@sharonmcmeekin
Digital preservation consultant with @preservetogether.bsky.social. Posts about digital preservation, archives, training, nerdy shiz, and photos of my pets, Pretzel, Ted and Finbar. #ActuallyAutistic Website: www.preservetogether.com
Would you or one of your service users/stakeholders relish the opportunity to join an ambitious, friendly network, helping to shape the future direction of #ArchivesWM, supporting #archive services across the West Midlands? The Board has 3 trustee vacancies from September 2026 - to learn more 👇
Guinness Archives guinness.access.preservica.com
University of the Arts London www.arts.ac.uk/students/lib...
BFI www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-national...
Digital Repository of Ireland dri.ie
Stanford Uni Email Archive epadd.stanford.edu/epadd/collec...
ESBH Records Office esccbhro.access.preservica.com
A graphic with white text on a purple background that says "Keep Calm and Be Pragmatic"
Really enjoyed talking to @araukie.bsky.social members today about the Levels of Born-Digital Access! The key message, as with all digital preservation, was about pragmatism. And apologies that my brain flatlined when asked about examples of online collections, but here are some as promised...
Amazing result for straightforward progressive politics 🎉 Fingers crossed it's the first of many.
It feels great to wake up to an election result that makes you feel buoyed rather than downtrodden. That straightforward progressive politics can win.
Sharon wearing rainbow glasses behind Pretzel the chug, giving him a kiss on the head
Great trip to London the last two days, but fab to be home in time to celebrate a few hours of my boy's 6th Gotcha Day. Love you, Mr Pretzel 🐕🎂💕
Off to London for a project kick-off meeting tomorrow. Really looking forward to this one, can't wait until I can share more. Also, super productive train journey so far, wish I could be this focused all the time!
This morning I posted our petition to get Palantir out of our NHS and our public services.
Over 40,000 people have now signed it - thank you.
Please do keep sharing!
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...
Our call for papers closes on 13 Feb. Theme is Authenticity: What of inevitable changes to the item to preserve them and/or make them accessible? Is accessibility the enemy of authenticity? Full info openingdoors-ara2026.eventsair.site/call-for-pap...
Joint paper proposal with @wisealic.bsky.social submitted to the @araconference.bsky.social with 8 days to spare. For once not the queen of the last minute scramble, very pleased with myself 🏆😂 #ARA2026
Today we launch new AI guidelines to help galleries, libraries, archives and museums prepare for the future - read more here: www.archives.org.uk/news/new-ai-...
But given the limited business activity involved the risk seems so small I wouldn't think you'd even need that unless you want to be super careful.
I imagine yours will be so simple you could figure it out yourself. The other main issue for sole traders is that legally you and the business are one, meaning that your personal assets would be fair game if anyone sued you for business malpractice. Professional indemnity insurance helps.
I looked into it a bit when Paul and I were setting up Preserve Together to see if we'd be better as 2 sole traders or a limited company. There's really not much to it beyond signing up to HMRC for self-assessment and then submitting the tax return. So accountancy costs can be one pitfall.
In Hot Fuzz when they took the care to show newspapers stored in proper archival boxes, but then have Sergeant Angel photocopying them willy nilly...
A large box of Lego, containing a model of Rivendell from Lord of the Rings
49 bags of Lego arranged in number order on the floor
Well, that's the rest of my Christmas holiday sorted...
Finishing Christmas off with one of my favourite movies, "When Harry Met Sally". I wrote an essay in one of my undergrad finals about the use of "It Had to be You" as a musical motif throughout the movie. A bittersweet rewatch 💔
An illustration of a Christmas cracker with confetti and the Preserve Together logo exploding out of the middle. A message above reads "happy holidays and all the best for 2026!"
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and much joy and success in 2026!
Really fucking weird. Sometimes just doing whatever simple self care helps us get through is what's needed, a fix isn't always immediately possible. Definitely a key lesson I've learned post-Austism diagnosis. Sending supportive vibes.
Congratulations! 🎉 And to Illinois for hiring someone awesome. Those will be some lucky students.
📢 ARA SAT is recruiting!
We’re looking for a Research Representative to join our committee in 2026. If you can bring insights from an academic/research perspective and help shape our programme of work, we’d love to hear from you.
👉 Full details: www.archives.org.uk/officer-vaca...
Same. My brain is definitely nothing but tinsel at this point. In related news, I quite enjoyed Champagne Problems, cheesy, but avoided some of the worst cliches of the genre. Also, Roberto made me laugh. I'll be using the bouncy castle line...
I've been on the fence about watching this one, but will likely give it a whirl now. Also, hard agree on The Holdovers.
Seems like it's not working for loads of people, me included.
Don’t wait on this one, book your spot now! Going to be a great webinar
A person sits at a desk in a dark room making high resolution photographic copies on a computer.
Send us your feedback on The National Archives’ digital capacity building strategy, Our Digital Century, that ends in 2026! Your responses to this survey will help us evaluate the programme and ensure future initiatives meet the sector’s needs: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/OISX44/
⏰31 January 2026 (1/2)
Any time 🥰
Two small dogs, a blonde pug cross and a border terrier, on a couch
I'm away for work today and this is making me miss my two idiots
Hundred percent. Anyone up before 8 during a holiday without a good travel or sightseeing reason is instantly on The List.
So jealous! Love a bit of Art Deco