LIS Blog

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/

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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.

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

Thursday 2 April 2026

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.