short visit (besides forum, Vatican, etc)? Especially nice eating places in Trastevere or centre?
New look for @britishlibrary.bsky.social blogs in future, plus access to archived blogs to come this month
Our blogs have a new look: bit.ly/BL-Blogs
All previously published blogs will be available in our archive, launching in coming weeks. Watch this space for an update on when that goes live.
All previously published blogs will be available in our archive, launching in coming weeks. Watch this space for an update on when that goes live.
Blogs and updates from curators, staff and guests - British Library
Get the latest stories and updates from our curators, cataloguers, reference staff and guest contributors. Find out more about amazing items in our collection.
bit.ly
September 30, 2025 at 10:19 AM
New look for @britishlibrary.bsky.social blogs in future, plus access to archived blogs to come this month
Reposted by Headstrongways
A semi-regular reminder that all our photos on Flickr Commons are public domain - you don't need to ask us to use them in any way you can imagine! Though we do love hearing about how you've used them, so you can let us know if you want
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/
British Library
Explore British Library’s 1,073,564 photos on Flickr!
www.flickr.com
September 29, 2025 at 9:49 AM
A semi-regular reminder that all our photos on Flickr Commons are public domain - you don't need to ask us to use them in any way you can imagine! Though we do love hearing about how you've used them, so you can let us know if you want
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/
Here it is! My second copy of @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social Ring The Hill, after the first one got eaten by Royal Mail. Looking forward to Everything Will Swallow You arriving this week too
September 9, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Here it is! My second copy of @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social Ring The Hill, after the first one got eaten by Royal Mail. Looking forward to Everything Will Swallow You arriving this week too
@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social (not sure how this even works - just spent half an hour cursing over bsky age verification and found I can't DM you anyway)
Alas, my envelope arrived damaged - minus the book! Do you have any more left?
September 5, 2025 at 11:38 AM
@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social (not sure how this even works - just spent half an hour cursing over bsky age verification and found I can't DM you anyway)
Looking forward to attending this next week very much. Great model for a conference - 3 afternoons, remote, and very affordable. Real accessibility boost. I heard there are even some places left!
We are delighted to announce that ✨booking is open✨ for #RBSCG25, the 2025 CILIP Rare Books and Special Collections Group conference.
Theme: Systems, Standards and the Discoverability of Special Collections
Dates: 3-5 September, afternoons
Place: Online
rbscgconference2025.eventbrite.com
Theme: Systems, Standards and the Discoverability of Special Collections
Dates: 3-5 September, afternoons
Place: Online
rbscgconference2025.eventbrite.com
CILIP RBSCG Conference 2025
Standards, Systems and Discoverability of Special Collections
RBSCGconference2025.eventbrite.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Looking forward to attending this next week very much. Great model for a conference - 3 afternoons, remote, and very affordable. Real accessibility boost. I heard there are even some places left!
Reposted by Headstrongways
Inspired by the #RBMS26 conference theme, I decided to invest in advocacy by fighting against the algorithmic internet and returning to blogging, and our old friend Tumblr. I intend to compile the news I share here once a week into a big reading list of links like the days of RSS. 📜
Post by @redrotmegaphone
💬 0 🔁 0 ❤️ 0 · Hello World · A blog in 2025? How quaint!
Tumblr in 2025? How quaint!
2025 inspires a return to quaint, I think. Remember the pre-algorithmic internet when we found things by RSS…
www.tumblr.com
July 24, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Inspired by the #RBMS26 conference theme, I decided to invest in advocacy by fighting against the algorithmic internet and returning to blogging, and our old friend Tumblr. I intend to compile the news I share here once a week into a big reading list of links like the days of RSS. 📜
@materialwills.bsky.social Enjoying the talks so much it's hard to concentrate on transcribe simultaneously #transcribathon
July 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
@materialwills.bsky.social Enjoying the talks so much it's hard to concentrate on transcribe simultaneously #transcribathon
Wonderful tales of the unexpected in Laura Sangha and Chris Hoban's creative approaches to wills #transcribathon @materialwills.bsky.social @lsangha.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Wonderful tales of the unexpected in Laura Sangha and Chris Hoban's creative approaches to wills #transcribathon @materialwills.bsky.social @lsangha.bsky.social
Reposted by Headstrongways
CERL - Consortium of European Research Libraries - is now on Blue Sky.
Our mission is to connect European book heritage with the world.
Expect to see news on rare books, manuscripts and events from our community.
www.cerl.org
Give us a follow!
Our mission is to connect European book heritage with the world.
Expect to see news on rare books, manuscripts and events from our community.
www.cerl.org
Give us a follow!
Supporting Europe's written heritage [CERL]
www.cerl.org
June 11, 2025 at 8:56 AM
CERL - Consortium of European Research Libraries - is now on Blue Sky.
Our mission is to connect European book heritage with the world.
Expect to see news on rare books, manuscripts and events from our community.
www.cerl.org
Give us a follow!
Our mission is to connect European book heritage with the world.
Expect to see news on rare books, manuscripts and events from our community.
www.cerl.org
Give us a follow!
Reposted by Headstrongways
Fully funded (4 year) PhD studentship supervised across Keele Univ. and the British Library: "Eighteenth-Century Knowledge Work in the Harleian Collection". You'll generate your own project focused on how this unique collection was created and used: www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Eighteenth-Century Knowledge Work in the Harleian Collection
www.keele.ac.uk
April 3, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Fully funded (4 year) PhD studentship supervised across Keele Univ. and the British Library: "Eighteenth-Century Knowledge Work in the Harleian Collection". You'll generate your own project focused on how this unique collection was created and used: www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgr...
For more on records of historic persecution of the Quakers, see this Quaker Strongrooms blogpost quakerstrongrooms.org/2012/06/06/q...
March 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
For more on records of historic persecution of the Quakers, see this Quaker Strongrooms blogpost quakerstrongrooms.org/2012/06/06/q...
Saw part of the Curious Cures exhibition on medicine in the medieval world at the opening last night @theul.bsky.social. Now really looking forward to a proper visit soon www.lib.cam.ac.uk/exhibitioncu...
Curious Cures: Medicine in the Medieval World
Saturday 29 March – Saturday 6 December 2025 Monday – Friday 9am – 6:30pm Saturday 9am – 4:30pm Closed Sundays Booking is essential. Entry is FREE. Book your free exhibition tickets here The Curious
www.lib.cam.ac.uk
March 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Saw part of the Curious Cures exhibition on medicine in the medieval world at the opening last night @theul.bsky.social. Now really looking forward to a proper visit soon www.lib.cam.ac.uk/exhibitioncu...
Reposted by Headstrongways
'Curious Cures...at Cambridge University Library... [results from] a project to digitise and catalogue more than 180 manuscripts, mostly dating from the 14th or 15th centuries, that contain recipes for medical treatments, from compendiums of cures to alchemical texts and guides to healthy living.'
Why the weasel testicles? Cambridge show explains medieval medicine
Exhibition aims to help visitors get inside the minds that thought mercury and roasted apples would cure lice
www.theguardian.com
March 28, 2025 at 6:58 AM
'Curious Cures...at Cambridge University Library... [results from] a project to digitise and catalogue more than 180 manuscripts, mostly dating from the 14th or 15th centuries, that contain recipes for medical treatments, from compendiums of cures to alchemical texts and guides to healthy living.'
Reposted by Headstrongways
And here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=crcP...
Virtual Library Visit - The Sinai Library: A Treasure Held in Trust
YouTube video by The Bibliographical Society
www.youtube.com
February 28, 2025 at 11:03 AM
And here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=crcP...