Richard Ovenden

Thanks for upping this, John. #BurningtheBooks keeps being an authoritarian priority across the globe ...

This is an excellent thread by my colleague @kastrel.bsky.social (in the Health Care Libraries team @bodleian.ox.ac.uk)

Reform-run council says free library scheme for refugees ‘is not value for money’ Party withdraws all Lancashire libraries from City of Sanctuary UK programme that supports new arrivals to UK

Free people read freely - unless you live in a council where political interference puts a stop to it. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

YouTube video by Henrike Lähnemann New discoveries in Oxford's Chinese collections (Mamtimyn Sunuodula)

Learn about some significant new finds in Bodleian Libraries’ Chinese collection including an important missing page from the world’s earliest text of Cantonese opera safely hidden inside a 40-volume imperial dictionary, two leaves of a rare copper plate print album commissioned by Kangxi Emperor.

Blue skies and Bluesky! @bodleian.ox.ac.uk

We basically have the full deck here @bodleian.ox.ac.uk @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social @morethanadodo.bsky.social @pittriversmuseum.bsky.social @hsmoxford.bsky.social

Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds Cognitive health in later life is ‘strongly influenced’ by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments, say researchers

The study points to using libraries and visiting museums as bringing these enormous brain health benefits ... who would have thought? Well, librarians and museum folk for a start ... www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Oh this is very sad news. He was a real hero. -gave evidence in the trials of Milosevic and Mladic at the Hague - he faced the monsters. He showed us how libraries are of crucial importance for their communities - esp when they are deliberately targetted. I celebrated his work in #Burningthebooks

Incredible sunset from my office @bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Belgian museum caught in row over trove of DR Congo mineral records KoBold Metals and DR Congo are pushing a Brussels museum to release records that would help map valuable metals

Extremely interesting case relating to responsibilities for providing access to colonial archives that have a significant commercial relevance ... giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

'Always verify your references' was his sage advice to younger scholars. Still apposite in our current information age ... his personal library is a jewel of @dulib.bsky.social

Oh crikey

Bravo Fiona!

Really enjoyed my conversation with Sophie Gee for @slobpodcast.bsky.social on the #Frankenstein MS @bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Thank you Sebastian!

Upper Reading Room as a place of manifold happinesses

Oxford Bar

I have rung the bell many times but I think it is covered in my job description under the ‘other duties as required’ section …

Getting ever so slightly lighter on Port Meadow

Not sure Matt, but Ian did ask me for some advice on the library-related parts of the book ...

The funeral of Martin Parr was a very moving occasion yesterday. The tributes and memories reflected the emotions of those gathered, sadness that he had left us too soon, but heartfelt thaks for his life, work and friendship.

The funeral of Martin Parr was a very moving occasion yesterday. The tributes and memories reflected the emotions of those gathered, sadness that he had left us too soon, but heartfelt thaks for his life, work and friendship.

Trump’s actions are illegal – but his greed may hold him ... The absurd logic of Trump’s actions is that other countries are free to indict whoever they wish in another land, abduct them and then put them on trial

Thanks goodness for the clear and precise analysis on the US actions in Venezuela, and what might be coming in Cuba or Greenland, in terms of international law from @philippesands.bsky.social in this weekend's @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

We Canadians are struggling to comprehend the bully next ... Donald Trump’s neo-imperialist ambitions have put our long history of mutuality on the line. Now we talk about how to deal with an invasion, and even a nuclear deterrent

As usual a fine piece in @theobserveruk.bsky.social by the great Margaret MacMillan on the view from Canada on their near neighbours … observer.co.uk/news/interna...

Dont keep us in suspense!

solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/permalink/44...

Far from being past their shelf life, libraries are essen... These vital institutions can launch businesses and reduce the need for social care

Excellent piece on the continuing value of libraries from Martha Gill in @theobserveruk.bsky.social - pleased to be quoted in it. observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

My tribute to the late great Martin Parr is in @theobserveruk.bsky.social tommorrow. He was taken from us way too soon observer.co.uk/obituary/lov...

The pioneering light boxes helping Orkney islanders avoid seasonal affective disorder Wintering Well boxes to counter effects of low light on mental health are ‘super popular’, says island librarian

Amazing service from Orkney Libraries! I could do with one of these light boxes myself …. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Lee Friedlander’s festive fixation | The Observer The American photographer spent 70 Christmases capturing over-the-top shopfronts, snowy yards and roadside curiosities. He explains why

Delighted to see the great Lle Friedlander feature in @theobserveruk.bsky.social this weekend - an early Christmas present! observer.co.uk/culture/phot...