Webinar: What does it mean to be a Subject/Liaison Librarian?

There is a webinar What does it mean to be a Subject/Liaison Librarian? on 19 May 2026 10:30- 12:00 noon BST, organised by the M25 consortium. The cost is £25 for M25 members and £50 for other institutions. "This online event is aimed at library staff looking to acquire additional skills and knowledge or staff working towards Chartership. The position of Subject Librarian – or Liaison Librarian, or Information Specialist, or any number of other variations – remains a key one in most academic libraries and is one that many new professionals aspire towards. However, it can be difficult for staff in Library Assistant or similar roles to make the move up into this area of library work as it is often a significant leap up the career ladder ... three Subject/Liaison/Specialist Librarians will discuss their roles and what they have learned over time.. The speakers are: 
- Helen Biggs, University College London, UK: Leading from the middle
- Antonis Sideras, Royal College of Art, UK: What does it mean to be a Subject/Liaison Librarian?
- Dorothea Miehe, The British Library, UK: What is it like to be a Subject Librarian at the National Library?
Register at https://www.m25lib.org.uk/events/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-subject-or-liaison-librarian-tg1-sublib/

iConference proceedings published

The proceedings of the iConference (held in March-April 2026) have been published as a special issue of open access journal Information Research (volume 31 no. iconf(2026). There's lots about AI! Papers include:
- Beyond the loop: a research agenda towards a framework for critical AI literacy in the AI-assisted literature review by Dipesh Jalui, Mary Tate, Jocelyn Cranefield 
- Disability misinformation on Facebook: a comparison of LLM-based fact-checking tools by Ian Prazak, Leah Padovani, Yool Lim, Julia (Hsin-Ping) Hsu, Myeong Lee 
- Shared agency in information behaviour research: Human–Nonhuman interactions by Niloofar Solhjoo, Jia Tina Du, Yazdan Mansourian 
- The role of misinformation in elder fraud: a conceptual framework by Jiangping Chen, Milo P. Ono 
- Breaking the mold of knowledge imposition: reconstruct the digital literacy education model in academic libraries under the Scottish enlightenment by ZhenJia Fan, YiMei He
 - Reframing creative learning: a conceptual framework for design literacy in the GenAI era by Asif H Zeshan, Xiao Hu 
- Dimensions of information search strategies: a study of blind and visually impaired users in mobile digital library environments by Iris Xie, Wonchan Choi, Hyun Seung Lee, Ning Chiao Wang, Bo Hyun Hong 
- Seeking the mission and opportunities for LIS in the AI era: a systematic review of empirical research on teenagers' artificial intelligence literacy (TAIL) by Jing Liu, Jiajing Ma, Guoye Sun, Shu Fan
 - Inclusive media and information literacy (IMIL): Building a framework for an age of preparedness and responsibilisation by Hanna Carlsson, Lisa Engström, Lisa Olsson Dahlquist 
- Scaffolding resilience: the influence of an iSchool’s media and information literacy courses by Frey Aura Galario, Dan Anthony Dorado, Benedict Salazar Olgado 
- ‘Ugh, it’s a difficult topic’: Positionality statements as information use in information and library science research by Alex H. Poole, Ashley Todd-Diaz
Go to https://publicera.kb.se/ir/issue/view/5744
Photo by Sheila Webber: cherry blossom cluster, April 2026

LIS Pedagogy Chat: Supporting Data Literacy

The next LIS Pedagogy Chat is on 8 May at 2pm US EST, which is 7pm BST, with the topic of Supporting Data Literacy Across Disciplines. There will be an introduction from Charlotte Kiger Price and Emma Slayton (Carnegie Mellon University, USA), followed by a discussion. 
LIS Pedagogy Chat "is an informal community of practice for LIS faculty and practitioners. Our sessions include a short presentation followed by casual discussion." 
Register at https://www.lispedagogychat.org/schedule-registration
Photo by Sheila Webber: vase (a Radford vase with anemone pattern) of spring flowers, April 2026

Media Literacy in the UK

The UK's Media and Information Literacy Alliance newsleter reported last month on the March debate in the House of Lords on progress with media literacy since their own report was published in July 2025: that report started by stating that "Social cohesion is at risk and democracy itself is threatened by inadequate media literacy. Being media literate—having the skills to think critically about the content we create and consume, both online and offline—is essential. Media literacy builds resilience, empowers individuals and protects them against harmful and misleading content. It enables them to be informed and responsible citizens"
That report is at https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ldselect/ldcomm/163/163.pdf The debate also refers to the UK's Online Safety Act 2023 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50. 
One point, raised by Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick, was that the media literacy education of prisoners had been overlooked "They are media literacy denied". 
In her summing up, the Baroness Keeley said "I welcome the emphasis on critical thinking and thinking independently, which was one of the key things to come out strongly in the debate, as well as the discussion on visual literacy, which we cannot forget. The need for Ofcom to update its definition came up again and again, so we should perhaps keep on that. On the subject of libraries, which were mentioned, we must remember that so many libraries are now run by volunteers, so let us not think that they can take on extra responsibilities without the funding that goes with that." 
The transcript of the debate is on Hansard (which has transcripts of debates in both Houses of parliament)at https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2026-03-16/debates/3DD3E3FA-64D7-4264-AA25-F0230A8F8BC4/MediaLiteracy(CommunicationsAndDigitalCommitteeReport).
Photo by Sheila Webber: cherry blossom in South London, April 2026

Social media corporate curricula for digital literacy

An interesting article from one of my colleagues, in which he and his co-author critically examine the ready-made digital literacy lesson plans that big corporates (including tech companies like Meta and Google) produce for schools, parents etc. 
Docherty, N. & Barragán, M.V. (2026). Civilizing users through social media corporate curricula. International Journal of Cultural Studies. Early online publication. (open access) https://doi.org/10.1177/13678779261425695 
Abstract: "The psychological, political and social risks of social media are commonly up for debate. In response, social media companies are producing free to access lesson plans, tool-kits, and other pedagogical materials that seek to educate users about responsible social media use. Through a document analysis of such resources released by Meta, including Facebook's Get Digital literacy campaign and Instagram's Community Programs and Guides, we show how the social media corporate curriculum invites learners to interpret, discuss, and act upon the problems of social media as if they were an individual issue. We argue that this not only entrenches neoliberalized values of personal resilience but also functions, following Norbert Elias, to civilize the user through the cultivation of manners, morals, and codes of digital conduct. We close by highlighting the contingency of such an arrangement, offering alternative pedagogical approaches that do not reproduce these universalizing effects." 
Photo by Sheila Webber: white cherry blossom and spring leaves, April 2026

Call for short papers: Information Literacy: A Discipline for the Future

I and my ILIAD (Information Literacy is a Discipline) colleagues have put out a call for short (800-1000 word) papers for a special issue Information Literacy: A Discipline for the Future to appear in the ASIST (Association for Information Science & Technology) online magazine Information Matters. In this special issue of Information Matters we will explore how this discipline can develop in the future, and for the future.
The deadline for submissions is 8 June 2026. 
My co-editors for this issue are: Professor John Budd, University of Missouri, United States; Dr. Karen Kaufmann, School of Information, University of South Florida, United States; Bill Johnston, Independent scholar, Scotland; Professor Clarence Maybee, Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, United States. 
We welcome contributions on topics such as: 
- What issues should be prioritised in the research agenda for IL? - Who can be involved in developing the discipline of IL? 
- What populations would you target as learners in new information literacy programmes? 
- How can the discipline of IL address specific current and future global challenges? 
- What are the priorities for IL in different countries or regions of the world? 
- How can IL support human rights and social justice? 
The full call, and instructions for submission are at https://informationmatters.org/cfp-special-issue-on-information-literacy-a-discipline-for-the-future/ - email me (s.webber@sheffield.ac.uk) if you have any questions.

Information Literacy handbook selected as foundational book

The American Library Association's Library History Round Table has selected the Information Literacy handbook: charting the discipline (due to be published on 7th May 2026: 550 pages!) as a foundational book in library services. It is the first book centrally focused on information literacy to be selected and the first to be selected for 2026.

The list is at https://lhrt.news/foundational-books-in-library-services/

Webinar: Spanish language OER tutorial / un tutorial gratuito en español para enseñar alfabetización informacional

There's a Spanish-language webinar on 28 April 2026 at 12 noon US Eastern time (10am Mexico time; 18h Madrid time; 17.00 BST) about a free Spanish-language information literacy tutorial (OER, or Open Educational Resource) created by an international group of librarians representing five institutions. The presenters (Irma Leticia Hernández García and María Lourdes Quiroa Herrera) and moderator (Anne C. Barnhart) represent three of the five partner institutions. 
The organisers remind us that Zoom has a translation facility into many languages. This webinar is sponsored by the IFLA Library Services for Multicultural Populations Section, the Information Literacy Section, the Academic & Research Libraries Section, and IFLA-Latin America & the Caribbean Regional Division.There is also an English version of the tutorial, but this webinar focuses on the Spanish version. 
Register at: https://tinyurl.com/MCULTPwebinario1
Photo by Sheila Webber: fallen cherry blossom, April 2026

Call for proposals: Rethinking Reference in the AI Era

The IFLA Reference and Information Services (RISS) section is seeking proposals for Ignite (7 minute) talks to be presented, in person, at a session for the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Busan, South Korea, 10-13 August 2026. The talks must address the theme Rethinking Reference in the AI Era: Empowering Transformation in Libraries. The deadline for submissionsis 11 May 2026. [I couldn't find the full call on the IFLA website, so it is reproduced here]
"Introduction: Libraries are central to information transformation, particularly as the information landscape undergoes rapid digital and technological change. As knowledge practices change and trust is renegotiated in light of evolving technologies, empowering transformation is critically important. We need to equip our communities and researchers with the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape. Reference librarians and library workers play a critical role in this mission by connecting users to appropriate resources, strengthening research competencies, and supporting critical knowledge skills."
"The nature of reference work is evolving. In many cases, users’ first point of engagement is no longer a human interaction but a digital interface. The rise of artificial intelligence tools has shifted not only how information is accessed but also the types of questions users ask. Increasingly, inquiries focus on how to use AI tools responsibly in the research process, how to cite AI-generated content, how to evaluate outputs, and how to use digital images and other materials ethically. These emerging needs require librarians and library workers to expand their expertise beyond traditional resource navigation to include digital literacy, AI literacy, and ethical guidance. This program will explore the transformation of reference services in all types of libraries from the librarian’s perspective and will also examine regional variations in these challenges, recognizing that educational environments and technological adoption differ across libraries and geographic contexts."
"Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:
- How has providing reference changed in the AI era?
- What new competencies are required for reference?
- How must library workers adapt their daily practices to remain effective?
- Has the role of the reference librarian shifted from information provider to critical thinking facilitator?
- How can we mitigate the fear factor, what makes us uncomfortable, as service providers?
- What steps can reference librarians take to move forward boldly in an era of transformation?"
Important dates and deadlines:
11 May 2026 Deadline for submission of proposals/abstracts
20 May: Notification to authors about the status of a submission
20 July: Submission of accompanying PowerPoint slides for presentation
"Proposals should include: Title of proposed presentation; Abstract of proposed presentation (no more than 200 words); Name of presenter(s) plus position(s) and/or title(s); Employer / affiliated institution; Contact information including email address, telephone number; Short biographical statement of presenter."
"Please send your proposals to Robin Kear, Secretary, RISS (rlk25@pitt.edu) and to Marydee Ojala, Chair, RISS (marydee@xmission.com) by 11/05/2026. "

" Please note:
- At least one of the submission authors must be physically present to provide the ignite talk during the program in Busan. Abstracts are to be submitted only with the understanding that the expenses of attending the conference will be the responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted talks.
- The language of the session is expected to be English.
- All presentations and papers presented at the WLIC 2026 will be available online under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
- All presentations and papers must be unpublished and not previously presented.
- Authors must disclose whether they have submitted or plan to submit this proposal to another WLIC 2026 session.
- Authors of accepted presentations must complete the IFLA Authors’ Permission Form.
- Authors and presenters must adhere to the Presenter guidelines, provided when your Ignite talk is accepted.
- All expenses, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodation, etc., are the responsibility of the authors/presenters. IFLA does not provide any financial support. "
Photo by Sheila Webber: Sheffield town centre, March 2026

Paradojas de la Alfabetización Mediática e Informacional

Jutta Haider & Olof Sundin's 2022 open-access book has been published in a Spanish translation:
Haider, J. & Sundin, O. (2026). Paradojas de la Alfabetización Mediática e Informacional: La Crisis de la Información. (Bolaños, Fernando & Camila Rasse, Translation). CIMA UDD. at https://repositorio.udd.cl/items/69c27623-35d3-43bf-b686-a31af848f394

ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education Draft Revision

The ACRL Information Literacy Framework Review and Revision Task Force has released the first draft of the revised Framework for Information Literacy and seeks feedback.
There is a comparison of the current version and draft new version here https://api.draftable.com/compare/ENjVpgJxTnIP
There is a feedback form "with both survey-style questions and spaces for more in-depth responses and suggestions for each Frame, as well as the document overall. If you are hoping to give detailed, specific feedback, the form is best suited for that purpose. The feedback form is open until May 8, 2026."
There is also a webinar which gives further opportunity for feedback on 28 April 2026 at 13.00 US Central time, 19.00 BST. Register at https://ala-events.zoom.us/meeting/register/BIRcmBPBR8un25a0JQ3xvA#/registration
Photo by Sheila Webber: by Sheffield Cathedral, March 2026

Teaching with AI: Tool Spotlight

This page from the useful Canadian online education site Teachonline.ca has descriptions of AI tools relevant to education (15 so far) saying what it is and why it's useful
Go to https://teachonline.ca/tool-spotlights/ 
Photo by Sheila Webber: white cherry, April 2026

iConference posters published

Posters from the iSchools conference (iConference) held in Edinburgh, Scotland and online in March 2026 have been published. Posters include: 
- The information literacy impact framework: Evaluation of modules teaching information literacy in context by Ryan, Bruce; Brazier, David; Ryan, Frances 
- Small Talk, Big Impact: Overcoming Polarization through Informal Information-Sharing in Third Places by Lanier, Amy 
- Coping with Inflation in the Age of Social Media: Economically-Disadvantaged Consumers’ Information Behavior on Reddit by Shelton, Amanda 
- The Role of Chatbot AI as an Intermediary for Processing Health Misinformation by Seo, Subin 
Go to https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/collections/2602
Photo by Sheila Webber: My birthday cake from earlier this month