“Problems hold greater value than solutions; they keep us ontologically alive and epistemologically sharp. History is not shaped by selfish interests, lofty ideals, or grand visions alone, but also by the perpetual encounters with problems that propel humans to ponder, act, and push the wheel of events toward a better future.” (Hiba, 2025) 1 I…
Author: Scout Bell
Open access politics of vulnerability, symbolic capital, and care
This blog post serves as an exploratory and developmental process for my PhD. Its focus is on the academic literature I engage with, presented in a blog format, against the backdrop of professional contexts. A blogging approach enables exploration of the ties between research and practice, supporting reflexivity. Licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0…
Three things I’m reading (part 2 and the PhD version)
I’ve been across several books and articles lately (and don’t seem to be able to finish anything in one go!). It’s probably reflective of being across so many spaces; though, I enjoy wearing several hats at once and find that it brings new perspectives to my work and research. I’d also been missing my old…
Thoughts on ‘joy’ for 2026
A colleague shared a study about Autistic joy with me last week. I thanked them, feeling seen. They continued: “…and i immediately thought of you when i read ‘joy’ as well.” And with that, I had a word for 2026: Joy. I’ve never set a focus word for the year. I usually resist this, as…
Building and governing for access in disruption: Open publishing, disability culture, and library leadership
This blog post serves as an exploratory and developmental process for my PhD. Its focus is on the academic literature I engage with, presented in a blog format, against the backdrop of professional contexts. A blogging approach enables exploration of the ties between research and practice, supporting reflexivity. Licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0…



