Unfortunately, the third-party platform that the British Library uses for email notifications for our blogs is making changes to its infrastructure. This means that, from August 2021, we anticipate that email notifications will no longer be sent to subscribers (although the provider has been unable to specify when exactly these will cease).

Unfortunately, the third-party platform that the British Library uses for email notifications for our blogs is making changes to its infrastructure. This means that, from August 2021, we anticipate that email notifications will no longer be sent to subscribers (although the provider has been unable to specify when exactly these will cease).

To find out when new blog posts are published, we recommend following us on Twitter - @UKWebArchive or checking the British Library blogs page where they are all listed.

We want to assure you that we are actively looking into this issue and working to implement a solution which will continue your email notifications, however we do not know whether you will continue to receive notifications about new posts before we are able to implement this. We promise to update the blog with further information as soon as we have it. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we resolve this matter.

We appreciate this is inconvenient and know many people are not on social media and have no intention of being so. Many rely on email notifications and may miss out without them. As soon as we have been able to implement a new solution we will post about it here. Thanks for bearing with us.

To find out when new blog posts are published, we recommend following us on Twitter - @UKWebArchive or checking the British Library blogs page where they are all listed.

We want to assure you that we are actively looking into this issue and working to implement a solution which will continue your email notifications, however we do not know whether you will continue to receive notifications about new posts before we are able to implement this. We promise to update the blog with further information as soon as we have it. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we resolve this matter.

We appreciate this is inconvenient and know many people are not on social media and have no intention of being so. Many rely on email notifications and may miss out without them. As soon as we have been able to implement a new solution we will post about it here. Thanks for bearing with us.

By Jason Webber, Web Archive Engagement Manager, British Library

"Our greatest of days witnessed through disbelieving eyes

AND that was that, a summer like no other now consigned to the pages of history. A cherished memory of endless days and golden glory witnessed through often disbelieving eyes."

More than the Games website - 2012

The London 2012 Paralympic Games was, then as now, seen as a great success and a new milestone for for how disability is viewed by the wider public. Channel Four made the iconic advert 'Meet the Superhumans' that arguably created a distinct and positive tone leading into the games. They also broadcast an unprecedented (at that time) 150 hours of Paralympic sport.

The term 'superhuman' is seen by some as controversial and problematic and it is notable that the slogan for the 2016 games were changed to 'Yes I can'.  Language around disability can often be complicated, as words and phrases used historically are now considered offensive.  Additionally words or phrases intended to convey a positive message can sometimes be misguided and have a negative impact.  Particularly if thought of by someone without the lived experience of a disability.

Official website of the Paralympic Movement - 2012

What is undeniable, however, is the success of the sporting event itself. 'Team GB' won 34 Gold medals and 120 in total. Athletes Sarah Storey and David Weir each won 4 Gold in Swimming and Athletics respectively. Great Britain ended third in the medal table, a fantastic achievement.

The UK Web Archive extensively collected websites for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games collection that now represent a superb resource of this key time in modern history. The collection holds nearly 500 target websites, the vast majority of which can be viewed anywhere online.

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby - 2012

British Disabled Fencing Association - 2012

Do you know of UK Paralympic athletes and sports for the Tokyo 2020 games? Nominate here.

By Hedley Sutton, Asian & African Studies Reference Services Team Leader

Check out previous episodes in this series - Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Once again we are privileged to be able to eavesdrop on a diverse group of UK domain websites, as they attempt to identify the most extraordinary site of all.

“Shall we start?” said the Happy Museum Project. “Surely no-one will object to our being a candidate?”

“Indeed. No-one will object,” said Fat Llama. “Then again, nobody is going to be wildly enthusiastic.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” said Crazy Coffins. “We want to be more ambitious, and choose a site with some wit and humour.”

“Like us!” cried Raspberry Pi.

“Or us!” added the Use Less Group “Geddit?”

“Of course we get it,” sighed Intelligent Lifts & Escalators. “We’re not stupid. However we really need a site with an aura of mystery … something that draws the outsider in … “

“Then you can only mean us,” suggested the Edible Bus Stop. “We are surely a stronger candidate than Rubber Cheese, or VocalEyes.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” said the Eton Fives Association with a sneer. “You might as well nominate a site like Mutts With Friends.”

“Oooh, hark at you,” said Dog Daddies, in canine solidarity. “As a site championing another of our four-legged friends, are you with us too, HopeThruHorses?”

“Good grief!” exclaimed the Good Grief Trust, somewhat predictably. “If the discussion continues in this vein, we’re probably going to need to bring in Spread A Smile.”

“Or possibly even the Wellbeing Supervisor,” mused Magic Bus UK.

A brief silence descended on the gathering, soon broken by the UK Corrupt Police. “Hello hello hello, what about nominating us?”  

This seemed to concentrate minds. It was decided that the wisest course of action was to let Verifiable Credentials make the final choice. This meant that the site eventually put forward was … the Fab Foundation.

If you know of a UK website that should be included in the archive, nominate it here.