Margy MacMillan
@margymaclibrary.bsky.social
Retired librarian with time on her hands, interested in pretty much everything, but especially wildlife/ecology, SoTL, Indigenous matters/decolonization, science, medieval literature…
Settler on unceded Songhees, Esquimalt & WSÁNEĆ territory.
Settler on unceded Songhees, Esquimalt & WSÁNEĆ territory.
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
This is a thoughtful essay on something I have been thinking about for a few months. It mentions doomscrolling twice and also points to when the reflex can be detrimental on a personal level and on a larger scale.
You’re not weak for avoiding bad news — you’re human. Behavioral science calls it the “ostrich effect,” a reflex to help the mind manage what it can’t control.
Inside the Ostrich Effect: How Ignorance Has Become a Survival Strategy
Research suggests our tendency to ignore bad news isn’t irrational — it’s self-preservation, and could help explain why older people are often happier.
bloom.bg
November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This is a thoughtful essay on something I have been thinking about for a few months. It mentions doomscrolling twice and also points to when the reflex can be detrimental on a personal level and on a larger scale.
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
There aren't really shortcuts to writing, the process is bumpy, you take the thing in your head and try to explain it to others. You can't delegate that to a machine that can't really see into your head. 🧪🩺 #ScienceSky
You must struggle through it because the struggle is the point.
You must struggle through it because the struggle is the point.
The enshitification of scientific publishing marches on. First arXiv had to clamp down on submissions thanks to a flood of AI-written papers.
Now ICLR authors say their peer reviews were churned out by AI. Reviews full of hallucinated content that didn’t exist and offering useless, vague feedback.
Now ICLR authors say their peer reviews were churned out by AI. Reviews full of hallucinated content that didn’t exist and offering useless, vague feedback.
Major AI conference flooded with peer reviews written fully by AI
Controversy has erupted after 21% of manuscript reviews for an international AI conference were found to be generated by artificial intelligence.
www.nature.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:47 PM
There aren't really shortcuts to writing, the process is bumpy, you take the thing in your head and try to explain it to others. You can't delegate that to a machine that can't really see into your head. 🧪🩺 #ScienceSky
You must struggle through it because the struggle is the point.
You must struggle through it because the struggle is the point.
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Anyway, if you’re in Columbus and would like to go to a public event I’m at, come to OSU’s campus on Friday for our symposium on Black and Indigenous citizenship—it will run from 10 AM-4 PM; morning session in Dulles Hall, afternoon session in Page Hall (east side of the Oval). Admission is free!
December 3, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Anyway, if you’re in Columbus and would like to go to a public event I’m at, come to OSU’s campus on Friday for our symposium on Black and Indigenous citizenship—it will run from 10 AM-4 PM; morning session in Dulles Hall, afternoon session in Page Hall (east side of the Oval). Admission is free!
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Disappointed to see this. 160 union workers are fighting for a fair contract at Individualized Shirts, a US factory that makes high-end men's button-ups. The managers there have rejected the union's request for fair wages and health insurance. The union is asking for support 🧵
December 2, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Disappointed to see this. 160 union workers are fighting for a fair contract at Individualized Shirts, a US factory that makes high-end men's button-ups. The managers there have rejected the union's request for fair wages and health insurance. The union is asking for support 🧵
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
New guide available, "Book Clubs in Academia: Why, How, and What."
This guide provides the information you need to successfully develop a book club immediately. Access it here: iteachhe.com/book-clubs-i...
This guide provides the information you need to successfully develop a book club immediately. Access it here: iteachhe.com/book-clubs-i...
Book Clubs in Academia: Why, How, and What - ITeach:
Why consider developing a Book Club at your institution/organization? Most importantly, because it fosters community by building connections with colleagues (and students if included) through shared r...
iteachhe.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:43 PM
New guide available, "Book Clubs in Academia: Why, How, and What."
This guide provides the information you need to successfully develop a book club immediately. Access it here: iteachhe.com/book-clubs-i...
This guide provides the information you need to successfully develop a book club immediately. Access it here: iteachhe.com/book-clubs-i...
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Oji-Cree multi-instrumentalist, Aysanabee has been on a run like very few others in the Canadian music industry.
Aysanabee has toured the globe, including places like Australia, Taiwan, and Norway.
Read more on this week's Face to Face:
Aysanabee has toured the globe, including places like Australia, Taiwan, and Norway.
Read more on this week's Face to Face:
Aysanabee still trying to process the last three years
Oji-Cree multi-instrumentalist, Aysanabee has been on a run like very few others in the Canadian music industry.
www.aptnnews.ca
December 3, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Oji-Cree multi-instrumentalist, Aysanabee has been on a run like very few others in the Canadian music industry.
Aysanabee has toured the globe, including places like Australia, Taiwan, and Norway.
Read more on this week's Face to Face:
Aysanabee has toured the globe, including places like Australia, Taiwan, and Norway.
Read more on this week's Face to Face:
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Somebody asked about this on another platform – and I'm once again grateful to libraries for reinvigorating anti-algorithmic means of discovery :)
They’re re-instituting the picture collection in the art department at the Free Library! (cc @dianakamin.bsky.social) www.instagram.com/p/C5rUmOzpxe...
December 3, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Somebody asked about this on another platform – and I'm once again grateful to libraries for reinvigorating anti-algorithmic means of discovery :)
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Read another thread in which academics discuss the labor of academic publication review — and I'm again reminded of all the systemic failures: commercial publishers pushing for increasing volume, big increase of AI-generated submissions, fewer secure faculty to take on the uncompensated labor...
Elsevier is pushing Design Studies to increase its annual volume from 30 to 250 articles, installing a hand-picked editor: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/2023/07/06/dispute-over-who-runs-elsevier-journal
Dispute over who runs an Elsevier journal
The publisher wants to replace the editor of Design Studies.
www.insidehighered.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Read another thread in which academics discuss the labor of academic publication review — and I'm again reminded of all the systemic failures: commercial publishers pushing for increasing volume, big increase of AI-generated submissions, fewer secure faculty to take on the uncompensated labor...
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
FWIW, I celebrate ILL in this recent article :)
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 AM
FWIW, I celebrate ILL in this recent article :)
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
The first of two wild and crazy things that were mentioned in an AI CoP session this AM:
Poetry can trick AI into ignoring safety rules, new research shows www.euronews.com/next/2025/12...
#jailbreaking #poetry #AI #chatbots #perfidity
Poetry can trick AI into ignoring safety rules, new research shows www.euronews.com/next/2025/12...
#jailbreaking #poetry #AI #chatbots #perfidity
Poetry can trick AI into ignoring safety rules, new research shows
Across 25 leading AI models, 62% of poetic prompts produced unsafe responses, with some models responding to nearly all of them.
www.euronews.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:03 PM
The first of two wild and crazy things that were mentioned in an AI CoP session this AM:
Poetry can trick AI into ignoring safety rules, new research shows www.euronews.com/next/2025/12...
#jailbreaking #poetry #AI #chatbots #perfidity
Poetry can trick AI into ignoring safety rules, new research shows www.euronews.com/next/2025/12...
#jailbreaking #poetry #AI #chatbots #perfidity
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
I hope reports like this directly result in more people leaving his platform and boycotting his products
Elon Musk’s charitable foundation grew larger than ever in 2024. But, for the fourth year in a row, the huge charity failed to give away the minimum amount required by law — and the donations it did make went largely to charities closely tied to Musk himself, who is the world's richest man.
Elon Musk’s Foundation Grows to $14 Billion, but Gives Little to Outsiders
The philanthropy has become one of America’s biggest, but most of its giving went to charities closely tied to the world’s richest man.
nyti.ms
December 2, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I hope reports like this directly result in more people leaving his platform and boycotting his products
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
We have 125 more calendars left to go to fully fund the 2026 Native Plant Project!
People who have received their calendars say they're even prettier in person, I'm just saying.
Get one at SquidFacts.net
People who have received their calendars say they're even prettier in person, I'm just saying.
Get one at SquidFacts.net
Hey, what are you gonna get for the office secret Santa?
For your mother in law who loves her bird feeder?
For your niece who loves whales?
For your dad who literally has no hobbies and you’re like “shit wtf do I get this guy”?
Get a love notes from nature calendar!
squidfacts.net
For your mother in law who loves her bird feeder?
For your niece who loves whales?
For your dad who literally has no hobbies and you’re like “shit wtf do I get this guy”?
Get a love notes from nature calendar!
squidfacts.net
December 2, 2025 at 3:29 PM
We have 125 more calendars left to go to fully fund the 2026 Native Plant Project!
People who have received their calendars say they're even prettier in person, I'm just saying.
Get one at SquidFacts.net
People who have received their calendars say they're even prettier in person, I'm just saying.
Get one at SquidFacts.net
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Thinking about publishing your #SoTL work? Check out ISSOTL's Teaching & Learning Inquiry! TLI publishes monthly, showcasing diverse, high-quality research, including empirical studies, essays, reviews, and innovative formats. Explore and learn more today! journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/TL...
December 2, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Thinking about publishing your #SoTL work? Check out ISSOTL's Teaching & Learning Inquiry! TLI publishes monthly, showcasing diverse, high-quality research, including empirical studies, essays, reviews, and innovative formats. Explore and learn more today! journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/TL...
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
💥New: Don’t rely on government to save the British Library
✍️ @simonxix.com
#BritishLibrary #HigherEducation #ResearchInfrastructure
✍️ @simonxix.com
#BritishLibrary #HigherEducation #ResearchInfrastructure
Don’t rely on government to save the British Library - Impact of Social Sciences
Following a catastrophic hack British Library remains in crisis. Can it recover by refocusing on the people, skills and systems that enable it to function?
blogs.lse.ac.uk
December 2, 2025 at 4:29 PM
💥New: Don’t rely on government to save the British Library
✍️ @simonxix.com
#BritishLibrary #HigherEducation #ResearchInfrastructure
✍️ @simonxix.com
#BritishLibrary #HigherEducation #ResearchInfrastructure
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
New blog post: Updates to the Ithaka AI Product Tracker – The Distant Librarian distlib.pival.me/updates-to-t...
#distlib #GenAI #Ithaka #tracking #RSS #Airtable
#distlib #GenAI #Ithaka #tracking #RSS #Airtable
Updates to the Ithaka AI Product Tracker – The Distant Librarian
The Distant Librarian
distlib.pival.me
December 2, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
A couple of weeks ago I spoke at the University of Minnesota on the topic of how AI would change science.
Now you can watch online (or get AI to summarize it for you.)
Now you can watch online (or get AI to summarize it for you.)
December 2, 2025 at 7:08 PM
A couple of weeks ago I spoke at the University of Minnesota on the topic of how AI would change science.
Now you can watch online (or get AI to summarize it for you.)
Now you can watch online (or get AI to summarize it for you.)
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Anishinaabe artist, Norval Morrisseau is considered to be the grandfather of contemporary Indigenous art in Canada.
The Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, SK took up the research into digitally collecting his work to create a free, public online database.
The Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, SK took up the research into digitally collecting his work to create a free, public online database.
The digital collection of Norval Morrisseau’s work is continuing in Saskatchewan | APTN News
YouTube video by APTN News
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Anishinaabe artist, Norval Morrisseau is considered to be the grandfather of contemporary Indigenous art in Canada.
The Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, SK took up the research into digitally collecting his work to create a free, public online database.
The Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, SK took up the research into digitally collecting his work to create a free, public online database.
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Well done to all -- especially the marmots! www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Endangered Vancouver Island marmot population rebounds to 427 | CBC News
When the Marmot Recovery Foundation first began releasing marmots into the wild in 2003, there were just 22 remaining.
www.cbc.ca
December 2, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Well done to all -- especially the marmots! www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Chiefs across the country are gathered in Ottawa this week for the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak gave opening remarks. Watch the full speech here:
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak gave opening remarks. Watch the full speech here:
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak full speech – AFN Special Chiefs Assembly | APTN News
YouTube video by APTN News
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Chiefs across the country are gathered in Ottawa this week for the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak gave opening remarks. Watch the full speech here:
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak gave opening remarks. Watch the full speech here:
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
We're still taking applications for these two 📚 positions!
Hi library 📚 colleagues! There are 12 days left to apply for two tenured, unionized positions at my academic library in Upstate New York. These are management positions that require supervisory experience, and the salary range for each is $85k to $115k. Details below, reposts appreciated! (1/4)
December 2, 2025 at 1:13 PM
We're still taking applications for these two 📚 positions!
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Congratulations @bookelf.bsky.social!
First @jinfolit.bsky.social published I've been Managing Editor for. There's such a massive team behind this publication, so much work goes into it. Very proud.
December 2, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Congratulations @bookelf.bsky.social!
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
We've put together a 25-day advent calendar showcasing Library and Archives collections. Enjoy! 2. Red and Yellow Maccaw (Macrocercus aracanga), Edward Lear (publ. 1832). Did you know... #adventcalendar #Christmas #SpecialCollections #Art #NaturalHistoryMuseum Alt text: a red and green parrot
December 2, 2025 at 9:01 AM
We've put together a 25-day advent calendar showcasing Library and Archives collections. Enjoy! 2. Red and Yellow Maccaw (Macrocercus aracanga), Edward Lear (publ. 1832). Did you know... #adventcalendar #Christmas #SpecialCollections #Art #NaturalHistoryMuseum Alt text: a red and green parrot
Reposted by Margy MacMillan
Out now: Vol. 19, No. 2 (2025)
Editorial: Alison Hicks on silence in #InfoLit.
3 research articles: critical and workplace IL, service-learning, IL framework in schools.
5 project reports: reflection, pop culture, outreach, children’s IL, curriculum mapping.
journals.cilip.org.uk/jil/issue/vi...
Editorial: Alison Hicks on silence in #InfoLit.
3 research articles: critical and workplace IL, service-learning, IL framework in schools.
5 project reports: reflection, pop culture, outreach, children’s IL, curriculum mapping.
journals.cilip.org.uk/jil/issue/vi...
Vol. 19 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Information Literacy
| Journal of Information Literacy
journals.cilip.org.uk
December 2, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Out now: Vol. 19, No. 2 (2025)
Editorial: Alison Hicks on silence in #InfoLit.
3 research articles: critical and workplace IL, service-learning, IL framework in schools.
5 project reports: reflection, pop culture, outreach, children’s IL, curriculum mapping.
journals.cilip.org.uk/jil/issue/vi...
Editorial: Alison Hicks on silence in #InfoLit.
3 research articles: critical and workplace IL, service-learning, IL framework in schools.
5 project reports: reflection, pop culture, outreach, children’s IL, curriculum mapping.
journals.cilip.org.uk/jil/issue/vi...