David Prosser

Coming full circle at #WLIC2027 🟢

A century after 15 library associations first came together in Edinburgh to establish #IFLA, we will return to the UK to celebrate 100 years of global #library work.

Read the full statement https://tr.ee/ePvIBm

#IFLA100

Editorial Freedom in Academic Publishing: On the First Decade of the Open Library of Humanities This editorial commemorates the tenth anniversary of diamond open access journal publisher the Open Library of Humanities (OLH) and its flagship journal, the Open Library of Humanities journal (OLHJ)....

It's 10 years since the Open Library of Humanities published its first article. Since then, OLH has published 13,000 open access scholarly articles which have been downloaded over 8 million times.

This excellent editorial by Rose looks back at that decade.

olh.openlibhums.org/article/id/2...

Thinking about it, I wonder if exposure to excellent, varied library spaces as students is now setting expectations for them of what the work place should be like…

Research on work culture shows "a bigger contributor to happiness is whether there’s a range of working environments when we get to the office." (www.makeworkbetter.info/p/we-need-to...)

Something university libraries worked out ages ago - quiet study, louder areas, collaborative work spaces, etc

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Delta Think News & Views: Market Sizing Update. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Our annual update on shifts in Open Access content including context and long-term trends

Thanks for the shout out @davidprosser.bsky.social! Register below to join our upcomingwebinar for a deeper dive into this data and related trends.

us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Although it is concerning that we appear to have plateaued at 50%

Always interested in @deltathink.bsky.social analysis of the journals market and their conclusion that OA makes up 50% of total article output but only 25% of market value. Hard to escape the conclusion that OA costs us less...

www.deltathink.com/news-views-m...

Screenshot of Zoom discussion with Geraldine Hunwick, Holly Smith, Sarah Aitchison, Erika Delbecque, and Christopher Cipkin on screen.

Thanks to Geraldine Hunwick, Rosaleen Williams, Holly Smith, Sarah Aitchison & Erika Delbecque @ncllibspeccoll.bsky.social @leedsunilibraries.bsky.social @ucllccos.bsky.social for speaking to #RLUKICIL on how collections can help libraries meet #EDI goals

📺 Watch a recording at bit.ly/ICILOND

The @cilip.bsky.social Metadata and Discovery Group is convening a series of WorldCafes on WorldCafe on Subject Indexing, with the first one in London on 26th November:

www.cilip.org.uk/events/Event...

Pink unlocked padlock floating against a soft pink background symbolizing open access in science and scholarship for Open Access Week 2025.

The #IFLA Open Science & Scholarship Advisory Committee celebrates Open Access Week 2025 🌐✨

This year’s theme, “Who Owns Our Knowledge?”, highlights the critical role of #libraries in supporting researchers’ rights, open infrastructures, and information literacy.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/47nhiyU

One of the joys of Radio 3 news was it was always just the newsreader. A few months ago they added one sound bite into each 8:00 bulletin. It adds nothing to the pleasure of breakfast- especially this morning as it was Jenrick

The Board was very pleased to approve that DOAJ recommit to the Principles of Open Scholarly Infrastructure. We believe that engagement with POSI over the past few years has strengthened the DOAJ. @doaj.bsky.social

blog.doaj.org/2025/10/20/d...

Three global experts discuss ‘Practical Open Access for Everyone’ Oct. 23 online | Penn State University Penn State University Libraries will host three of the world’s foremost experts on the subject of open access during a public online panel discussion, “We Are Enough: Practical Open Access for Everyon...

Reminder about next week's online panel.

www.psu.edu/news/univers...

Open and Engaged 2025 | Open and Engaged 2025 Who Owns Our Knowledge? Exploring ownership, access, and stewardship of cultural heritage in the new era.

The British Library is hosting its annual virtual Open and Engaged Conference over three non-consecutive afternoons: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, this week, as part of International Open Access Week.

More details and registration at: openscholarship.gitbook.io/open-and-eng...

I was very sorry to miss what looks like a fabulous event last week in Manchester to celebrate 175 years of the Public Libraries Act. We in research libraries recognise the importance of supporting our fabulous, but under-resourced, public libraires #Libraries175

Rachel Reeves pledges a library in every primary school in England Exclusive: Chancellor also set to unveil plans to get young people back into work in party conference speech

This is a very welcome development indeed IF the recurrent costs of funding school librarians is fully budgeted. ‘A pile of books is no more a library than a crowd of soldiers is an army’ to quote Gabriel Naudé who figured this out … 400 years ago… www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Research Catalyst Cohort 2025-26 announced This programme consists of a tailored cohort training programme, open events, case studies, and resources to support colleagues working across the academic library community to develop their research ...

We’re delighted to announce the third #RLUK #AHRC @armauk.bsky.social Research Catalyst Cohort #REPRCC for academic libraries.

Over the next year they will develop their research confidence, skills & capabilities

bit.ly/47JXXty

🎉 Congratulations #librariesXresearch cohort! 👇

The unknown Manchester lady who funded a Hogswart-style library How Cuban-born Enriqueta Rylands spent more than £100m to set up the John Rylands Library.

Or, well-known Manchester lady who founded an amazing library ! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Last Night of the Proms flag waving audience

Last Night of the Proms audience and orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall

I’m not a natural flag waver. But having been to more than five proms this year we got into the ballot for the Last Night. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But slightly odd. Musically least satisfactory Prom I’ve been to this season and hard to tell how ironically people took it

A real pleasure to be at the launch of the #LightbulbMoments exhibition at the University of Liverpool's Victoria Gallery and Museum. An excellent exhibition in a fabulously refurbished space

A quote from the booklet on the impossibility of keeping up with the ever-growing literature

Some things don’t change…

The brown cover of a 1925 booklet containing a speech on special libraries

As a result of a clear-out I have been gifted this 100-year-old booklet with the text of ‘a paper read before the Library Association Conference, Birmingham, September, 1925’

The Liver Birds against a bright blue sky

No prizes for guessing where I am…

Neo-gothic corridor in the John Rylands Library

Main reading room of the John Rylands Library - a cathedral to knowledge in the Victorian neo-gothic style

Always a treat to visit Manchester University’s John Rylands Library. Today for a meeting of the RLUK Collections Strategy Network

Edward Boyle Library - Associated Architects Upgrading the student experience was key in our reinvigoration of the Grade II Listed modernist library.

Built in 1975. It’s where I did all my revision.

It was refurbished about 10 years ago and was looking rather splendid. associated-architects.co.uk/project/edwa...

I got a graduation handshake as well - Leeds 1988

There would have been a pic, but my parents double-exposed the film on a beach holiday later that summer…

Wow!

🔵 #RLUK26 #CFP | Stewardship in challenging times:
the role of libraries in supporting civic society

📣The Call for papers is now open for the #RLUK26 virtual conference being held on 25-27 March 2026. The conference is open to all.

🔗 Find out more at bit.ly/RLUKconf

The @doaj.bsky.social is consulting on whether to retire their Added/Withdrawn change logs. There is a short survey and feedback is very welcome:

blog.doaj.org/2025/07/14/l...

Description Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...

Imperial is recruiting for a newly-created role of Deputy University Librarian:

www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...