Jen Hillyard
@mininglibrarian.bsky.social
Library & Archives Manager at The Common Room in Newcastle and Business Development Manager for NAG. Ex Carnegie-Greenaway judge. Mobility issues thanks to MCTD - I’m the one with the purple crutches...
Disabled 🏳️🌈 parent.
Disabled 🏳️🌈 parent.
Inspired by @annewelsh.bsky.social to tackle some cataloguing backlog this afternoon!
November 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Inspired by @annewelsh.bsky.social to tackle some cataloguing backlog this afternoon!
Anyone else still waiting impatiently for the 10am email to book Fenwick Santa on the Roof? Or have they just forgotten me… 🥺
October 8, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Anyone else still waiting impatiently for the 10am email to book Fenwick Santa on the Roof? Or have they just forgotten me… 🥺
More “visiting other people’s libraries on holiday” again - this time at the V&A where part of the “Design 1900-now” galleries are surrounded by beautiful oversize books. Really enjoyed the exhibition - and checking out the book titles….
October 1, 2025 at 5:20 PM
More “visiting other people’s libraries on holiday” again - this time at the V&A where part of the “Design 1900-now” galleries are surrounded by beautiful oversize books. Really enjoyed the exhibition - and checking out the book titles….
I don’t get it… Why is it helpful for all the passengers for one station to use the same luggage rack? Doesn’t that create more congestion at exiting? #Lumo
October 1, 2025 at 7:56 AM
I don’t get it… Why is it helpful for all the passengers for one station to use the same luggage rack? Doesn’t that create more congestion at exiting? #Lumo
Following a procedure, the cat isn’t allowed out freely for another week but she was wailing so pitifully at the door that I relented.
It’s not like walking a dog though!
It’s not like walking a dog though!
September 23, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Following a procedure, the cat isn’t allowed out freely for another week but she was wailing so pitifully at the door that I relented.
It’s not like walking a dog though!
It’s not like walking a dog though!
Busman’s holiday!
Anyone else spend their days off at other people’s libraries?
Anyone else spend their days off at other people’s libraries?
August 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Busman’s holiday!
Anyone else spend their days off at other people’s libraries?
Anyone else spend their days off at other people’s libraries?
Really enjoyed the Ladybird books exhibition today at Ushaw College (nr Durham). Finishes 31st Aug so if you’ve been meaning to go…
August 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Really enjoyed the Ladybird books exhibition today at Ushaw College (nr Durham). Finishes 31st Aug so if you’ve been meaning to go…
She’s also pretty keen to come to work next week…
@thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
@thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
August 19, 2025 at 8:10 PM
She’s also pretty keen to come to work next week…
@thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
@thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
When you install a bouncy castle in your library so your five year demands to come to work with you that day…
@thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
@thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
August 19, 2025 at 8:09 PM
When you install a bouncy castle in your library so your five year demands to come to work with you that day…
@thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
@thecommonroomgn.bsky.social
I don’t know what wasn’t right, but the main plenary captions looked like this and kept skipping the final word of a line entirely. Font just too large?
July 31, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I don’t know what wasn’t right, but the main plenary captions looked like this and kept skipping the final word of a line entirely. Font just too large?
Yes we had a lovely time in boats on the river. I mainly remember that camping trip as the one where I had to help pack up a huge tent with Lucy in a sling on my back due to child grouchiness/clingyness. That was a challenge!
July 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Yes we had a lovely time in boats on the river. I mainly remember that camping trip as the one where I had to help pack up a huge tent with Lucy in a sling on my back due to child grouchiness/clingyness. That was a challenge!
Fantastic to be CBeebies prommers this afternoon up in Gateshead @theglasshouseicm.bsky.social and lovely to see the kids enjoying the atmosphere, the music and the beautiful videos of the animals.
July 27, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Fantastic to be CBeebies prommers this afternoon up in Gateshead @theglasshouseicm.bsky.social and lovely to see the kids enjoying the atmosphere, the music and the beautiful videos of the animals.
Eep! Journey down tomorrow! I’m sure I didn’t used to get this stressed about running events…. Perhaps it’s a middle aged thing imagining disastrous scenarios. Anyone else?
#NAGcd15
#NAGcd15
May 13, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Eep! Journey down tomorrow! I’m sure I didn’t used to get this stressed about running events…. Perhaps it’s a middle aged thing imagining disastrous scenarios. Anyone else?
#NAGcd15
#NAGcd15
Weird thing: I know a flare is coming when I’m using my wheelchair in my dreams… It’s like my brain is prepping me for the reality of the coming week!
Anyone else?
Anyone else?
March 31, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Weird thing: I know a flare is coming when I’m using my wheelchair in my dreams… It’s like my brain is prepping me for the reality of the coming week!
Anyone else?
Anyone else?
I tried but PayPal is having issues… will try later!
March 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I tried but PayPal is having issues… will try later!
Today is all about getting to the bottom of a weirdly numbered photographic negative collection. No volunteers, big table to myself and no distractions (except the wind….)
January 24, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Today is all about getting to the bottom of a weirdly numbered photographic negative collection. No volunteers, big table to myself and no distractions (except the wind….)
Snow dog!
After several ahem, incidents attempting to roll a standard snowman (we have a cat… she does not like the litter tray) we moved to a smaller safer option with snow safely gathered from the car!
After several ahem, incidents attempting to roll a standard snowman (we have a cat… she does not like the litter tray) we moved to a smaller safer option with snow safely gathered from the car!
January 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Snow dog!
After several ahem, incidents attempting to roll a standard snowman (we have a cat… she does not like the litter tray) we moved to a smaller safer option with snow safely gathered from the car!
After several ahem, incidents attempting to roll a standard snowman (we have a cat… she does not like the litter tray) we moved to a smaller safer option with snow safely gathered from the car!
I have neither the time nor the mental capacity for physical books at the moment but a combo of Terry Pratchett on BorrowBox eAudio and these Brian Bilston poems is keeping me sane!
December 22, 2024 at 7:28 PM
I have neither the time nor the mental capacity for physical books at the moment but a combo of Terry Pratchett on BorrowBox eAudio and these Brian Bilston poems is keeping me sane!
If they would just have a counter on these things, it would be a lot simpler…. But as not, I will improvise!
December 17, 2024 at 8:08 AM
If they would just have a counter on these things, it would be a lot simpler…. But as not, I will improvise!
When your cat sits down on your to-do list you know it’s time to stop for the day! Sorry @uklibrariesnag.bsky.social - your task list is under a cat!
December 9, 2024 at 5:10 PM
When your cat sits down on your to-do list you know it’s time to stop for the day! Sorry @uklibrariesnag.bsky.social - your task list is under a cat!
And delighted to see they are with us on the “railways are more than 200 years old and predate the S&DR!” message 🤣
December 4, 2024 at 6:52 PM
And delighted to see they are with us on the “railways are more than 200 years old and predate the S&DR!” message 🤣
Great to see our Tom Lamb images in the temporary exhibition about childhood! Very pleased to be able to help out.
December 4, 2024 at 6:50 PM
Great to see our Tom Lamb images in the temporary exhibition about childhood! Very pleased to be able to help out.
Some of the reports I have to catalogue today @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social are very dull but the covers are gorgeous!
Definitely a case of “Don’t judge a book by its cover” - you would be bitterly disappointed!
Definitely a case of “Don’t judge a book by its cover” - you would be bitterly disappointed!
November 21, 2024 at 4:19 PM
Some of the reports I have to catalogue today @thecommonroomgn.bsky.social are very dull but the covers are gorgeous!
Definitely a case of “Don’t judge a book by its cover” - you would be bitterly disappointed!
Definitely a case of “Don’t judge a book by its cover” - you would be bitterly disappointed!