M. Brett
@mebrett.bsky.social
Historian (public, digital, Early United States), now in Libraries/Archives. You might have known me as magpie on the birdsite. All views expressed/re-posted here are solely mine & do not reflect any employer past, present, or future.
Very glad to have been able to catch up in person w friends in libraries, retail, and the public sector. The world is a mess (as it ever was) and I have a fantastic community.
November 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Very glad to have been able to catch up in person w friends in libraries, retail, and the public sector. The world is a mess (as it ever was) and I have a fantastic community.
Reposted by M. Brett
Part of me now has a new reason to pair Frankenstein (a novel about masculinity by a woman) with a novel by Richardson (a male novelist who was was good-against-his-will at voicing women, so much that his portrait of a “good man” was his only novel where the titular subject wasn’t the primary voice)
*whispers* It is a faithful adaptation of an early 1800s novel by a woman about an arrogant self centered man
Why are people
Why are people
November 8, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Part of me now has a new reason to pair Frankenstein (a novel about masculinity by a woman) with a novel by Richardson (a male novelist who was was good-against-his-will at voicing women, so much that his portrait of a “good man” was his only novel where the titular subject wasn’t the primary voice)
I used to be pretty good about journaling.
I haven't picked up my journal in months, there has been a LOT going on (in my personal life), and I've only got a bit of my current journal left.
So I should go buy a new journal this weekend, right? That will spur me back into the habit? ;)
I haven't picked up my journal in months, there has been a LOT going on (in my personal life), and I've only got a bit of my current journal left.
So I should go buy a new journal this weekend, right? That will spur me back into the habit? ;)
November 8, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I used to be pretty good about journaling.
I haven't picked up my journal in months, there has been a LOT going on (in my personal life), and I've only got a bit of my current journal left.
So I should go buy a new journal this weekend, right? That will spur me back into the habit? ;)
I haven't picked up my journal in months, there has been a LOT going on (in my personal life), and I've only got a bit of my current journal left.
So I should go buy a new journal this weekend, right? That will spur me back into the habit? ;)
Reposted by M. Brett
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
Reposted by M. Brett
Too often people don't see or hear the difference they make. It's a small thing, but amplifying the impact can help it to blossom and grow.
November 7, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Too often people don't see or hear the difference they make. It's a small thing, but amplifying the impact can help it to blossom and grow.
Reposted by M. Brett
Quite a headline.
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Quite a headline.
@virginiabarksdale.bsky.social went to the Indian place near the Giant that you recommended years ago. Absolutely delicious! and we (well K) were so effusive in praise that they gave us rice pudding!
November 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
@virginiabarksdale.bsky.social went to the Indian place near the Giant that you recommended years ago. Absolutely delicious! and we (well K) were so effusive in praise that they gave us rice pudding!
Reposted by M. Brett
Next week's free+public events @ Scholars' Lab: workshops & speakers on making (sewing tote bags, using hand tools for carpentry/etc DIY, crochet), zinemaking for advocacy, minimal computing for professional portfolio websites, & understanding AI benchmarks (measures of what/how well a tool works) +
Our fall term events are, as always, free & open to the public! More events to come, including invited speakers; & our many coming makerspace workshops don't get announced right when term starts (to give students time to design them). Our upcoming events are always listed at scholarslab.org/event
Events
The Scholars’ Lab
scholarslab.lib.virginia.edu
November 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Next week's free+public events @ Scholars' Lab: workshops & speakers on making (sewing tote bags, using hand tools for carpentry/etc DIY, crochet), zinemaking for advocacy, minimal computing for professional portfolio websites, & understanding AI benchmarks (measures of what/how well a tool works) +
Reposted by M. Brett
This zine is by our VR/AR/immersive specialist @arinbb.bsky.social, who collaborated w/an English prof this past year teaching students writing concepts by having them build a MUD (text-based game/interactive fiction where you describe spaces etc you see in writing). Link to download zine +
When I was at @scholarslab.bsky.social last week, I snagged a copy of this zine to give to my sister. We both played around on muxes and muds back in the day (aka the 90s).
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
November 7, 2025 at 10:29 AM
This zine is by our VR/AR/immersive specialist @arinbb.bsky.social, who collaborated w/an English prof this past year teaching students writing concepts by having them build a MUD (text-based game/interactive fiction where you describe spaces etc you see in writing). Link to download zine +
Reposted by M. Brett
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
When I was at @scholarslab.bsky.social last week, I snagged a copy of this zine to give to my sister. We both played around on muxes and muds back in the day (aka the 90s).
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
When I was at @scholarslab.bsky.social last week, I snagged a copy of this zine to give to my sister. We both played around on muxes and muds back in the day (aka the 90s).
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
Hanging out in a hospital waiting room today while a loved one has (fairly routine) surgery.
I am amused that my autocorrect keeps trying to turn my typo-d “hospital” into historical.
I am amused that my autocorrect keeps trying to turn my typo-d “hospital” into historical.
November 5, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Hanging out in a hospital waiting room today while a loved one has (fairly routine) surgery.
I am amused that my autocorrect keeps trying to turn my typo-d “hospital” into historical.
I am amused that my autocorrect keeps trying to turn my typo-d “hospital” into historical.
Voted.
I wonder if turnout will be average for a Virginia gubernatorial year or what.
I wonder if turnout will be average for a Virginia gubernatorial year or what.
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Voted.
I wonder if turnout will be average for a Virginia gubernatorial year or what.
I wonder if turnout will be average for a Virginia gubernatorial year or what.
Reposted by M. Brett
Scholarship on early American Jewish History? Give me your titles. Asking for a student. I'm out of my depth here.
November 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Scholarship on early American Jewish History? Give me your titles. Asking for a student. I'm out of my depth here.
Reposted by M. Brett
. @mebrett.bsky.social tip: if trying to read a crosswritten letter (old practice if saving paper by writing back at 90 degrees or other rotation of paper over the writing you received), taking the photo as an angle rather than straight from above (& then rotating & again at an angle) works better
October 30, 2025 at 5:27 PM
. @mebrett.bsky.social tip: if trying to read a crosswritten letter (old practice if saving paper by writing back at 90 degrees or other rotation of paper over the writing you received), taking the photo as an angle rather than straight from above (& then rotating & again at an angle) works better
Reposted by M. Brett
Today's @scholarslab.bsky.social Coffee+Code is @mebrett.bsky.social, Manager for Collections, Processing, & Digital Initiatives at the Jefferson Library at Monticello. Worked on @tropy.bsky.social teaching workshops, & presenting today on using it on her dissertation. +
Our fall term events are, as always, free & open to the public! More events to come, including invited speakers; & our many coming makerspace workshops don't get announced right when term starts (to give students time to design them). Our upcoming events are always listed at scholarslab.org/event
Events
The Scholars’ Lab
scholarslab.lib.virginia.edu
October 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Today's @scholarslab.bsky.social Coffee+Code is @mebrett.bsky.social, Manager for Collections, Processing, & Digital Initiatives at the Jefferson Library at Monticello. Worked on @tropy.bsky.social teaching workshops, & presenting today on using it on her dissertation. +
The season of hard memories has begun for me.
(Halloween through New Years)
Hug your loved ones, y’all. Record their stories. Take photos. Time is fleeting.
(Halloween through New Years)
Hug your loved ones, y’all. Record their stories. Take photos. Time is fleeting.
October 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The season of hard memories has begun for me.
(Halloween through New Years)
Hug your loved ones, y’all. Record their stories. Take photos. Time is fleeting.
(Halloween through New Years)
Hug your loved ones, y’all. Record their stories. Take photos. Time is fleeting.
Reposted by M. Brett
It’s #AskAnArchivist day! 📖📚 Let us know in the comments any questions you may have about what we do or how we archive materials in the Southwest Music Archive, and we would be happy to answer!
#AskAnArchivist #askmeanything #archivists
#AskAnArchivist #askmeanything #archivists
October 16, 2025 at 1:21 PM
It’s #AskAnArchivist day! 📖📚 Let us know in the comments any questions you may have about what we do or how we archive materials in the Southwest Music Archive, and we would be happy to answer!
#AskAnArchivist #askmeanything #archivists
#AskAnArchivist #askmeanything #archivists
It’s so frustrating when people express their anger at the folks who have no ability to fix things and/or were not a cause of the problem.
Y’all. Don’t yell at the retail clerk because you’re mad at the CEO.
Y’all. Don’t yell at the retail clerk because you’re mad at the CEO.
October 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
It’s so frustrating when people express their anger at the folks who have no ability to fix things and/or were not a cause of the problem.
Y’all. Don’t yell at the retail clerk because you’re mad at the CEO.
Y’all. Don’t yell at the retail clerk because you’re mad at the CEO.
Reposted by M. Brett
IKEA needs to do D&D figure models of the popular toys.
Particularly the Aftonsparv alien.
Smallest boy needs one.
Particularly the Aftonsparv alien.
Smallest boy needs one.
September 18, 2025 at 6:47 AM
IKEA needs to do D&D figure models of the popular toys.
Particularly the Aftonsparv alien.
Smallest boy needs one.
Particularly the Aftonsparv alien.
Smallest boy needs one.
Reposted by M. Brett
As someone who regularly jokes that she has a master's degree in 'stalking people on the internet' let me tell you that Alex de Campi is dropping lots of good advice here.
(I promise, I only use my library powers for awesome, I mean good. I use them for good)
(I promise, I only use my library powers for awesome, I mean good. I use them for good)
Gonna write some brief troll mitigation tips for you all because like any successful, happy woman on the internet, i’ve had ‘em
Tips break down into two main areas:
1. Defensive tactics: how not to make it easy for them
2. Offensive tactics: fuck ‘em up
🧵:
Tips break down into two main areas:
1. Defensive tactics: how not to make it easy for them
2. Offensive tactics: fuck ‘em up
🧵:
September 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
As someone who regularly jokes that she has a master's degree in 'stalking people on the internet' let me tell you that Alex de Campi is dropping lots of good advice here.
(I promise, I only use my library powers for awesome, I mean good. I use them for good)
(I promise, I only use my library powers for awesome, I mean good. I use them for good)
A note to say: I am still around. I just spend a *lot* less time on social media these days.
Some of that is the World Today. Some of it is that my graduation gift to myself was a gaming system and last Xmas I got Zelda: BotW. Some of it is going for caterpillar walks with a local friend.
Some of that is the World Today. Some of it is that my graduation gift to myself was a gaming system and last Xmas I got Zelda: BotW. Some of it is going for caterpillar walks with a local friend.
September 16, 2025 at 1:20 PM
A note to say: I am still around. I just spend a *lot* less time on social media these days.
Some of that is the World Today. Some of it is that my graduation gift to myself was a gaming system and last Xmas I got Zelda: BotW. Some of it is going for caterpillar walks with a local friend.
Some of that is the World Today. Some of it is that my graduation gift to myself was a gaming system and last Xmas I got Zelda: BotW. Some of it is going for caterpillar walks with a local friend.
Reposted by M. Brett
Local folks, Wed 9/17 5:30pm visit UVA Special Collections for the catered opening of a new exhibit of microexhibits. 48 of our library staff curated quick+deep dives into an "A-Z" of topics they care about in our collections, from Artist Books to Zines, Sea Monsters to Pandemic Books. Pls register:
Fall Exhibitions Celebration: 100 Years of VQR + ABCs of the UVA Library!
Be the first to view two new major exhibitions: a centennial retrospective of the Virginia Quarterly Review and the ABCs of the UVA Library
abc-vqr.eventbrite.com
September 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Local folks, Wed 9/17 5:30pm visit UVA Special Collections for the catered opening of a new exhibit of microexhibits. 48 of our library staff curated quick+deep dives into an "A-Z" of topics they care about in our collections, from Artist Books to Zines, Sea Monsters to Pandemic Books. Pls register: