Call: Education and Behavioral Sciences Section research forum

The ACRL Education and Behavioral Sciences Section invites proposals for presentations at their virtual research forum, to be held online on 6 May 2026. The propsal deadline is 16 March 2026. The proposals should report on research (at any stage - it doesn't have to be completed) "relevant to library work in education, behavioral, or social sciences or to academic libraries in general."
The presentations will take the form of 10-minute lightning talks. "Proposals will be evaluated via rubric by the extent to which they address the following five elements. [which are research design, relevance & value, originality, EDI and project status] Upon reviewing your proposal, the EBSS Research Committee will follow-up with any questions. You do not need to be a member of ALA or ACRL to submit a proposal."
The proposal form is at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkNtdaULTeTDycIIjCgUhoFCGPMolQvau-WYrxqD3iUx5_iQ/viewform
Previous fora (with recordings / slides) are linked here https://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/ebss/ebsswebsite/ebsscommittees/research
Photo by Sheila Webber: squirrel in Sheffield Botanics, February 2026

Webinar: Digital Literacy & Pop-up Teaching

On 5 March 2026 at 8.00 (US EST), 13.00 (GMT), 21.00 (SGT) there is a free webinar (lasting 90 minutes) Digital Literacy & Pop-up Teaching. The leaders are Jennifer Nardine (Asst Prof/Librarian/Coordinator of Int'l Outreach, University Libraries at Virginia Tech, USA) and Katlyn Griffin (Teaching & Learning Engagement Librarian, University Libraries at Virginia Tech, USA). 
"Explore innovative “pop-up teaching” activities on digital literacy topics. Grounded in Virginia Tech’s Digital Literacy framework, this webinar introduces key competency areas and offers adaptable examples for diverse learning contexts." 
It is organbised by American Library Association (ALA) International Relations Round Table (IRRT) Mission Enhancement Project, in collaboration with IFLA WLIC 2026, Korea National Committee, as part of a development series. 
Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D1mrKzEpQmuItCovxuSAxQ
Photo by Sheila Webber: iris reticulata (possibly "George"), February 2026

Webinar: Information Literacy, data and evidence removal in the US

On 26 February at 14.00-1500 GMT there is a webinar organised by the CILIP Information Literacy Group: Information Literacy, data and evidence removal in the US. It is free to CILIP members, £5 to others. 
"During the US government shutdown in October and November of last year, many of us saw the notice on the PubMed website warning that information on the site may not be being updated. For many of us in the information literacy community, this brought into focus how events in the US are affecting our own access to and use of information. In this webinar, we will hear from Isobel Eddyshaw, an Academic Liaison Librarian at the University of Exeter. In this talk, Isobel will go through and explain some of the current changes in the US, their impact on data and evidence removal on databases, as well as how she put together the LibGuide. This will be a 30 minute presentation, followed by a 30 minute Q and A, and offers a chance for us as information professionals to discuss our concerns and share how changes in the US are affecting our practice." 
Go to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cilipinformationliteracygroup/2014393

Book: Teaching Information Literacy by Discipline

Libson, S.P. & Willey, M. (Eds.). (2025). Teaching Information Literacy by Discipline: Using and Creating Adaptations of the Framework. ACRL. Item Number 979-8-89255-561-6
There are sections (each with several chapters) on: Arts; Writing; Humanities; Interdisciplinary Studies; Social Sciences; Business; Education and Behavioral Studies; Health; Sciences
Full information at https://alastore.ala.org/teaching-information-literacy-discipline-using-and-creating-adaptations-framework
Photo by Sheila Webber: snowdrops, February 2026

Podcast: Autistic Librarians in Academic Library Workplaces

The twelfth episode of the podcast Chatting Info Lit is Autistic Librarians in Academic Library Workplaces: "Lucy Dodge speaks to Amelia Haire (Senate House Library; Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network). Amelia talks about the research she conducted as part of her Masters dissertation, which focuses on what it means to be information literate for an autistic librarian in the academic library workplace." 
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-12-autistic-librarians-in-academic-library/id1673423506?i=1000750168434 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/79bDXYuA8deGTFwEHZKEIF?si=ygt9p8yyRWmfDxguUEDoww 
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/chatting-info-lit-podcast/autistic-librarians-in
Photo by Sheila Webber: crocus, February 2026

ACRL Immersion Program

ACRL (the US Association of College and Research Libraries) has started up its Immersion Program again "an intensive three-day program" which "provides participants with an immersive learning experience where they can reflect on core issues related to teaching and learning in libraries and develop new relationships with colleagues from a variety of institutions."
It will take place 15-17 July, in person, at Loyola University in Chicago, USA. A maximum of 50 delegates are admitted. Registration is supposed to open "mid February" (though I can't see a link yet)
There is full information here: https://www.ala.org/acrl/conferences/immersion?_zs=SUvvg1&_zl=ThCcA
Photo by Sheila webber taken in Second Life, immersed underwater

Call for proposals: 2026 Virtual LILi Conference

There is a call for proposals for the 2026 Virtual LILi Conference, to be held online on 23-24 July 2026 (in the US Pacific time zone: for those in the UK and other parts of Europe this will be in late afternoon/ evening). The theme is Artificial Intelligence Meets Information Literacy: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future. The submission deadline is 13 April 2026. 

You can propose presentations (15-min presentation plus Q&A), lightning talks (5-7 minutes), PechaKuchas or posters "that explore innovative approaches, research findings, practical strategies, and emerging trends in libraries and information literacy related to artificial intelligence, particularly in support of equity and inclusivity." There is a "focus on practical uses rather than theory" and some specific themes are suggested on the page with the full call (which includes proposal form links) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dH6pDiIq8XMaJARUGL7umcnCNRcijQGkZrK3VzF5OCQ/edit?tab=t.0
I will just add that I think  it's wonderful that the LiLI volunteers keep organising these free interesting events!

A Taxonomy of LLM Summarisation in Academic Search

An interesting categorisation of the different ways in which different types of large language models (LLMs) summarise outputs from academic search tools:

Tay, A. (2026, January 24). Classifying the Ways LLMs Summarise in Academic Search: Understanding AI Summaries in EBSCO, ProQuest, and More. https://aarontay.substack.com/p/classifying-the-ways-llms-summarise
Photo by Sheila Webber: war memorial, Sheffield, February 2026

Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change

At the COP30 meeting in November 2025, a Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change was agreed for the first time, signed by many countries (though, sadly, not mine...). Apologies for not posting this sooner, I created a post and then didn't post it. 
The declaration calls upon the private sector (e.g. "Ensure transparent, human rights-responsible advertising practices that bolster information integrity on climate change and support reliable information and journalism.") and governments (e.g. "e. Promote campaigns on climate change and support initiatives that promote literacy and the public's right to access reliable information on the matter.") for action. 
The call on "civil society and academia" is to "a. Integrate information integrity on climate change in their work; b. Promote and engage in existing networks to share good practices and collaborate on the matter, especially involving institutions and actors from developing countries." 
The declaration is here https://www.unesco.org/en/information-integrity-climate-change/cop30declaration?hub=780 
and a press release is here https://unfccc.int/news/countries-seal-landmark-declaration-at-cop30-marking-first-time-information-integrity-is-prioritized
Photo by Sheila Webber: more winter branches, February 2026

New articles: Collaboration; Assessment, AI

The latest issue of open access College & Research Libraries News (volume 87 issue 2) includes: 
- It’s Not Easy Staying Human: Generative AI, Cognition, and Reflection by Maxwell Gray
- Intentional Co-Instruction: Bringing the Framework and Guidelines into Conversation for Undergraduate History Information Literacy Instruction by John Caldwell, Kaitlyn Tanis
-  Pathways to Impact: Anticipating Action in Library Assessment by Becky Croxton, Megan Oakleaf
Go to https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/issue/view/1691/showToc
Photo by Sheila Webber: winter branches, February 2026

Webinar: Designing Accessible Canvas Modules with DesignPLUS

A LILi Show & Tell webinar is presented by Stacey Greenwell on 25 February 2026 at 11.00 US Pacific time (19.00 GMT) "This practical presentation will show examples of three research skills modules created with DesignPLUS in Canvas. The presenter, an instructional designer and librarian, will talk through templates that use solid design practices and how those can help create modules to support information literacy instruction. Special attention in the presentation will be given to using Ally and UDOIT to ensure accessible Canvas modules". Zoom link is https://uci.zoom.us/my/marquezn
A recording will be available on the LILi Show & Tell webpage afterwards https://lili.libguides.com/showandtell/home

News literacy at school

Petrus, C. (2026, February 4). Birmingham librarian on mission to teach news literacy to elementary students. WXYZ Detroit. https://www.wxyz.com/news/birmingham-librarian-helping-elementary-students-develop-news-literacy.
A news story about a school librarian in Birmingham, USA.
Photo by Sheila Webber: my last red devil apple, on a Williamson's bluebird plate, January 2026

LOEX Registration opens (and likely also closes)

Registration for the USA's main information literacy conference, LOEX (7-9 May 2026 held in-person in Norfolk, USA) opens today 13 February 2026 at 13.00 US Eastern time, which is 18.00 GMT. My understanding is that this fills up more or less immediately, rather like a hot-ticket gig. Preference is given to those whose organisation is a LOEX member.
They say "Please be prepared at the time of registration to: provide basic contact info, food preferences, and whether you plan on attending the Thursday night meet & greet. You do *not* need a member ID. Instructions on how to make a payment *AFTER* you register will be on the registration confirmation page; payment isn't due until April."
Go to https://loexconference.org/registration/ "If you get to the page early and the form is not available, please re-fresh your browser."