Registration open: #LiLi conference: #AI Meets Information Literacy

Registration is now open for the free online LiLi (Lifelong Information Literacy) Annual Conference, 23 July 2026 (9.30 – 14:10 US PDT, which is 17.30-22.10 BST) and 24 July 2026 (9.30- 12.50 US PDT). The conference theme is Artificial Intelligence Meets Information Literacy: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future.
The programme is at https://tinyurl.com/yky9n3va I am very happy to say that I was invited to start the 24 July day addressing its theme of AI and information literacy! There are lots of interesting talks over the 2 days, so I'm very much looking forward to it. 
Register by 17 July at https://tinyurl.com/ye9aurdt Register for live participation (limited to 300 simultaneous participants) + recordings, or just a link to the recordings. 

Call for papers: #RAILS

The call for proposals for RAILS (Research Applications in Information and Library Studies) which will be held 1-3 December 2026 in Adelaide, Australia, closes on 20 July 2026. The conference includes the Australasian Information Educators' Symposium (AIES), a Doctoral Consortium, and Keynote Sessions. The conference theme is New Ideas, New Beginnings.
They "welcome submissions across a wide range of topics, including professional practice, community engagement, knowledge organisation, literacy and reading cultures, archives and records management, digital inclusion, leadership, and innovative service delivery. ... we particularly encourage contributions that explore the broader professional, social, and cultural dimensions of library and information work."
Go to https://railsconference.wordpress.com/call-for-proposals/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Sculpture (Lisa Slade: the life of stars), Adelaide, July 2019

Webinar: ACRL Framework for Information Literacy Sandbox

A free webinar hosted by ACRL's EBSS Education Committee is on 10 July 2026 at 12.30pm US EST (17.30 BST) on the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy Sandbox. 
"The webinar features Sarah Hood, Reference and Instruction Librarian at Santa Fe Community College [USA]. She will share her experiences exploring the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy Sandbox: a tool for both finding and sharing instructional materials. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the Sandbox's relevance to academic libraries, how to search for and submit resources, and why contributing to the Sandbox matters for professional visibility." 
The webinar is at http://csulb.zoom.us/j/5629854509 (no registration). 
The Sandbox is at https://sandbox.acrl.org/
Photo by Sheila Webber: a busy bee, June 2026 (I think this could be a foxtail lily)

Information Literacy and democracy

Two articles today focusing on Information Literacy and democracy, both by Bill Johnston. Firstly an article that will form part of a special issue of Information Matters (on Information Literacy: A Discipline for the Future) that Bill, Clarence Maybee, Karen Kaufmann, John Budd and I are currently putting together. I will link to more of these articles in future posts. 
- Johnston, B. (2026, June 5). Information Literacy (IL) and political engagement in a time of information dystopia: Supporting deliberative democracy and citizen’s assemblies. Information Matters. https://informationmatters.org/2026/06/information-literacy-il-and-political-engagement-in-a-time-of-information-dystopia-supporting-deliberative-democracy-and-citizens-assemblies/

Secondly, an article that is published by the Commonweal Scottish think-tank and also in the newspaper The National which also refers to the place of IL:
Johnston, B. (2026, June 25). Where now for informed citizenship post-Election? Commonweal. https://www.commonweal.scot/articles/magazine-n3egl
Image created with Midjourney AI

Webinar: Training on Generative AI and Hybrid Influence

The European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) is running a free online session on 6 July 2026 14.30-16.30 CEST (so, an hour earlier in the UK, 6 hours earlier US Eastern time): Training on Generative AI and Hybrid Influence – How do we make sense of what we hear and see? 
"The session begins by establishing a shared analytical foundation around key concepts, including generative AI, deepfakes, synthetic media, hybrid influence, and AI-mediated communication. It then examines how these developments challenge existing assumptions about authenticity, trust, verification, and media literacy practice. Through European case studies and applied discussion, participants will analyse how synthetic and manipulated content circulates across digital environments, how influence campaigns operate in practice, and what this means for journalism, education, civic participation, and democratic resilience. Particular attention will be given to the evolving role of media literacy in synthetic information environments, including emerging European approaches to AI and media literacy competencies. The session is designed not only to deepen understanding but also to support participants in adapting their own educational, journalistic, and civic practices to a rapidly changing media ecosystem." Go to https://edmo.eu/training/edmo-training-on-generative-ai-and-hybrid-influence-how-do-we-make-sense-of-what-we-hear-and-see/Photo by Sheila Webber: fern, June 2026

New articles: News literacy; Media literacy; Fact checking; Disinformation

The latest issue of the open-access Journal of Media Literacy Education (volume 18 no.1) comprises:
- Building resilience: The influence of the format on the effectiveness of news literacy messages by Patrick F. A. van Erkel, Peter Van Aelst, David N. Hopmann, Claes H. de Vreese, and Joren Van Nieuwenborgh
- Promoting News Literacy with epistemological beliefs, IFLA checklist and AI: Insights from a teacher training program in Italy by Flavio Manganello
- Don’t tell me how to fact-check; show me, and let me try! A media literacy intervention with sixth-graders by Thomas Nygren and Carl-Anton Werner Axelsson
- Productive Disruptions: An equity oriented framework for civic media literacy in the digital era by Carlos Jimenez, Lynn Schofield Clark, and Johnny Ramirez
- The Creative Participation pedagogical approach to media literacy education by Amanda Levido
- Teacher reflections on media and information literacy in Vietnamese K-12 schools: Current practices, challenges, and pathways for improvement by Tinh T.T Le, Minh Tran, Anh Dương, Huong T. Pham, Vy Tran, and Daniel Jackson
- From Y to Z: A cross-generational examination of new media literacy and online information searching strategy by Taibe Kulaksız, Ali Geriş, and Sena Özşirin
- From consumers to creators: Social media information literacy of university students by Thuy Thanh Bui, Quyen Trang Mai Nguyen, Tu Thi Thanh Nguyen, and Minh Cao Luu
- Leveraging critical social media literacy to safeguard youth against violent radicalization and extremism by Muhammad Akram, Adeela Arshad-Ayaz, and Muhammad Ayaz Naseem
- Didactic aspects of education of primary teachers with a focus on strengthening their media literacy and fighting disinformation. Experience from the Czech Republic by Kamil Kopecký and Veronika Krejčí
Go to https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/jmle/vol18/iss1/
Photo by Sheila Webber: border at the botanics, June 2026

Ofcom: Statement on Media Literacy

Ofcom (the UK's watchdog on communications and media literacy) has just published the final version of How to promote Media Literacy: Statement on recommendations for online platforms, broadcasters and services (there was a draft version for consultation and this is the amended version). They say that the recommendations are "are designed to achieve four broad aims" which are that: 
- Services are designed to give people meaningful choice in how they engage with content (Recommendations 1 and 2).
- People are empowered to actively manage and control their own experience (Recommendations 3 to 6). 
- Services contribute to the broader media literacy landscape through partnerships and outreach to build trust (Recommendations 7 to 9). 
- [online platforms etc. are] driving continuous improvement through ongoing evaluation of what works (Recommendation 10). 
The recommendation document includes (for each recommendation) a summary of the responses to the original document and Ofcom's response to the responses, plus their final formulation.
This is the link to the documents  https://www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-and-attitudes/media-literacy/how-to-promote-media-literacy-consultation-on-recommendations-for-online-platforms-broadcasters-and-services
Photo by Sheila Webber: dandelion clocks, May 2026

Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) Conference.

Registration is open for the Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) Conference, free online 13-16 July 2026, at 13.00-16.00 US EST (18.00-21.00 BST) each day. 
"GAIL aims to promote a deeper understanding of how generative AI can revolutionize library services like instruction, research support, collection management, access services, outreach and collaboration, while also addressing the challenges and ethical considerations this new technology brings to libraries."  Live participation is limited to 1,000 people.
More details at https://shsulibraryguides.org/genailibraries

Chatting Info Lit: Desmystifying the publication process

The latest episode (14) of the Chatting Info Lit podcast has been published: Desmystifying the publication process. Jess Haigh, Managing Editor of the Journal of Information Literacy (JIL) "sets out the JIL publishing process step by step, offering some great tips along the way. If you’re booked on (or have attended) a workshop on writing for research by JIL editors, this podcast is a great place to start!" 
It is avaliable at: 
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-fourteen-demystifying-the-publication-process/id1673423506?i=1000770961870 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/18iLL0XJhLMg9YW8IXcPSi 
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/chatting-info-lit-podcast/ep14 
Transcript at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RxD_EZnPshCO77s-RG62_kPbr6YyU4po/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105844347620717531095&rtpof=true&sd=true
Photo by Sheila Webber: Sheffield Botanic Gardens, May 2026 - green shade is very welcome in the current hot weather

Registration opens: International Conference on Information Literacy

Early bird registration for the International Conference on Information Literacy (ICIL) Africa 2026 is now open. The conference takes place at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, 26–30 October 2026. The conference theme is Empowering Societies through Information Literacy: AI, Data, and Open Media for Sustainable Futures.
Go to http://library.nwu.ac.za/icil-2026-registration

LOEX outputs

The LOEX (US information literacy conference) took place on 7-9 May 2026 and presentations are mostly available. Today I'll link to the pages with lightning talks: https://loexconference.org/lightning-talks-accepted-thu/ and https://loexconference.org/lightning-talks-accepted-saturday/

As a bonus, here's a blog posts from LOEX delegates:
- Ball, E. (2026, June 20). A (Long Overdue) LOEX 2026 Recap. ACRLog. https://acrlog.org/2026/06/20/loex-2026/
- Butorac, K. & Finn, B. (n.d.) LOEX and ARLIS/NA: Two CSB+SJU Librarians Travel to Out-of-State Conferences. https://www.csbsju.edu/libraries/library-blogs/loex/

Book recommendations

From Eleanor Ball, some summer book recommendations "Critical Pedagogy, AI, and More" https://acrlog.org/2026/05/14/summer-break-book-recommendations/
As my own recommendation I'll give Pedagodzilla: Exploring the Realm of Pedagogy which is open access online and can also be bought as a paperback. It is worth reading it through chapter by chapter (each chapter explains a learning theory with reference to something in (pop) culture - starting with "How do spooky Muppets guide Scrooge through transformative learning?") https://www.pedagodzilla.com/the-book/

New book: Media and Information Literacy as Civic Practice

Grosse, M. & Clarke-De Reza, s. (Eds). (2026). Media and Information Literacy as Civic Practice: Lessons from the College Classroom. Taylor Francis. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003628507/media-information-literacy-civic-practice-meghan-grosse-sara-clarke-de-reza
Interestingly, a minority of contributors come from the library or communications field and the introduction (you can read it free as a sample) identifies that they want to take ML and IL out of their silos.
Photo by Sheila Webber: lovely tree, May 2026