BB25007 Imaginarium Books V01 181225

 Here’s what I found about The Imaginarium, often referred to as Imaginarium Books:

📚 What It Is

The Imaginarium is an independent, family-run bookshop located in Lymington, in the New Forest, England. It focuses on providing a curated and personal book-buying experience rather than mass retailing, with a strong emphasis on connecting readers with great stories rather than algorithms. 

🌟 Specialties & Offerings

• Sci-Fi & Fantasy Focus: While the shop carries books across genres, it’s particularly well known for having one of the best selections of science fiction and fantasy titles available in a UK independent bookstore. 

• Diverse Inventory: They offer both new and pre-loved books, including fiction, non-fiction, local interest titles, signed editions, rare books, and special editions. 

• Book Sourcing: If a particular book isn’t in stock, they can often order it in for you on request. 

📍 Atmosphere & Community

• The shop aims to create a welcoming, story-centred environment where customers can browse at leisure and get tailored recommendations from knowledgeable staff. 

• It hosts book clubs and events and supports local authors and charities, helping foster a community of readers and writers. 

• The owners and staff are described as passionate and helpful, adding a personal touch that many customers appreciate. 

🐾 Fun Extras

• The shop even has resident shop dogs that contribute to its friendly, welcoming vibe. 

🛍️ Visiting & Contact

• Address: 10 Angel Courtyard, High Street, Lymington, SO41 9AP, UK. 

• They also sell books online through their website and via Bookshop.org to support independent bookshops. 

In short, Imaginarium Books is a cozy, community-oriented independent bookshop with a particular strength in speculative fiction and a strong commitment to the joy of reading. Let me know if you want tips on visiting or similar bookshops elsewhere!

BB25006 Archiving the Internet V01 051225

As part of “Book on Book” will be information on Physical Libraries  and Digital Libraries with internet crawling and data capture for achiving purposes an important part of the informational cataloguing area.

 https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/intro/intro.shtml

You can view a huge junk of internet that has be crawled and extracted on this site below but getting at it seems a bit technical.

www.commoncrawl.org 

This link below is a paper that has been written based upon the use of the Common Crawl Corpus data looking where  geospatial information is being used on the internet.

https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3678717.3691286

BB25005 British Library Disaster. V01 051225

 Shhhh! The British Library is in crisis — and the staff are revolting

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Richard Morrison

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The British Library

Next image ›

How are things these days in the academy for secret police, as King Charles famously described the British Library when Colin St John Wilson’s building was new in 1998? Well, the building itself — a vast, impassive modernist riposte to the gothic gargoyles and spires of George Gilbert Scott’s St Pancras station next door — is doing fine. It’s now even grade I listed, which must amuse King Charles no end.

But inside those bland red-brick bunkers? The BL’s regular users and staff live in a world of words — perhaps a trillion of them contained in 14 million books and 150 million other items. So they have plenty of vocabulary all around them. Yet it’s amazing how the same handful of adjectives keep cropping up when insiders describe the present state of affairs. Disastrous, dysfunctional and demoralising are favourites. And since the BL gets £136 million of taxpayers’ money each year, that should concern us all, not just the academics who use it most often. What’s going on?

The answer next week will be “not a lot” because 300 of the BL’s staff will be out on strike, for the second time this autumn. Their grievance? Partly it’s about their pay, which is low anyway and certainly hasn’t kept pace with inflation, or (according to their union, the PCS) with the inflated salaries and bonuses awarded to the BL’s executives.

It’s also about the debilitating stress on staff caused by a crippling cyberattack. That was inflicted in October 2023 by Rhysida, a ransomware gang believed to be based in former Soviet republics. Rhysida hacked into the BL’s computer systems then demanded a £600,000 ransom. As a government-funded public body the BL was not permitted to pay that but there’s no denying that giving in to the criminals’ demands (as a lot of private corporations are said to do) would have been a lot cheaper than repairing the damage then inflicted by the gang — a massive technological rebuilding task that is believed to have cost £7 million already.

But the main trouble is that, two years on, some damage is still not repaired. We all applaud when great libraries and museums say they are “digitising their collections”. It suggests that amazing intellectual riches are being made available to everyone at the press of a button. And so they are. The downside is that when “computer says no” — a spectacularly big no, in this case — the entire institution breaks down. With online catalogues unavailable, book-retrieval systems unusable and archives unreachable, the BL was effectively paralysed.

At first people were sympathetic, particularly as the library bravely published a frank and detailed admission of what went wrong, something rarely done by private companies that have been hacked. But as the weeks of disruption turned into months and now years, the army of scholars who depend on the BL for their research have become increasingly angry and the staff (many of whom had their personal information dumped onto the dark web) have become exhausted by trying to do manually some of the thousands of tasks that the computers are supposed to do.

A crippling cyberattack left the staff in disarray 

In short, the place is in disarray. And the reason this has gone on for so long without anyone outside the library community caring very much says a lot about modern Britain. It’s not that we don’t, as a nation, value research. Medical breakthroughs, scientific advances, the world-changing claims of the AI pioneers, the jaw-dropping investments of the tech bros — these are constantly in the news. But what happens at the BL is, mostly, the wrong kind of research. It’s about the dull old humanities, not the cutting-edge sciences. It mostly looks backwards, not forwards. So it’s regarded, not least by our political leaders, as a backwater.

What, though, of the BL’s leadership? Another tale of woe. A former BBC exec called Roly Keating ran the BL for 12 years and it was on his watch that the cyberattack happened. He later admitted that the BL had failed to invest enough in IT systems and staff. Nevertheless he accepted a £10,000-plus bonus in the year after the attack, then resigned.

His successor, Rebecca Lawrence, was previously chief executive of the Crown Prosecution Service, which she left after bringing a case against the CPS for age and sex discrimination. She arrived at the BL on January 2 this year and resigned on November 3 — no public reason given. Great appointment.

Now the library is being led on an “interim” basis by one of its board members, Jeremy Silver. He at least has a background in digital technology as the former chief executive of Digital Catapult, a government-funded research lab. But he will need to deal with the disgruntled humans under his command before he gets to grips with the outdated technology.

Bizarrely all this trouble is happening alongside extraordinary announcements about the BL’s future. It has entered into partnership with the Japanese developer Mitsui Fudosan (which has a stake in several high-profile developments across London) to build a huge £1.1 billion extension to the library by 2032. The idea is that the site (north of the library) will house commercial life-science and tech companies as well as new entrances, foyers and exhibition spaces for the BL.

All of which is exciting but worrying. Did nurturing this ambitious plan distract the BL’s board and management at the very time when the cyberattack required their total attention? Will raising the hundreds of millions of pounds of private finance and philanthropy required for the extension have implications for less glamorous parts of the BL’s operations (for example, being a competent library)? And isn’t the huge emphasis on science and technology in the new development an ominous indication that the BL is acquiescing to the general anti-humanities drift in British culture?

Let’s hope the interim chief executive, or his successor, lasts long enough to come up with reassuring answers.

BB25004 Midlands Secondhand Book Shops. V01 051225

 ChatGPT Question

Write me a book that describes all the significant secondhand bookshops in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire essentially the Midland Counties. Include their exact location and a write up on what they offer. 

ChatGPT Answer

Great — I’ve put together a guidebook-style regional survey of significant second-hand & antiquarian bookshops across the Midland counties you named: Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, and Gloucestershire.

It includes each shop’s exact location (address or clear place), a compact write-up of what they offer, and citations to the sources I used so you can follow up or check opening times.

I also included a small image carousel (samples from two of the shops) to give you a visual taste. If you’d like more shops added, a printable PDF, or the smaller “maps + route” version for a road trip, tell me and I’ll extend it.

BOOKS BY THE RIVER, ROAD & RARITY

A guide to significant secondhand bookshops in Warwickshire • Worcestershire • Shropshire • Gloucestershire

(Concise “book” — regional chapters + shop profiles and citations)

How to use this guide

Each entry lists:

• Shop name

• Exact location (address or nearest town)

• Short description of stock, specialties, vibe and practical notes (café, parking, whether they buy books, charity/volunteer run, etc.)

• A citation to the web page(s) used for that entry (click through for official hours / latest details).

Chapter 1 — Warwickshire

Astley Book Farm — Astley Lane, Bedworth, Warwickshire CV12 0NE

A landmark destination — a large, barn/converted-farm style shop claiming to be the largest second-hand bookshop in the Midlands. Multiple barns/rooms (fiction barn, children’s “Hayloft”, “Ten Bob Barn” for bargains), sizeable non-fiction and specialist zones (SF/fantasy, antiquarian/collectable). On-site coffee & cake; ample parking; good for long browsing visits and family trips. Open most weekdays and weekends (check website for up-to-date times). 

Alexander’s Books — 58 Greatheed Road, Royal Leamington Spa

A long-established local seller (family business origins in Kenilworth). Large stock (specialist emphasis historically on local/topography, history, literature and children’s). Operates as a bricks-and-mortar shop and as an online seller through AbeBooks. Good for regional interest and curated stacks. 

The Tree House Bookshop — Kenilworth (town centre)

A volunteer/charity-style second-hand shop that also functions as a community space and live-music venue. Stock is largely donation-based; profits support charity causes. Good for bargain hunting and community events. (They emphasise donations rather than buying stock outright.) 

Priory Books (Warwickshire County Record Office) — Warwick (County Record Office reception)

A compact second-hand shop based inside the County Record Office, stocked mainly with local and county history titles and donations; proceeds support archive projects. Ideal for researchers after Worcestershire/Warwickshire local history and topography. Note: access to the Record Office reading rooms is separate — check appointment rules if you need archival access. 

Hunt’s Bookshop — 9 High Street, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 3BG

A family-run shop with a large selection of pre-loved paperbacks and hardbacks across genres; they buy books as well as sell. Local favourite in Rugby for everyday second-hand titles and friendly service. 

NOTE (Warwickshire): there are also charity outlets and Oxfam/charity book stalls in towns like Leamington, Warwick and Stratford that carry steady, curated second-hand stock — useful for spontaneous finds. 

Chapter 2 — Worcestershire

The Malvern Bookshop — 5–7 Abbey Road, Great Malvern, WR14 3ES

A longtime specialist in quality second-hand and antiquarian books (trading since the mid-20th century). Five rooms of stock covering all subjects including sheet music—well regarded in the Malvern area for its breadth and buying service. Good for serious collectors and casual browsers alike. 

Way’s Rare & Secondhand Books / Local Worcester sellers — Worcester area (shops and charity stores)

Worcester and surrounding towns have a mix of small second-hand shops, charity bookshops and independent sellers — from well-organised charity bookshops with curated stock to small specialist second-hand stores offering local history, religion, and general fiction. Charity shops like Daisychain (St John’s area, Worcester) and hospice bookshops are often highlighted by locals for tidy selections and good bargains. (Check local directories for up-to-date listings.) 

(Worcestershire note) St Richard’s Hospice bookshop / other charity bookshops

Some well-stocked charity shops keep a consistent second-hand stock and sometimes Folio/collectable books whose sales support local causes—worth a visit if you’re in Worcester town. 

Chapter 3 — Shropshire

Hall of Books — (family business / online presence; Telford area listings)

Family sellers with a strong online presence and bricks-and-mortar activity in Shropshire/Telford areas; they handle sheet music and second-hand stock and ship widely. Good for ordering specific titles by mail. 

Much More Books Ltd — 15+ years — Much Wenlock, High Street, TF13 6AA

A small town second-hand shop in Much Wenlock that buys and sells quality second-hand books and often shows up in local listings for dependable used book stock. Useful if you’re exploring south Shropshire towns. 

The Raven / Shrewsbury second-hand outlets — Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury’s book scene includes specialist pre-loved shops (The Raven), charity bookshops (Oxfam) and a cluster of independent sellers — excellent for an afternoon of hunting through varied shelves across town. Many shops combine curated stock with events and local-history selections. 

Aardvark Books & Café (Brampton Bryan / border area) — rural barn location, near the Shropshire/Herefordshire border

Large rural barn with thousands of second-hand books, a café on site, and a reputation as a relaxed browsing destination. Good for planned day-trips because of rural location and café facilities. (Note: in a rural setting—check opening days.) 

Shropshire also has a strong small-town bookshop network (Bishops Castle, Much Wenlock, Oswestry and Shrewsbury) with unique specialist sellers, poetry-oriented stores, and castle/garden shop outlets (Powis Castle bookshop over the border is an example of a historic-site bookshop with rotating second-hand stock). 

Chapter 4 — Gloucestershire

Octavia’s Bookshop — Cirencester (town centre)

An independent in Cirencester listed among local roundups of Gloucestershire bookshops — carries both new & used, often with children’s and local interest sections. Good pit stop in the Cotswolds. 

Cheltenham Rare Books / Cheltenham independent second-hand sellers — Cheltenham

Cheltenham and the wider Cheltenham area host both rare book dealers and second-hand shops; look for specialist antiquarian outlets and small used-book stores listed in local independent roundups. Useful for collectors of special editions. 

R & R Books — Stroud — 4 Nelson Road, Stroud GL5 2HL

A second-hand and antiquarian shop active in the Forest of Dean / Stroud area with a rotating stock and local presence in regional bookshop directories. Good for second-hand and ephemera related to the Forest of Dean/Gloucestershire region. 

The Bookworm — Tewkesbury (local listing)

Tewkesbury’s independent bookshop scene includes used/second-hand sellers; The Bookworm and similar shops often appear in local guides as solid places to find bargains and local interest books. 

Chapter 5 — Patterns, Practicalities & Tips for the Midlands Book-Hunter

Patterns I encountered (useful when planning visits)

• Large destination shops: Astley Book Farm and a few barn/warehouse-style sellers act as regional magnets — ideal if you want a day of browsing with cafes and seating. 

• Market towns + castle/garden shops: Many smaller second-hand shops operate within tourist sites or small towns (Malvern, Cirencester, Tewkesbury, Much Wenlock) — good spots for local history and unique finds. 

• Charity shops: Oxfam and hospice/charity bookshops often have steady, well-curated second-hand sections (particularly in larger towns like Leamington, Shrewsbury, Worcester). Great for bargains and supporting local causes. 

Practical tips

• Opening times vary: many independent/charity shops close early and some rural book barns are closed on Mondays—always check the shop’s website or phone before travel. (The entries above link to shop pages — see those for latest times.) 

• Parking & accessibility: major destinations (Astley Book Farm, Malvern Bookshop) note parking availability on their listings; small town shops may be in pedestrianised areas—plan for street parking or car parks. 

• Buying vs donations: some shops (e.g., Tree House) accept donations only, while others operate a buy/sell model — check shop policies if you’re bringing a pile of books to sell. 

Appendix — Selected source list (web pages used)

• Astley Book Farm — official site (location, hours, offerings). 

• Astley Book Farm — tourism & TripAdvisor pages (reviews, photos).

• Alexander’s Books (AbeBooks / Biblio listings). 

• Tree House Bookshop (Kenilworth) — official page. 

• Priory Books (Warwickshire County Record Office / TheBookGuide). 

• Hunt’s Bookshop (Rugby) — official site. 

• The Malvern Bookshop — VisitTheMalverns and local listing. 

• R & R Books (Stroud) — TheBookGuide listing. 

• Hall of Books; Much More Books; other Shropshire listings (Yell / local directories). 

• Gloucestershire roundups of independents (SoGlos / local press). 

• Charity & local bookshop listings (TheBookGuide, Yell, TripAdvisor, local tourism pages). 

Want the next step?

I can take any of these next actions — pick one (or more):

1. Expand this into a full printed guidebook (20–40 pages) with maps, opening-hours table, and extra shop photos.

2. Produce a road-trip itinerary (2-day or 3-day loops) that packs the best shops per county into practical driving routes.

3. Create a downloadable PDF version formatted for printing, with a contents page and bookmarked chapters.

4. Do a deeper pass and compile exact opening hours and phone numbers for each individual shop (I’ll fetch live pages and list them).

5. Add many more shops (this guide focuses on the most notable/visible sellers; I can expand to include dozens of smaller charity and niche sellers).

Which would you like next? (If you pick 4 — exact hours & phones — I’ll pull the current details for every shop listed above and return them in a compact table.)