Jane Pothecary

The special issue of the Canadian Journal of Academic Librarianship on "Reflections and Speculations on Critical Librarianship" (which I co-edited with Sam Popowich and Lydia Zvyagintseva) is now available! Many thanks to the authors and co-editors: cjal.ca/index.php/ca...

🎉 We are happy to announce that bookings for Winter Event are now open! 🎉

Date: 25th February 2026
Time: 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Place: online

Book your place by filling out this form: bla1.glasscubes.com/form/75d132d...
Booking deadline: 12pm on 19th February 2026

NLISN conference 2026 call for contributions For the conference 16th / 17th July 2026 in Leeds. Form closes 2nd April 2026 at midnight. If more than one speaker is named, we will only contact the "primary" speaker whose contact details are asked...

Call for contributions for the first NLISN conference is open. We welcome anything related to neurodivergence and library, information, or archive work as short talks, longer talks, workshops or wildcard submissions.
Please submit your ideas via our form by 2nd April 2026.
forms.gle/y5SsGXZ4to2P...

There is an essential & extremely generalizable point here.

Critical thinking is a team sport. We all need metacognition buddies because human brains. It doesn't matter how quote unquote smart you are. Especially in the slop times.

The most pernicious aspect of ChatGPT is how it isolates minds.

"Hard times are coming, when we'll be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine real grounds for hope...realists of a larger reality."

Ursula K. Le Guin

After reading Rivals, I am slightly obsessed with 1980s ITV franchising. Desperately would love to read a proper deep dive into it!!

Kate Messner's School Librarian Advisory Team With recent shifts in social media, support for libraries, and school budgets, it feels more challenging than ever to connect kids with books they’ll love. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how au...

I have a few openings on my School Librarian Advisory Team for 2026 – if you're interested in taking the occasional survey, getting early copies of new books, & taking a peek behind the scenes of making kids’ books, it might be a good fit for you & your readers! Details: forms.gle/mkA9L5EuvjTu...

As an author, I’ve already gotten multiple emails from people asking me for fake articles and books that I’ve supposedly written, because chatbots have told them fake references. I *cannot imagine* the frustration and time waste for librarians and especially ILL library professionals right now.

Closing date today for Teaching and Library Assistant vacancy, Stephen Perse Junior Schools, Saffron Walden, Essex www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy...

**FT GRAD SCHEME**

applications are now open. Incredible opportunity for young wannabe hacks. Spread the word:

job-boards.greenhouse.io/financialtim...

Overhead view of a raked auditorium with an audience seated throughout

We can't help noticing that academic conference season has arrived! We hope everyone attending is having a lovely time but also thought it might be a good opportunity to share a thread on some top tips for an accessible conference experience, whether attending, presenting or organising 1/

We agree but add this: the #GreatSchoolLibraries campaign highlights that all children need a school library because adequately funded, staffed school libraries deliver enhanced & independent learning as well as reading & curriculum support & contribute to building lifelong readers. #Staffed

Love opening a conversation by randomly shuttering the biggest employer in most towns. The fact that this is clearly his pet policy line to get into the news isn’t really making it any better

I was asked for a comment on the UK's journal big deal negotiations. We are in a sector-wide consultation and so not appropriate to talk specifics - but there is an apparent lack of understanding by some publishers of the current financial position of UK HE

My 5 year old son is going through a massive Janet and Allan Ahlberg phase. He’s loving them all. Tonight we’re reading Funny Bones. Altogether now - there was a dark dark town…

I think my five year old is the only person pleased that England v Spain is going to penalties as it significantly extends his bedtime

Just want you to hear!!

Yes, that’s when I checked and it turned out I hadn’t had the mumps part. Might be worth checking!

"Be kind to yourself and hard on the system."

When there was a mumps outbreak at uni, I was shocked to find out I wasn't fully protected as I'd had all the jabs offered. If you're in this age range too, probably best to not assume you had the full MMR.

If you were born between 1970-1990 you may not have full MMR protection, even if you had parents who took you for all your jabs. The NHS will give you a free booster. With cases surging, this is a great way to protect yourself & your community. I’m getting mine tomorrow www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...

Is it normal for goalkeepers to *take* a penalty shootout?

Great thread on crafting alt text - I hadn't realised screen readers don't make it clear when they are moving from reading text in the main body to alt text.

Smiling woman with folded arms

Has a mentor made a real difference in your Professional Registration journey? Why not nominate them for CILIP’s annual Mentor of the Year award and help celebrate those who inspire and support others. Deadline: Friday 29 August. cilip.org.uk/page/Mentoro... pic.x.com/1iLjPHJ3hL

Project Manager, Green Library Hubs, Hybrid (Tavistock Square, London) Project Manager, Green Library Hubs Team/group: Research and Development Reports to: Director, Research and Development Normal place of work: Hybrid (London Office – Tavistock Square) Contract: Three ...

Are you an experienced Project Manager who's passionate about climate action? Join #CILIP as Project Manager - Green Library Hubs to lead the delivery of an exciting new #NationalLottery funded project. Deadline: Weds 16 July: informationprofessionaljobs.com/jobs/project...

Bigotry erodes the critical faculties because it is a cognitive shortcut: what you don’t care for, leaves you, and over time “should I google anything about Ian Wright or the England football team?” just gets eroded away.

Absolute Units: three very big sheep hover over the English countryside.

New Absolute Units episode!

This time, we're continuing our conversation with @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social by delving into the symbolism of pigs. What do pigs mean in our myths and religious texts? What do pigs teach us about ourselves?

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

Is anyone out there using Mentimeter for teaching #InformationLiteracy? I'm using it and liking the in-built interactivity but struggling a bit when I need to show something graphically. How are others finding it?

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.

Thanks for the reminder @janemunday.bsky.social. Every summer, I repost this article DROWNING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE DROWNING. To date, I know of FOUR kids who were saved after someone who'd clicked on the link learnt how to spot actual drowning. Take time to read and pass on.

slate.com/technology/2...

I don't think I have to tell most people who follow me why libraries are important, or that they're under threat in the UK. But I want to make sure everyone knows Lambeth libraries are going on strike and there's a solidarity hardship fund HERE linktr.ee/savelambethl... #KidlitUK #SaveLibraries