Feminism doesn't mean anti-romance | Disney's "Wish" and what could have been

I haven’t seen the Disney movie, ‘Wish’, in full, and frankly, after seeing clips and hearing some of the songs, I don’t want to. This film was part of the campaign to mark the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney Animation Studios, but it received a bad reception due to the poorly written songs, unusual animation style, boring plot and characters that lacked depth. I found the short film, ‘Once Upon a Studio’ (released on the exact anniversary date) to be a far better tribute to Disney with a higher emotional impact, easily bringing me to tears.

Despite the bad reception for the official release of ‘Wish’, you may not know that the response to the original concept for the film was entirely different. Both before and after its debut, concept art and storyboards for what the film could have been were shared online, depicting a romance story between the lead female character, Asha, and a humanised version of a wishing star, popularly known as ‘Starboy’ among fans. 

Concept art from 'The Art of Wish' book - photo credit to Lisa Dawn

This plot was almost entirely scrapped and the story became solely about Asha and her journey to take down a corrupt king, with the wishing star character being changed to a small star-like creature rather than a human love interest. Unsurprisingly, people found the idea of a back-to-basics return to a classic romance far more appealing than the movie that was released. The concept art and unfinished animations were enough to show the chemistry between Asha and Starboy, their building romance charming fans to create their own stories and animations based on them, including those from PhrenSo on Youtube. The concept ideas also showed the plan for Disney’s first villain couple (King Magnifico concocting his plans alongside his wife, Queen Amaya) and that they would adopt a classic hand-drawn animation style, before opting for a 2D-3D hybrid style in the final product. 

So why did Disney abandon such a well-received idea, which would have paid tribute to its animated classics with familiar traits, such as hand-drawn animation and a charming fairy-tale romance, while also doing something fresh with new, modern takes on villains and romance arcs? Ultimately, it seems they were afraid to either make or give the heroine a love interest, as if such a move would anger modern feminists. 

As a feminist myself, I understand there was a problem with many classic Disney movies placing women in damsel-in-distress roles, where men became their heroes and therefore their happy endings. The way women were depicted could be seen as the default, especially for young, impressionable girls watching these movies and taking on such messages. However, I would also argue these classic fairy-tales aren't overall bad or harmful movies because of this, nor should they be erased from history. Vintage Disney movies such as 'Snow White', 'Cinderella', 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Beauty and the Beast' etc. were stunning masterpieces of animation and storytelling, despite the old-fashioned archetypes they held. In fact, many of their female characters were headstrong and admirable, knowing their own minds and taking their fates into their own hands, even if they were fit into traditional 'save me' princess roles.

In modern society, it has become more common for women to avoid relationships and/or marriage as their ultimate life goals, as a way of going against old-fashioned societal expectations. Instead, most of them champion the single, independent life, finding more happiness in building their careers, homes, and lives alone, finding more freedom to travel and live without responsibilities for others. I certainly see myself as one of these women, but at the same time, I don't think female independence always equates to us not wanting romance.

Female independence, strength and empowerment can go hand-in-hand finding a partner we adore and want to commit to. There's no weakness in finding love, nor any shame in trying to seek it as a woman. It's a natural human desire and there are many men who want the same kind of healthy, long-term relationships as women do. The idea of a fairy-tale romance may be old-fashioned to some, but that doesn't make them anti-feminist as a whole. Instead, they can serve as the aspiration for a cosy, safe and happy life many women would want, alongside the partner they have chosen to share it with.

'Wish' concept art - image source

Thus, I think it's a shame the original story for 'Wish' never made the big screen. The creative team were likely pushed into toning down their plans for a romance, and instead making Asha a 'strong independent heroine' by removing a love interest for her. But the reality is that the majority of viewers, including feminist women, feel that the original version would have been much stronger. The official version of 'Wish' feels empty, lacking the depth that was removed to make way for a story that took fewer risks, as they tried to align with modern views and not repeat potentially offensive tropes. 

By not taking the risk, or trusting that the classic Disney narrative with a fairy-tale romance would appeal to both modern viewers and older generations who would appreciate the nostalgia, Disney lost out on a cultural phenomenon. It would have been a beautiful tribute to 100 years of Disney animation (the studio that made animation be taken seriously as a medium), brought back beloved tropes, and introduced new twists like villainous couples, the origin of the iconic wishing star, and the shape-shifting sidekick dynamic. 

Ironically, it would have granted the wishes (pun intended) of Disney-lovers and non-Disney-lovers alike with its unique qualities. On top of that, I feel from a feminist perspective we need more well-written romance stories with strong heroines leading them. That is how we should be approaching the quandary of how we write modern fairy-tale romances with women leading them: we let them lead, and we let them fall in love. Let them lead popular stories, taking the place of men who have led stories before them and denied them their voices, but also let them fall in love. Because to deny women or men the freedom to fall in love is to deny them the choice of embracing their humanity.

Feminism doesn't mean anti-men, and it certainly doesn't mean anti-romance. Girls and women should know there is no shame in seeking love and relationships. They only have to know which men are the right ones to look for, and that healthy relationships with loyal, caring partners should always be the aim.

Library spaces I love: UWE Bower Ashton (Bristol)

Welcome to the first post of a new series I'm starting for my LIS blog page, 'Library spaces I love'!

In this series, I will be writing about some of my favourite library spaces I've discovered during my travels, with no limits on the size, type or location. I've been inspired because of my great passion and care for physical library spaces, and want to promote the value they provide to communities all over the UK, especially during a time where the viability of libraries in the modern age is constantly being questioned. 

I, for one, always find myself in library spaces when I need time to myself, a peaceful place to work on a project, or simply a physical space away from my flat. I also find the presence of books and knowledge around me strangely comforting, as someone who loves to read and explore new subjects. I can't think of any other public spaces that provide these same functions that don't expect visitors to pay just to be in those spaces. This shows why libraries are not only valued, but needed by the communities they serve, which can include student bodies, small town communities, or entire cities or nations. Therefore, I want to use this series to show off various spaces, presenting how they provide comfort and value in ways that don't just include reading or borrowing books, as many non-library-users would assume. 

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Bower Ashton Library, UWE Bristol City Campus

In my first post of the series, I wanted to start with Bower Ashton Library, a small, beautiful arts library in South Bristol and one of the three UWE Bristol campus libraries, supporting those studying creative disciplines at the City Campus. I had the pleasure to work at Bower Ashton during my years as a library enquiries assistant at UWE Bristol, covering the front desk as and when was required, and answering various enquiries from arts students, their lecturers, and sometimes members of the public. 

I still work at UWE, but am permanently based at Frenchay Campus, meaning I don't get as many opportunities to visit other campuses. Though I love all the libraries at UWE, Bower Ashton holds a very special place in my heart, given it was created specifically for arts students, and so, as an artistic person myself, I always felt at home there. I try to visit as much as I can, and was glad to be able to visit this time with the purpose of promoting and talking about it through this blog post.

As mentioned, Bower Ashton Library is a space for the arts students at UWE Bristol, providing an independent study space and knowledge hub for all creative subjects, including Fine Art, Printmaking, Fashion Design, Film, Animation and Drama. It houses print books for all these subjects and more, as well as a DVD collection, special collection of unique artist books, and various art displays that change frequently. Walking into the library feels like stepping into an artist's safe haven, with creative works at every turn, and an array of comfortable and inspiring study spaces free to use every day.

"Speaking personally about Bower Ashton Library, I consider myself very fortunate to work here. We place a big emphasis on showcasing the work of our students in the School of Arts, both to give them experience of curating and displaying their work, and to inspire library users, whether they are students, staff or members of the public." -Shaun Oaten, Library Information Administrator, Bower Ashton Library

The campus is based alongside Ashton Court, a beautiful estate in South Bristol with a vast mansion and surrounding deer park. Some of the library study or seating spaces directly face the estate, giving students an aesthetically-pleasing view of the deer park. Sometimes, you might be lucky enough to see the deer up close if they approach the fence! Even without that, the views make for a peaceful and charming study environment. 

One of Bower Ashton's unique qualities being an arts library are its themed galleries. My personal favourite is the Tiny Cat Gallery, a miniature gallery made out of little more than cardboard and paper, originally created by local artist Lisa Cole. Visitors to the library will find it by the welcome desk as they walk in, and if they wish to, they can take a tiny cat, decorate it, and add it to the 'gallery'. As you can see, it already has quite a wide collection!

In the Library Gallery room... well, you have the Library Gallery, obviously! This shared space has group tables and individual PC stations for focused study, but also houses an impressive exhibit of artwork submitted by current and past UWE students, surrounding the study spaces. These displays are updated frequently, providing students and other visitors with an inspirational mosaic of work, a reminder of the passion and creativity embedded in this arts library.

"Over the years, I have met so many interesting artists who have been invited by Sarah Bodman to exhibit in the library, run workshops in our Gallery or talk about their work at lunchtime gatherings in our Special Collections area." -Shaun Oaten, Library Information Administrator, Bower Ashton Library

One of the library's most unique qualities is, of course, its special collections. Housing a variety of artist books in all shapes and sizes, these are available for students to access and view for free. Exhibits like the above in the glass cabinets are solely managed and curated by MA Printmaking lecturer Sarah Bodman, who collaborates regularly with the library staff "to deliver exhibitions and public engagement with artists' books," as well as "collaborates with staff on the biennial Bristol Artist's Book Event (BABE), and with artists and writers on [the] World Book Night project."

Many of these collections are permanent parts of the displays, but most of them, including Bodman's, are temporary, changed every few months to stay relevant to current projects or themes, such as the Artist in Residence scheme. I find it inspiring to walk around the library and observe these collections you wouldn't expect in a traditional library environment. It shows the library staff's commitment and passion for showcasing student work, which was partly achieved through use of the library space, resources and assistance of librarians.

Despite the small space, Bower Ashton is also equipped with a private silent study room, perfect for students who want quiet, uninterrupted time to focus on their assignments. With windows all around, this provides users with privacy as well as visibility for the rest of the library as well as the beautiful view of Ashton Court's deer park, making for another tranquil study space.

Overall, UWE Bower Ashton Library is an inspiring and beautiful place to be, whether as a university student, public user, or as a librarian working in the space. As someone who used to be a library assistant here, I have a particular fondness for it, and continue to find it welcoming and peaceful, including when I visited to help write this post. If I were an arts student now, I'd feel incredibly lucky to have this unique space to use for my studies, knowing I'd feel comfortable in it, my wellbeing boosted by the surrounding natural spaces, and inspired by the displays of creative projects.

Arts libraries are unique and precious venues, but they are getting harder to preserve in a climate where arts and humanities subjects/courses are being threatened or not taken as seriously. Thus, I think it's a good idea to talk about them and promote them as much as possible, showing that the value and sanctuary they provide as safe spaces and hubs of knowledge cannot be replaced, nor can you put a price on it in comparison to other types of libraries.

Resources on UWE Bower Ashton Library:

1. Artist in residence project: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/study/library/our-libraries/bower-ashton-library/artist-in-residence 
2. Sarah Bodman's exhibitions: https://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/exhibitions/
3. Sarah Bodman UWE profile: https://people.uwe.ac.uk/Person/SarahBodman
4. World Book Night project: https://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/wbn2026/

Solo Comforts: the nature of an introvert

When summing up my personality to others, I often describe myself as an introvert.

A simple definition of an introvert is "a person who gains energy from being alone and loses energy in stimulating environments, such as social events" (Michaela Jung, Introvert Spring). If you are the opposite and gain energy from socialising and being surrounded by people, you'd be described as an extrovert. 

In our society, it is more commonly accepted to be an extrovert, given the pressure to be outside, make friends, find a relationship or make an impact on the community. Introverts are often alienated from such things, given their regular need to be alone and their preferences for activities different to those commonly associated with socialising, such as parties, nights out, drinking, or group trips.

Free image from Unsplash - credit to Jarle Johansen

Because of these habits, there is a common misconception that introverts are shy, bad-tempered, hermits, or generally unsociable. In reality, they are often the opposite and very much need relationships, but those relationships have to be deep, meaningful, and involve something more than small-talk or surface-level connections. Introverts may need alone-time not just to be away from others, but to 'recharge'; to rest from everyday social interactions and expectations, so they can be their full authentic selves in preparation for the relationships that mean most to them. They may still enjoy socialising, but many need solitude in-between socialising to replenish themselves. Thus, introverts won't necessarily be shy, awkward or grumpy during social events. In fact, we are more likely to be open and chatty if we have recharged beforehand and spend time with the right personalities. 

Another misconception is that introverts' need for solitude means they do nothing but sit at home, making cups of tea and watching TV or reading books. While this is true for some, many of us - myself included - enjoy the act of being alone in various circumstances, including things that would normally be classed as 'extrovert' activities, such as exploring cities, going travelling, going to the cinema, or grabbing coffee to people-watch or work on a creative project.

It took me a while to feel comfortable doing these things alone, initially feeling anxious whenever I dared to sit in a coffee shop alone with my laptop. I used to worry everyone was watching and judging me for being alone, especially in a place created for social interactions, like dates, catch-ups between friends, or time with family. Am I coming across the lonely one, the loner, the person who has no friends? But over time, I realised that ultimately, other people don't care what I'm doing since they're minding their own business.

I ended up spending most of my solo time in coffee shops, as well as doing various activities and inspiring trips alone, finding the freedom of living life on my own schedule empowering as well as relaxing. I found the routine especially helpful following big changes in my life, such as moving house, starting a new job, or breakups, as it reminded me of my own agency and that I can still look after myself during disruptive times. Many introverted people act in this manner, using free time to energise themselves and be inspired by the world around them, without feeling the pressure of being with others and instead feeling comfortable to be with themselves. 

As with anything, introvert personalities are a spectrum. No two are alike, some preferring the comfort of their own home and quiet time with a book compared to those who still wish to be active and engaged with their environments. Creativity is also common in introverts, using myself as an example. As a writer, I like to soak in inspiration from my surrounding world, particularly when I explore new places and find fresh ideas through their history, culture or community. 

Free image from Unsplash. Credit to Toa Heftiba

I'm not entirely sure why I decided to write this post now and not sooner, but if I had to give a reason, it would be that I've become truly proud of this part of my identity, and want to not only bring it to the forefront to promote myself, but also to educate on the art of 'introvert-ism' to those who may not understand it. I'm sure fellow introverts will recognise the fear of being judged for simply being themselves, so I hope this post helps clarify our misunderstood nature, while also reminding that we vary as people, just like anyone else. 

Over the years, I've found my introvert side has made way for a more extroverted side, given I've made friends that I really connect with and feel comfortable enough to be open and authentic with. Regardless, I always require regular periods of solitude to recharge, such as right now, while writing this post! Life has become so much busier, and chances for a proper recharge are getting fewer and further between, so it's important to make the most of them when they happen - even if you're not an introvert.

Neurodivergence in LIS - my new role and recent diagnosis

Earlier this year, I was informed by a psychologist that I have strong signs of being on the ASD spectrum.

In other words, I am highly likely to have autism and this has been confirmed by a professional. This was based on an initial assessment I took online, after many years of suspecting I was neurodivergent in some way, and had never done anything about it before now. I could have paid for a full assessment, but the price was, in my opinion, beyond reasonable, so I've chosen to accept the results of the initial assessment, which is more than enough, because it confirms the suspicions I've had for a long time:

I'm neurodivergent, and specifically have autism and multiple anxiety disorders.

I'd already been diagnosed with general and social anxiety, explaining the nervousness and panic I've always felt during mundane tasks and with various 'basic' social interactions. Though this was useful to know at the time, I'd always suspected I was 'different' in other ways. This includes my need to stick to rigorous routines, my brain being slower than others to process complex information, and my occasional inability to read between the lines. I've now had these mannerisms confirmed as normal things for ND people to experience, particularly those on the ASD spectrum, so I feel a sense of reassurance, knowing I'm not the only one who behaves this way and that there's no shame in it. 

Since having this diagnosis, I am happier and more confident. I understand and accept myself more easily and am learning how to embrace my ND traits instead of reject or hide them. I know why I've found it difficult to learn certain procedures or processes in my job in ways I couldn't put my finger on. If someone explains a process to me, or if I read it on paper five times over, it's unlikely I will take it all in, because my brain will simply not allow it. It's like my mind is a sieve, constantly filtering out essential information, even though I don't want it to. 

I now understand this is likely related to autism, since my brain processes operate differently to others, and I need to take longer to piece together information compared to, say, a neurotypical person. I have been frustrated at myself in the past for behaving this way, but I'm trying to be more patient with myself now. I try to more regularly communicate what I need to learn and process instructions, which is usually an in-person demonstration of a procedure, a video-call meeting, a conversation, or clear written documentation. That way, I'm expressing my needs and learning skills I need for my role without making things difficult by saying nothing and struggling alone.

Outside my paid work, I have taken on a voluntary role with the Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network, where I manage the content for the network's official website, including their blog posts, events page, case studies, and more. It means a lot to be selected for this role, and know I'll have even a small impact on neurodivergent library staff, who may not feel seen or heard in the sector, in the same way I was before I discovered the network. 

Overall, I've found a new sense of belonging and purpose since my diagnosis. Even it wasn't a full assessment, it meant enough to me, given I can liken my characteristics to well-known neurodivergent traits. I'd like to use this story to encourage others to seek their own diagnosis. If you suspect you have neurodivergent traits, seek professional advice, but don't pay more than you can afford. Sometimes, self-diagnosis is what's needed, but make sure to do your research if you go down this path. Here is some guidance on self-diagnosis from the National Autistic Society.

If you'd like to follow the Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network, you can find us on our website https://nlisn.org or follow us on Bluesky. I'll post my updates for NLISN occasionally on my LinkedIn too, which you can find on my 'Contact Me' page.

Life update: a new job and a return to Bristol!

For almost three years, I have been working as a part-time library administrator at UWE Bristol, commuting from Weston-Super-Mare to the Bristol office twice a week. Despite loving my work, it has been difficult sticking to a part-time role and making long, expensive commutes at the same time, struggling to make ends meet and facing exhaustion and stress from inconvenient commutes. 

Regardless, it has given me the essential ability to focus on my postgraduate Diploma during my free days, which would have been near-impossible while doing full-time work. The ultimate goal has been to secure full-time work in a role I really want shortly before completing my course, and hopefully give me an opportunity to move back to Bristol. While living in Weston-super-Mare with a friend has been beneficial in so many ways, I have always felt the desire to return to Bristol, and this desire hasn't changed even after two years of being away.

And now, after many months of applying for various jobs, I can finally say, with great excitement, that I have secured a new position at the University of the West of England as an 'Education Services Operations Administrator', and successfully moved back to Bristol as a result! 

View from the Grain Barge bar in Bristol city centre

The job

In my new role, I work two days a week in the 'ES Operations' team at UWE, who manage the maintenance of library spaces, completion of works and purchase requests from across the department, keep administrative records of new and existing staff, and handle conference bookings for staff development. The role was advertised shortly before the end of my PG Diploma, which was perfectly timed, given I was actively applying for jobs and hoping to move back to Bristol once securing a full-time role. This job will give me valuable experience and knowledge of the operational workings of a university library department, especially one connected to various academic teams.

Thankfully, I can continue my role as a library administrator alongside the new job, given both roles are part-time, with one taking up 2 days and the other 2.5. Thus, I am now working 4.5 days a week in two different but connected roles, allowing me to increase my knowledge and experience, while continuing to work in a department where I've established good working relationships. I've been on the job for around three weeks, and it has already given me a great routine, keeping my mind occupied and giving me the security of near-full-time earnings. 

The flat

My new home in Bristol is a beautiful flat in a shared building, based just off Whiteladies Road in the district of Redland. I have always liked this area of Bristol, and while I hadn't lived there previously, I could see why it was a popular and desirable area. Whiteladies Road has everything: shops, cafes, bars, a cinema, beautiful areas for walks like Clifton Downs, and a gorgeous local library which I've already made use of. 

Redland Library

I also feel incredibly fortunate to be living with a friend of mine, avoiding the stress of moving into house-shares with complete strangers. It was pure luck I got this opportunity, hearing about an upcoming vacant room through passing conversations and eventually realising it might be a good idea to express my interest in it! Without this opportunity coming along, I may not have moved out of Weston-super-Mare, given the affordable living costs and the fact my partner only lived a few minutes away. Nonetheless, securing the new job at UWE sealed the deal, since my full-time hours require me to be based in Bristol, and I couldn't waste the chance to live in a stunning part of it with someone I was already friends with.

The flat itself is beautifully-kept, with lots of large windows that create plenty of natural light. My room is small, but cosy and comfortable, and I have a lovely tree right by my window. Obviously it's so much easier to get to work, the dreaded two-hour commutes from Weston-super-Mare long behind me. It may be two buses for the new journey, but in total it only comes to about half an hour on the way in and forty-ish minutes on the way back. It feels far more relaxed than before (not to mention cheaper!) and I can go from place to place in the city whenever I want with regular buses only a five minute walk away from my flat.

The course

I mentioned my postgraduate Diploma in Library & Information Services Management, which I have been studying for during the last two years. Well, around a week ago, I was very excited to have completed and handed in my final assignment, bringing the course to an official end (at least until my final grades release and my graduation in January).  

Given this was a distance-learning course from the University of Sheffield, I had to engage with all the content remotely, which was convenient, but mentally exhausting after a while. Regardless, it has been an essential building-block for my career, giving me the qualification I need to make me credible for various library/information jobs. Now the course is done, I have more time to focus on learning my new job, juggling it with my existing role, and using my spare time to research future roles, update my CV, and take on new CPD opportunities.

My writing

As you may have gathered, I am extremely happy to have more free time for creative writing, which includes updating this blog as regularly as I can, potentially writing research publications in support of my library career, and continuing to work on a draft of an original novel. I spend far too much time talking about writing instead of actually doing it, so I'm hoping to make the most of the free time I've been given to finish several projects. Moving to a new place has also given me a lot of inspiration (as it so often does), making me energised and ready to do as much writing as I can in my new environment. 

Regardless what content of mine you read or keep up with, I hope you enjoy whatever I post, whether it's jut my silly ramblings, LIS-specific content, or, maybe one day, a published book. Who knows what I might have completed by the end of this year? I can't wait to find out. :) 

Why a little indie game continues to teach us about being kind in a prejudiced world

For those who know me, you'll be aware I don't "game" that much, nor would I consider myself a "gamer" by any stretch. But there are a few exceptions to that rule - a select few games that have impacted me in a way I could never imagine, whether from story, characters, soundtrack, or the central focus on choice-based gameplay, which determines what kind of ending the player will get.

There are many games that have incorporated the choice-based mechanic, with varying methods and results. Examples of this include Life is Strange, Night in the Woods and Mass Effect. However, in my view, there is only one game that has not only mastered the choice-based mechanic, but perhaps revolutionised it and therefore influenced games that came after it. 

That game is "Undertale", an 8-bit-style indie game created by Toby Fox. 

 

Undertale was released in 2015 and is set in a world where humans and "monsters" live side-by-side until a war breaks out, and the victorious humans banish the losing monsters to live underground for eternity as punishment. The player controls a human protagonist who has mistakenly fallen into the underworld and must find a way to return home, all while encountering various characters/enemies on their journey.

This game plays on the classic genre of an RPG, turning the usual mechanics on their head by giving the player the option to spare enemies they encounter in battle, instead of only being able to win fights by killing their opponents. At the time, this was groundbreaking as it was unheard of for RPGs, and made the player psychologically question their moral choices while playing. Completely based on the player's choices throughout their journey, the game will end with either a Pacifist, Neutral or Genocide ending, where you will either have spared all enemies, killed all enemies, or a mix of the two. 

At first glance, the visuals of Undertale as well as the pun-based humour could put people off, regardless of the unique gameplay, but part of why I wanted to talk about it so much after ten years is to tell anyone - whether you're a veteran gamer or have never played a video game once in your life - that you should never judge a book by its cover and go into it with an open mind, and see how your own journey impacts you. 

Ironically, not judging a book by its cover is, in my opinion, one of the main themes of Undertale. It's hard to explain what I mean without spoilers, but ultimately the choice of sparing or killing enemies is deliberate, because it makes the player question whether they will take life just to get ahead or reach a particular goal. Regardless of what you choose, it affects the outcome of the game, and the outcome will leave you satisfied, empty, or on another plane of existence as you realise the impact of your mercy.

Another reason I wanted to talk about Undertale is because we are living in a very difficult world in 2026: politically, economically, environmentally, and of course in relation to war. I can only speak for the UK specifically here, but there is also a constant fear of judgement, bias and hostility because of who you are, based on your race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disability etc., which means those on the receiving end are treading on eggshells all the time. However, most of those who are judgemental due to certain characteristics are not 'bad people', but simply misinformed, influenced by old-fashioned ideas or preconceptions about those who are 'not like them'.

One of the purposes behind Undertale is to make the player question their judgements, and stop to think before they make their opinions about the creatures they meet. If given the choice to kill or spare a person you'd just met, what would you do? What reasons do you have that makes your decision truly worth it? In other words, would killing every creature you meet in a genocide run of this game make you feel good about yourself? I can't touch on the results of that route without spoiling the story, but if you've played it, you know exactly how you'll feel. 

If you haven't played it, then I highly suggest you give Undertale a go. Even if you're someone who has rarely played games, or never played games in your life, don't let that put you off. The tutorials (tu-Toriels, I should say) teach the tactics well without influencing your choices too heavily, and the world-building, character depth, charm and humour is enough to pull in even the most sceptical of first-time players.

Undertale is a beautiful indie game that can be enjoyed for its fun and light tones as a way to help players escape from the intensity of the world right now. Because of all that, I don't want to make my promotion of it entirely heavy or politically-fuelled, but I will say that my recent nostalgic play-through reminded me of the times we live in and how we could learn a lot from a 'little indie game' like this, and how the smallest acts of kindness and non-judgmental attitudes can go a long way in making the world better than the one we live in right now. 

A newfound interest: is school librarianship the way to go?

I am in the final semester of my Library and Information Services Diploma, and one of my core modules focuses on the public, school and prison library sectors. As someone who has so far only worked in higher education libraries, I didn't think my interests would expand so widely to other sectors, but this course has opened my eyes to opportunities I would never have considered previously. 

Before beginning my course, I pondered roles in public libraries, browsing library assistant positions while working my front desk role at UWE Bristol in 2021-2023. I have also come to know the local libraries since my move to Weston-Super-Mare, getting to know their services and their nature as essential community hubs, even using them myself as a study space. 

During this time, I never quite considered the opportunities school libraries might have, or if they'd be of any relevance to me. While on my course, I learned more about the sector, including only recently discovering that primary and secondary schools in the UK are not legally required to have a library service, and instead leave it up to the school authorities on whether a library is "needed". As someone whose first memories of being in a library come from my primary school, this shocked me, and frightened me. After all, who is to say that the removal of school libraries won't eradicate the introduction or mere concept of reading to children?

Learning about the roles and responsibilities of existing school librarians during my module has opened my eyes to how much pressure is on their shoulders. This is not to say there is not great reward for what they do, but given the current crisis of reading and literacy for the UK's population, with only 30% of children saying they enjoy reading, there is an obligation for school (and public) librarians to improve these stats. However, as mentioned, there is also the potential for massive reward in the everyday work of librarians to ignite and support a love of reading in children. 

I have personally loved reading since I was a young girl, but was fortunate to be raised in a household where reading was encouraged on a daily basis, with my mum reading to me almost every night with a collection of books in the house. Nowadays, I am consistently reminded that not every child is so lucky, many of them living in financially difficult circumstances, where parents are unable to buy books, nor take them to a public library with so many of them being closed down or their hours being cut.

Thus, I am inspired by the work librarians do to advocate, promote and run the few library services UK schools provide, as they are the agents for reading as a discipline, hobby and love for children and others, in a time where reading is in danger of becoming a niche hobby, as stated by author Jacqueline Wilson. 

I never saw myself aiming for the role of school librarianship, but after hearing about the joy the library space can bring to children, many of them saying how it feels like a safe haven where they can hide away in their books, I'm keen to contribute to making that safe space a permanent ones in schools, so that new generations of children can experience the joy of reading in the same way I did, without their families having to worry about paying for books. 

After all, a right to basic literacy and the joy of reading should be free and accessible to all, with no exceptions, and want to champion that for the children of the world, not just the adults.