Oonagh Monaghan – Grains of Knowledge

When the love of the library found me

Oonagh Monaghan / April 2, 2025April 2, 2025 / Library, Uncategorized

Jemima Sims (Library Assistant)

Library jobs seem to find people, rather than the other way around. They appear when you least expect them and always at the right time. As a child I loved stories and books, I was always writing and illustrating my own stories and spent all my free time in my local library, which sadly no longer exists. I studied Illustration at the University of Derby and then worked in various roles in customer service and hospitality including Waterstones and IHG hotels, before starting at the University of Lincoln library, where everything clicked into place. When I told my friends and family that I was starting a job in the library, none of them were surprised. All my particular skills and interests suddenly made sense: organisational skills, encyclopaedic knowledge of specific areas of interest (film, computer games, Enid Blyton), and a penchant for dark academic fashion.

Photo of Jemima as a child painting in the garden

In 2022, I enrolled on a distance learning course, the MA in Information and Library Studies with Aberystwyth University I attended two study schools in Aberystwyth. The first in 2023 involved a six-hour train journey across the United Kingdom, staying over for a weeklong introduction to the university and the course, meeting fellow students and staff, and food, so much food. The second study school in September 2024 was focused on preparing for the dissertation, choosing a topic, and research ethics. I discovered that even though librarians come from different places around the world, we have so much in common. Common themes of discussion included methods of organisation, shared workplace stories, and the new stationery we had all chosen for the start of our degrees.

Distance learning has been a lot to juggle alongside full time work, and I was nervous returning to academic study after a gap of almost fifteen years. Different people have different learning styles. I prefer to keep ahead of deadlines, using skills learned from my previous jobs, and from organising art shows alongside full-time work, to manage my time. I use a giant wall planner to mark important deadlines, and a mixture of online and handwritten tools to aid my studies. I have found consistent working has meant I enjoy a balance of free time and study time, and I am constantly learning skills on my course which can benefit my daily work.

I have studied a range of modules so far. Research in the Profession asked us to analyse research articles and discuss how findings were investigated and presented. Information Services: Planning for Delivery and Studies in Management expected us to create business plans for fictional library management scenarios. Information and Society provided a general overview of how information has been stored and organised from the beginning of time, also exploring freedom of information. Information Organisation and Retrieval was a module which asked us to write a fictional journal article on a subject of our choosing, I chose ‘AI and Knowledge Management’; and asked us to provide a report analysing different information records. Collection Management mainly focused on collection development policies, and optional modules Digital Information: Discovery to Delivery and Focus on the Child: Reading and Libraries discussed digital collections and children’s reading respectively. I am currently working on my dissertation exploring the subject of collection challenges to UK public libraries, exploring themes of library censorship, with the aim of finishing by September 2025. The course has really improved my confidence in my role, has allowed me to network with amazing people, and has shown me possibilities within the library and information field and beyond. The library team has been amazingly supportive, and I would definitely recommend further study in this area to anyone, it has been genuinely life changing for me.

File:Aberystwyth shore.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

PRISM: An Exhibition of EDI student projects

Oonagh Monaghan / April 1, 2025April 1, 2025 / EDI, Uncategorized

CoASSH, 24 – 27 March 2025

An exhibition was opened on the 24th March 2025: PRISM, showcasing the creative and critical work of COASSH students who received EDI bursaries over the past two years. Spanning visual art, audio works, and written reports, the collection reflects diverse perspectives and personal explorations into equality, diversity, and inclusion from across the different disciplines that make up COASSH.

The projects on display reflected the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion that the EDI Bursary supports, demonstrating how these elements can enrich academic and artistic practices within
COASSH.

The work represented a cross-section of the dynamic and varied knowledge produced within the college, emphasizing both academic rigor and creative innovation. Through this exhibition, the aim was to recognize and celebrate the achievements of students who contribute to a more inclusive and diverse academic environment. They invite you to explore the different pieces and engage with the
diverse perspectives that are shaping the future of arts, social sciences, and humanities.

The exhibition was curated by Pouya Nasr, Helen Dearnley, Mac Galbraith and Eshaal Nadeem from the Lincoln School of Design and Architecture in the glass corridor of the Peter De Wint building on-campus.

The curatorial team also lead a round table discussion relating to EDI issues presented in the exhibition on the same day.

Some of the work is showcased on their blog here PRISM COASSH Student EDI exhibition

A focus on research in the Library

Oonagh Monaghan / February 26, 2025 / Research

Insights from the New Research Librarians after 6 Months in the Role

Dr Claire Pike (Research Librarian for College of Health and Science) & Stephen Macdonald (Research Librarian for the College of Arts, Social Science and Humanities)

Research word cloud containing words Communication, Research, Open access, publishing, journal etc.

Last Summer, two new roles were created in the Library: Research Librarian for College of Health and Science, and Research Librarian for the College of Arts, Social Science and Humanities. Although support for research is offered by all Academic Subject Librarians, the creation of these two roles allows for a greater focus on – and more dedicated time for – research support and services.

The first six months have focused on gaining an understanding of the research happening in our respective Colleges and getting to know and make contact with researchers across the institution, as well as colleagues in R&E and research librarians at other libraries across the UK. We have been attending our respective College Research Committee meetings, which has allowed us to stay updated with the latest developments and meet the Directors of Research of the College and Schools we support.

Our first major project was to produce a support guide for researchers on the Library website. This guide covers a number of areas including open access and open research, research data management, copyright, research metrics and systematic reviews, as well as a section dedicated to postgraduate research students. We have also organised a series of webinars delivered through the Research Postgraduate Development Programme and the Academic Staff Development Programme, covering topics such as reference management software and systematic reviews. Our goal is to add new topics to the programme in 2025/26.

One part of the role that we are both passionate about is advocating for open access and open research. As part of International Open Access Week (21^st-27^th October 2024) we launched a scholarly communications blog with Jade King and Charlotte Mitchell (Research Repository and Research Data Officers) which included several posts on open access, as well as delivering webinars open to everyone in the University. It was great to see a range of both students and academics attending. We are hoping to organise more University-wide events in the future advocating both open access and open research. We have also had the opportunity to contribute to the development of relevant policy documents, most recently updating the University Open Access policy to include Rights Retention.

We are both enjoying the great variety of tasks the role offers, from supporting individuals, and designing and delivering webinars, through to having more strategic input, such as policy development. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue expanding our support for researchers, fostering a culture of open research and contributing to the ongoing success of our academic community.

University of Lincoln Libraries LGBTQI+ History Month Displays and Reading List

Oonagh Monaghan / February 4, 2025February 4, 2025 / #LGBTHM25, LGBT+ History Month, Uncategorized

LGBT+ History month was founded by Schools Out with a new theme is outlined each year on their Schools Out website

This year the UK 2025 LGBT+ History Month theme is: Activism and Social Change.

*Library Displays in the Ross Library and University Library*

Throughout history LGBT+ people have been activists and helped shape and create social change, advancing society for everyone using many different approaches to activism. In addition to simply living openly with their sexuality or gender identity, activism can be participation in protests and rallies, campaigning for rights, boycotts and direct action to creative protests such as art, music, literature, poetry, theatre, comedy, dance or creating zines to highlight the issues of the day. There are many ways throughout history that LGBT+ people have been actively lobbying for rights and for meaningful change.

Each year, five LGBT+ historical figures are chosen in line with the theme. This year, five LGBT+ people have been chosen, who have created social change from across the centuries in progressing change for women, the environment, housing, nuclear disarmament, preserving heritage, abolition of the slave trade, and immigration, among many other causes.

The 2025 LGBT+ Historical Figures are:

Octavia Hill
Ivor Cummings
Annie Kenney
Charlie Kiss
Olaudah Equiano

The University Library and Ross Library have produced displays and reading list to highlight the life and work of these amazing activists and change makers. In addition, the reading list also highlights the activists who have fought for LGBTQI+ rights over the years. In the current political climate it continues to be necessary for LGBTQI+ people and their allies to stand up against bigotry and discrimination.
University Library LGBTQI+ History Month 2025 Reading list

A day of zines, fashion, art and imagination.

Oonagh Monaghan / February 4, 2025February 4, 2025 / Uncategorized

A group from the Library team were treated to a trip to London to celebrate our award-winning Zine Collection. We visited the London College of Communications to explore their amazing collection of vintage zines, and then were allowed to choose an exhibition of our own to visit.

Jemima chose ‘Rebel – 30 Years of London Fashion‘ at the Design Museum, London. (REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion – Design Museum # RebelFashion)

This exhibition celebrates 30 years of the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN programme, which supports new design talent. Guest-curated by BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent Sarah Mower MBE and co-curated by Design Museum Senior Curator Rebecca Lewin, the exhibition showed many outfits which have garnered attention throughout the last three decades, such as Bjork’s swan dress from 2001 and Sam Smith’s inflatable latex suit from 2023’s BRIT awards. Items such as the sketchbooks, accessories, and the design process were shown alongside the clothes. Nearly 100 innovative fashion designs were included, from names such as JW Anderson, Wales Bonner, Erdem, Molly Goddard, Christopher Kane, Simone Rocha, Russell Sage, and many more. There were also interactive experiences such as backstage virtual make-up mirrors to get an idea of the culture behind the scenes at a fashion show, and video of the original catwalk shows, complete with music to transport you back in time to the turn of the millennium.

Jocelyn chose ‘Fantasy: Realms Of The Imagination‘ at The British Library

The British Library exhibition explored the beautiful, uncanny and sometimes monstrous makings of fantasy. It celebrated some of the finest fantasy creators, revealing how their imagined lands, languages and creatures came into being. It explored the traditions of a genre that has created some of the most passionate and enduring fandoms. From fairy tales and folklore to the fantastical worlds of Studio Ghibli. I was able to travel through Middle-earth and into the depths of Pan’s Labyrinth. And discover how the oldest forms of literature continue to inspire fantasy authors, filmmakers and game producers today.

Oonagh chose ‘Women in Revolt: Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990‘ at Tate Britain.

The exhibition presents two decades of art as provocation, protest and progress. Taking the 1970 National Women’s Liberation Conference as it’s starting point, the exhibition explores the relationship between art and the women’s movement in the UK. It rings together women who made art about their lives and the inequalities that informed them, acknowledging that the personal is political.

There were over 100 artists represented and the exhibition follows the footsteps of the artists, historians and archivists who have safeguarded their history. Art historians Rozsika Parker and Griselda Pollock published ‘Framing Feminisim‘ in 1985 which introduces the reader to art and the women’s movement in the UK.

Overall, the trip was a fantastic opportunity to network with library professionals and to take advantage of the amazing experiences London has to offer.

Beyond the Textbook: The Importance of Student-Led EDI Initiatives

Oonagh Monaghan / October 7, 2024October 7, 2024 / EDI

By Jamie Markham

My name is Jamie Markham, and I am a historian and academic who believes in the power of student-led initiatives to transform not just the academic environment but society at large. In this article I want to talk about something that goes beyond the textbook-how student-led efforts in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are vital to creating more equitable and supportive spaces for everyone. As someone who has spent years studying history and education, I have learned that real change does not only come from academic credentials, but It also comes from the students themselves, pushing for a more inclusive and equitable environment-one that goes beyond what can be taught in the classroom. This belief fuelled my work as Chair of the Student Equality, Diversity, and Inclusive Committee at the University of Lincoln (SEDIC).

Demystifying the ‘I’ in LGBTQI+

Oonagh Monaghan / February 9, 2024October 7, 2024 / Uncategorized

By Lexi Breen (Senior Lecturer, School of Health and Social Care, College of Health and Science)

In 2015 as an incidental finding at the age of 50 I found out I was intersex and had XXY Chromosomes, I was initially surprised and concerned, but the more I learned about it, the more it explained the way I looked, felt, some developmental and health issues I had experienced and why I’m now being monitored and treated for other medical conditions. Although I have had a generally healthy and happy life, it does make me wonder what difference it would have made if it had been diagnosed earlier and suspect it would affect some of my life choices.

XXY is a chromosome variation characterised by an additional X chromosome in those assigned male at birth (47, XXY) and one of 50+ intersex variations.

When Rishi Sunak said in a cheap jibe against trans people last year “a man is a man and a woman is a woman, it is just common sense” he couldn’t be more wrong and demonstrated his lack of knowledge and inbred bias.

When we talk about sex rather than gender its not as simple as a binary choice. Sex is a combination of; Chromosomal, Gonadal structures, Internal and external reproductive system, hormones, Pubertal Sex Changes, Brain Sex, Behavioural and “Cognitive” Sex.

Intersex people are born with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads, hormone production and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies.

Intersex people like the wider population can have any gender identity and sexual orientation. However, a number are drawn to the LGBTQI+ community as they too are a marginalised group, who are often stigmatised and subject to discrimination.

Although the majority of people with XXY will identify as men, there is a number who have gender incongruence and or dysphoria or in my case gender euphoria, a celebration of the person I was meant to be and had kept hidden for most of my life.

As an institution as part of our ongoing programme of decolonising the curriculum we need to look outside our borders to the wider world and how they respect intersex and transgender people. In many countries intersex or a third gender is legally recognised on passports and other legal documents. And in other countries subsets of the population who live in a gender that differs than that assigned at birth are accepted and sometimes hold a place of reverence in their culture, Examples of this include; Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Germany, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Indigenous people of North America, Ireland, Malta, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan and Samoa.

Now I do what I can to advocate for all intersex people regardless of their identities.

Bibliography

Davis, G (2015) Contesting intersex : The dubious diagnosis. [ebook]. New York: NYU Press (Biopolitics: Medicine, Technoscience, and Health in the 21st Century). Available from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=1020827&site=eds-live&scope=site [accessed 9 February 2024].

InterACT (2024) Intersex variations glossary. Sudbury, MA, US: InterACT. Available from https://interactadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Intersex-Variations-Glossary.pdf [accessed 9 February 2024]

Klinefelter’s Syndrome Association (2024) Available from https://www.ksa-uk.net [accessed 9 February 2024]

McKenzie, K (2023) Sexual differentiation of the nervous system [Lecture]

Prevet, S. E (2003) Intersex and identity. The contested self. London: Rutgers University Press.

Taylor, O (2018) 10 societies that recognise more than two genders. Listverse. Available from https://listverse.com/2018/10/03/10-societies-that-recognize-more-than-two-genders/ [accessed 9 February 2024]

Turners Syndrome Support Society (2024) Available from https://tss.org.uk/ [accessed 9 February 2024]

United Nations Human Rights (2024) Intersex. United Nations Human Rights. Available from https://www.unfe.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Intersex-English.pdf [accessed 9 February 2024]

Walker, M. (ed.) (2018) Interdisciplinary and global perspectives on intersex. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Trans identities and medicalisation: A complex relationship.

Oonagh Monaghan / February 2, 2024February 9, 2024 / #LGBTHM24, Uncategorized

By Dr Michael Toze (Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Social Determinants of Health, Medical School, College of Health and Science)

Gender diverse people existed well before modern medicine. One relatively well documented example is Erauso, who escaped from a convent in Spain somewhere around the year 1600 and spend much of the next fifty or so years living as a man, eventually receiving permission from the Pope to go on wearing male clothes even after his birth sex became known. It is difficult, and arguable entirely anachronistic, to determine how Erauso would have lived and what he would have called himself had he lived now, and this raises questions about how we narrate his story. It is also important to note that Erauso’s story is inextricably located in a context of class, race and colonialism. Nonetheless, it seems clear that in his own time and place, Erauso sought to live his life as a man. Velasco (2001) explores how Erauso’s life story has been reshaped over the centuries in line with the fears and desires of others.

Attributed to Juan van der Hamen – https://historia.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/increible-historia-catalina-erauso-monja-alferez_13152

Catalina de Erauso (San Sebastián, España, 1592 – Cuitlaxtla, México, 1650), llamada “La Monja Alférez”, fue una monja y soldado española.

Transgender Awareness Week

Oonagh Monaghan / November 14, 2023 / transgender

Focus on the Lincoln School of Architecture and the Built Environment

Dr Zakkiya Khan (they/them)
EDI Lead: Lincoln School of Architecture and the Built Environment

This week, we unite to celebrate Transgender Awareness Week, fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and understanding. As the chair of the LSABE EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) committee, I would like to share resources that aim to enrich our collective knowledge and empower us to create a more inclusive environment within the field of architecture and the built environment.

1. Awareness:

📚 Why Transgender Awareness Matters

In recognising Transgender Week of Awareness, it is crucial to understand who are transgender individuals and what are some of the challenges faced by transgender individuals? Explore resources that shed light on the importance of awareness and education in creating a supportive community.

[Transgender Awareness]

2. Design and Space Inclusion

🏠 Inclusive Design: Shaping Spaces for All Genders

Architects wield immense influence in shaping the world around us. Delve into the principles of inclusive design and the transformative impact it can have on creating spaces that celebrate gender diversity. Let’s explore how our designs can be a catalyst for positive change.

Take a look at this guidelines document on trans-inclusive design for museums, galleries, archives and heritage organisations:

[Trans Inclusive Design]

3. Space and Gender

🌐 Rethinking Spaces: Exploring Gender-Inclusive Environments

Spaces and gender are intricately connected. Discover how the design of spaces can influence and impact our perceptions of gender. Let’s engage in a conversation about challenging environments to resonate with diverse gender identities.

[Challenging Architecture]

[Unbuilding Gender]

4. Design that Makes a Difference:

✨ Architectural Activism: Designing for Social Change

Architecture has the power to be a force for social change and healing. Explore the works of designers who use their craft to address societal issues, including those related to gender diversity. Let’s be inspired to make a difference through our designs.

[Supporting trans designers]

[Design for dysphoria]

5. Gender Diverse Designers

👩‍🎨 Spotlight on Gender Diverse Designers

Celebrate the contributions of gender-diverse designers who have left a mark on the world of architecture and design. Their stories inspire us to embrace diversity and cultivate an environment where every voice is heard.

[Perspectives of Gender Diverse Designers]

[Interior designers addressing inequality]

This week, let’s embrace the opportunity to deepen our understanding, challenge assumptions, and cultivate a culture of empathy and acceptance. By integrating these resources into our collective knowledge, we can contribute to making the Lincoln School of Architecture and the Built Environment a place of inclusivity.

Together, let’s build a future where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Hidden Architectural Voices

Oonagh Monaghan / October 27, 2023October 27, 2023 / decolonisation, Display, Uncategorized

Decolonising@Lincoln summer project 2023

Chiji Amaechi (Graduate – Bachelor of Architecture 2023)

Kuro Krukrubo (Graduate – Bachelor of Architecture 2023)

Leslie Mfonow Tochukwu (3rd Year Student – Bachelor of Architecture 2023)

(Mentor: Mark Olweny, Senior Lecturer in Architecture)

Architectural education embarks on a journey of exploration, utilising various architects and their projects to foster an understanding of the development of architectural ideas. Yet, a conspicuous absence becomes apparent – the lack of architects of colour and architectural projects designed by individuals of colour in formal lectures, tutorials, and architectural publications. This absence in the established canon poses a challenge, particularly for us as students of colour who may come to believe that architects of colour are non-existent.

Recognising the importance of providing students with access to diverse histories within architectural education, we initiated a project that culminated with this exhibition. A pivotal question arose: ‘Where are the hidden voices in architecture?’ As Craig Wilkins suggests in his book “Diversity Among Architects,” we must exercise caution not to equate invisibility with absence. Undoubtedly, architects from minority groups have existed in the past, and their lack of immediate visibility does not negate their existence. This realisation propelled us to delve into the archives to uncover some of these individuals and their individual stories. This was bolstered by the election of Muyiwa Oki as the first black president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 2022.