Digital empowerment for lifelong learning and transformative andragogy (DELTA) for adult educators

In October 2025 the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), in partnership with Shanghai Open University (SOU) published the DELTA (Digital Empowerment for Lifelong Learning and Transformative Andragogy) Framework which "aims to enhance adult educators’ digital competencies and foster inclusive, lifelong learning opportunities for all."
It is "a dynamic set of competencies and capacity building resources designed to strengthen digital practice across four key domains: Instructional practice; Digital empowerment; Media and information literacy; Transformative practice"
"The DELTA Framework is the result of a two-year, collaborative process involving international experts and technical working groups from nine countries." (quoted from here).

UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning & Shanghai Open University. (2025). Digital empowerment for lifelong learning and transformative andragogy (DELTA) for adult educators: introduction to the DELTA framework and resources. Document code: 978-92-820-1260-4 https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000396041
UIL and SOU have also developed "a suite of capacity-building resources and self-learning modules, available as Open Educational Resources (OERs)" which you can access on the UIL Learning Hub (you have to register). https://learninghub.uil.unesco.org/enrol/index.php?id=74
Photo by Sheila Webber: a jumbled windowsill, October 2025

New articles: IL in Workplace; Schools; Curriculum mapping; Supporting communities; Teaching through popular culture

The latest issue of open access Journal of Information Literacy (Vol. 19 No. 2, 2025) is available. The articles are:
- Mapping the core dimensions of information literacy in the critical and workplace domain A thematic analysis by Dijana Šobota
- Integrating service-learning into information literacy education A case study from the Philippines by Ana Mae Cantel, Eun Youp Rha,
- Toward a coherent framework for school-based information literacy Delphi-based expert perspectives on competence and implementation by Ivana Martinović
- Reflection as a means to assess information literacy instruction by Natalia Kapacinskas, Veronica Arellano Douglas, Erica Lopez, Mea Warren
- Teaching critical information literacy through popular culture A media studies approach using the Oz texts by Daniel Williford
- Using Nuthall’s ideas to conceptualise and support children’s information needs by Andrew Shenton
- Information literacy without walls Comparative insights from India’s implementation and Greece’s emerging approaches by Nihar K Patra, Panorea Gaitanou
- Curriculum mapping for identifying and assessing information literacy teaching in humanities and social sciences libraries by Paul Cooke
Go to https://journals.cilip.org.uk/jil/issue/view/55
Photo by Sheila Webber: gingko leaves on a bench, November 2025

Webinar: New Voices in Information Literacy Research

On 15 December 2025at 12noon-13.00 GMT (UK time) there is a free webinar New Voices in Information Literacy Research. It is hosted by Alison Hicks and presents MA dissertation research from three recent graduates.
- Jake Hoosan (Manchester Metroplitan University, UK): Information Literacy Education in UK Public Libraries.
- Jiayin Yu (University College London, UK): How students identify and respond to AI hallucinations: A qualitative study using Dervin’s sensemaking theory.
- Xinyi Wang (University College London, UK): What Makes Physicians Take Charge? The Role of Information Literacy.
Registration required: go to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cilipinformationliteracygroup/1966426
Photo by Sheila Webber: dusk, Amsterdam, November 2025

UNiTE to end digital violence: why digital safety is a gender and public health imperative in emergencies

Only just been alerted to this free webinar from the World Health Organization on 1 December 2025 at 13.00-14.30 CET (which is 12 noon - 13.30 GMT). UNiTE to end digital violence: why digital safety is a gender and public health imperative in emergencies.
Speakers are: Dr Stella Chungong, Director, Department of Health Emergency Preparedness & Chair, WHE Gender Working Group; Dr Eugene Kongyuy, Deputy Director of Humanitarian Response Division to represent the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Ms Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur for Violence Against Women, its causes and consequences; Dr Kai Von Harbou, Unit Head, Community Protection & Resilience, WHO Surviving Digital Violence; Dr Millie Phiri, journalist, researcher and author on digital violence; Ms Sohaila Shamseldeen, Youth and Development Coordinator, Etijah
"This event highlights the need to integrate digital safety into humanitarian health responses, emphasizing its importance for emergency preparedness, protection, and resilient health systems. Objectives: 
- Raise awareness of digital and technology-facilitated violence (TF-VAWG) as a rising public health and protection issue in health emergencies; 
- Highlight impacts of digital violence on access to essential services, staff safety, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), mental health and psychological services (MHPSS), and trust in emergency response systems; 
- Provide evidence-informed recommendations for integrating digital safety into emergency preparedness, response, and resilient health systems; 
- Elevate survivor-centered, rights-based, and gender-responsive approaches in digital health and humanitarian operations. 
Further details (including registration link) at https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/12/01/default-calendar/who-epi-win-webinar-unite-to-end-digital-violence-why-digital-safety-is-a-gender-and-public-health-imperative-in-emergencies

Teaching with Twenty-Four Hours’ Notice

An interesting blog post reflecting on the experience of preparing a presentation at short notice: 
Roberts, M. (2025, November 20). Teaching with Twenty-Four Hours’ Notice [blog post]. ACRLog. https://acrlog.org/2025/11/20/teaching-with-twenty-four-hours-notice/
Photo by Sheila Webber: milestone in autumn, October 2025

Digital Literacy in the k12 Classroom

The next LIS Pedagogy Chat is on 5 December 2025 at 14.00 EST (which is 19.00 GMT). The topic is Digital Literacy in the k12 Classroom, introduced by Neha Thakkar (Illinois State Board of Education, USA), followed by discussion. 
LIS Pedagogy Chat is a community of practice for academics and professionals who teach in library and information science.
Register at https://www.lispedagogychat.org/schedule-registration
Photo by Sheila Webber: York Minster, later October 2025

Webinar: Intercultural perspectives on information literacy and meta literacy

The 7th online conference on Intercultural perspectives on information literacy and meta literacy takes place free, online on 11 December 2025 at 14.00-17.45 Central European Time (one hour ahead of GMT).
This is an outcome from the ongoing international collaboration (Intercultural Perspectives on Information Literacy and Metaliteracy), with students from Austria, Germany, India, Poland and the USA presenting the results of their research on six topics about the influence of AI.
There is also a keynote from Dr. Nicola Marae Allain on Mindful Metaliteracy in the Age of Generative AI: Attention, Reflection, and Human Agency
Go to https://ipil.blog.uni-hildesheim.de/2025/11/10/online-conference-in-december-2025/
Photo by Sheila Webber: model of Bamberg, on a pillar in Bamberg: memories of the European Conference on Information Literacy; there was a presentation about this ongoing IPILM project which I blogged here.

Keeping up with ... AI Ethics

The latest in ACRL's Keeping up with ... series is Keeping up with ... AI Ethics. As usual it is just a few pages, summarising issues and with references/links.
Go to https://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/keeping_up_with/ai_ethics
Image created by Sheila Webber using Midjourney AI, November 2025

AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers

ACRL (Association of College & Research Libraries) has published AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers following approval by the ACRL Board of Directors in October 2025. Go to https://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ai?_zs=SUvvg1&_zl=RQfQA
Another AI-related read is:
Ball, E. (2025, October 20). Teaching AI as an Anti-AI Librarian. ACRLog.  https://acrlog.org/2025/10/20/teaching-ai-as-an-anti-ai-librarian
Photo by Sheila Webber: fallen gingko leaves, Amsterdam, November 2025

Call for Proposals: IS Teaching Methods 2026 Virtual Forum

The ACRL Instruction Section Teaching Methods Committee has a call for proposals for a presentation at their 2026 Virtual Forum. "The hour-long forum will be held in spring with the exact date to be determined based on availability of the speaker(s)." Deadline for proposals is 5 January 2026.
It will consist of a 45-minute presentation followed by 15-minute Q&A. The event is free to participants. The presentation should "showcase innovative teaching methods, assessment, and theoretical approaches. Past topics include critical race pedagogy, gendered labor and instruction, visual literacy, and assessment."
Past events are listed on the Instruction Section website.
Only one proposal will be selected. The proposal form is at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbkIIKU4ZDMTaD11vsxSZ3syY4GMfzjDtHWTT3cnHocrF-6Q/viewformPhoto by Sheila Webber: take a book, Amsterdam, November 2025

Call for nominations of Online Learning Objects

The ACRL Instruction Section wants nominations of Online Learning Objects which "may include online modules/tutorials, videos, podcasts, or other relevant media created or substantially updated within the past five years".
This is for the Featured Online Learning Objects (FOLO) project (which replaces the previous PRIMO project) which highlights high quality online IL learning materials. Nominations are due by 11 January 2026.
Go to https://acrl.ala.org/IS/is-committees-2/committees-task-forces/folo/
Photo by Sheila Webber: late autumn branches, Amsterdam, November 2025

Last chance for LILAC conference bursaries!

The Academic and Research Libraries Group (ARLG) is funding 2 bursaries for the LILAC conference, one for a Further Education libraran and one for a Higher Education librarian. Closing date is 21 November 2025.
The bursaries will include three days at the conference and social events. They also include up to £250 in expenses for reasonable travel and accommodation. To apply for the ARLG bursaries you must be a current CILIP member - if selected, you will be asked to provide your membership details to confirm this.
You apply via the LILAC conference website https://www.lilacconference.com/register You need to register for the LILAC conference site (or login if you are already registered - if you attended LILAC in the past few years you will be already registered).
(1) Register / Login
(2) Select MY ACCOUNT
(3) Scroll down the page to "Bursary applications are now open and will close on 21 November 2025" where the individual bursaries are listed.

Call for proposals: Critical Approaches to Libraries Conference

There is a call for proposals for the 2026 Critical Approaches to Libraries Conference (CALC) which will take place online during the week beginning 11 May 2026. CALC has a two-part process with the stage 1 (which is the call open now) reserved for sessions led by presenters who experience under-representation and/or marginalisation in libraries, academia or traditional library conferences.
The closing date for stage 1 proposals is 19 December 2025 at 23.59 GMT (UK time).
A second unreserved call for proposals will open in January 2026.
There is more information at https://sites.google.com/view/calcconference/call-for-papers including a guide to writing proposals and the form to submit session proposals.
There is a short explanation about the scope of the conference at https://sites.google.com/view/calcconference/about/what-is-critical-library-practice
Questions or queries can go to calcconference@gmail.com
Photo by Sheila Webber: Frederik Hendrikplantsoen in Amsterdam, November 2025

Webinar: Information Literacy Instruction on Grad Course Materials

On 10 December 2025 11.00-12.00 noon US Pacific time (which is 19.00-200.00 GMT) there is a free webinar in the LILi Show and Tell series: Information Literacy Instruction on Grad Course Materials presented by information literacy expert Esther Grassian.
"This session will focus on explaining the definitions and history of information literacy. Along with planning, developing, designing, and evaluating information literacy and brainstorming ideas for updates on current and future instructions. The goals are to: "review the shared UCLA Information Literacy Instruction (ILI) course materials to understand their overall structure, purpose, and pedagogical approach; Explore strategies and models for planning, designing, developing, and evaluating effective information literacy instruction."
The session will include learning how to design, develop, and evaluate information literacy interventions and sharing ideas for updating the UCLA materials (which have CC: BY-NC-SA licenses) for current and future needs.
Information and link to the online session at https://lili.libguides.com/showandtell/home
Photo by Sheila Webber: canal in Amsterdam, November 2025.

Digital Good webinars

A couple of free webinars from the ESRC Digital Good network (that's a UK-funded research network):
- Digital good from the South: 3 December 2025 at 14.00-15.00 GMT. Speakers: Padmini Ray Murray (Design Beku), Alex Cosmo de Mesquita (NGO Thydêwá), Parag Bhatnagar (Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora)
- Digital health: the digital good in low-resource settings in Africa. 25 February 2026 at 14.00-15.00 GMT. Speakers: Bronwyn Harris and team
Go to https://luma.com/digitalgoodnetwork?k=c
Image created by Sheila Webber using Midjourney AI with the prompt: an abstract image of a network in greens yellows reds, the background is warm and light

New articles: Health students information behaviour; Government information use; Interpreting positive feedback

The latest issue of the open access journal Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, Vol. 20 No. 3 (2025), includes:
- Feel Good Incorporated: Using Positively Framed Feedback in Library Instruction Course Evaluations Using a Survivorship-Bias Lens by Benjamin Grantham Aldred
- "We Don't Like Unanswered Questions”: Information Practices of Students Transitioning to Clinical Education by Nena Schvaneveldt ("Students’ information practices are characterized by three themes. They are motivated to build competency to provide patient care; they operate in dual roles as student and clinician; and they navigate ambiguity, uncertainty, and doubt. They were able to describe the way they experienced information, problems they solved, and the development over time."
- Government Information Use by First-Year Undergraduate Students: A Citation Analysis by Sanga Sung, Alexander Deeke
Go to https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/eblip/index.php/EBLIP/issue/view/1974
Photo by Sheila Webber: autumn roses, October 2025

Call for proposals: Information in Repair: The 54th Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Information Science

There is a call for proposals for the free online 54th Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Information Science, taking place 22-26 Junew 2026, which has the theme Information in Repair. It is hosted by conference organizers at the University of British Columbia School of Information. Deadline (for extended abstracts) is 31 January 2026.
"This year’s theme, “Information in Repair,” centers the maintenance and reparative work that is always required, but rarely lauded, across information systems. Scholarly attention and resources are often directed towards the new and novel, the conceptualization and design of innovative systems and interventions. This tendency risks ignoring opportunities to learn from the vast amount of knowledge, practice and technical expertise that goes into monitoring, adjusting, and navigating changes within critical, long-term components of longer-term/ongoing/continuing information systems. We are particularly interested in information science perspectives on practices of disposability or reuse, of reparative work, and theories of repair. We invite creative and expansive views of what is being repaired and maintained, as well as exploration of repair itself as information work."
Topics that are relevant include Information seeking and behaviour; Information literacy and education; Information policy and ethics.
Go to https://cais2026.ca/call-for-papers/ (English) or https://acsi2026.ca/call-for-papers/ (French)

November 21 – Teaching Across Borders: What LIS Research Tells Us About Library Instruction Geared Toward or About Immigrant and International Groups

The next LIS Pedagogy Chat is on 21 November 2025 at 14.00 US EST (which is 19.00 GMT, UK time), free online. The topic is Teaching Across Borders: What LIS Research Tells Us About Library Instruction Geared Toward or About Immigrant and International Groups.
"Join us for a conversation about three different types of LIS pedagogy: instructing college students of immigrant or international heritage, teaching English-learning adults in public libraries, and training LIS professionals to effectively engage with immigrant communities. While we are careful to avoid homogenizing groups, there are transferable lessons from each instructional context."
Register at: https://www.lispedagogychat.org/schedule-registration
"LIS Pedagogy Chat is a community of practice for faculty and professionals who teach in LIS" (library and information services).

Bridging the grey digital divide: enhancing ICT learning for older adults; research report

A new UNESCO 80-page publication: 
UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, Shanghai Open University & Institute for the Future of Education. (2025). Bridging the grey digital divide: enhancing ICT learning for older adults; research report. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000396040 ISBN: 978-92-820-1261-1
Photo by Sheila Webber: autumnal tree in the park, November 2025.

IFLA Journal issue on AI in libraries

The latest issue of the open access IFLA Journal (vol. 51 no. 3) focuses on Artificial Intelligence and libraries. It includes (among other articles on AI/libraries): 
- Skills and AI literacy of engineering students by Thuy Thanh Bui, Son Hong Do and Ly Dieu Din
- Facing the era of generative artificial intelligence: Strategies of information and digital literacy in Chinese studies by Bing Wang, Cecilia Zhang, Khamo and Shuqi Ye 
- AI literacy guidelines and policies for academic libraries: A scoping review by Muhammad Yousuf Ali and Joanna Richardson 
- Student satisfaction with artificial intelligence chatbots in Ethiopian academia by A Subaveerapandiyan, S Radhakrishnan, Neelam Tiwary and Sisay Mulate Guangul 
- Exploring the potential of artificial intelligence usage in the knowledge and evidence services of a public health body: A working group approach by Zalaya Simmons, Charlotte Bruce, Samuel Thomas, Patricia Lacey, Wendy Marsh, Scott Rosenberg and Daphne Duval 
Go to https://repository.ifla.org/items/b8ea2089-3bfa-4a6c-bdb9-36f0c830edbc 
Photo by Sheila Webber: South London house, October 2025

Call for examples of addressing mis/disinformation and the SDGs? Share your actions with the UN.

IFLA is encouraging library and information professionals to provide information about their work in countering  mis- and disinformation. The United Nations (UN) Department of Global Communications is collecting information on activities which could be said to contribute to the Suistainable Development Goals (SDGs). Deadline for submissions is 31 December 2025. 
"Are you working on topics advancing the role of information in achieving the SDGs? Are you working on helping library professionals and users counter mis- and disinformation related to climate, peace and justice, health, or any of the other topics covered by the goals?"
"Describe your action, its goals, methods and target audience. Indicate if its planned, ongoing or completed. Is your action research oriented, building public awareness, Media and digital literacy training, or something else? Share the primary focus area. Indicate which SDG(s) it targets Your input will contribute to a cataloguing of activities that help showcase good practices, share achievements, identify gaps and inform policy guidance." 
Go to this page and follow the link https://www.ifla.org/news/are-you-addressing-mis-disinformation-and-the-sdgs-share-your-actions-with-the-un/
Photo by Sheila Webber: autumn branches and sun, October 2025

Webinar: The AI Moment in Libraries: What It Means for Our Profession

The AI Moment in Libraries: What It Means for Our Profession Tuesday is a webinar on 11 November 2025 at 17.00 to 18.00 GMT. The panel consists of  Beth Patin (moderator), Leo Lo, David Lankes, Sanda Erdelez, and Jeff Saltz.
"As AI reshapes information access and discovery, libraries face critical choices about technology, equity, and community trust." the panel will "explore how libraries can navigate AI implementation while staying true to core values of access, privacy, and service to all communities."
Further information at
https://events.syracuse.edu/event/the-ai-moment-in-libraries-what-it-means-for-our-profession
Photo by Sheila Webber: more of my Red Devil apples, October 2025

New articles: teaching about information; Learning from failure

The latest issue of open access College & Research Libraries News (volume 86 issue 10) includes: 
- Richard M Cho - Information in the Age of Infocracy: Recalibrating the Definition of Information for Library Instruction. 
- Collin Stephenson - It Will Go Wrong: Reflections on Growing through Failure as an Instructional Partner.
- Mary Aycock - Prompting Generative AI to Catalog: The Promise and the Reality (I know, this isn't about IL) 
Go to https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/issue/view/1686/showToc
Photo by Sheila webber: apples from my tree (variety Red Devil), October 2025

Call for proposals: Teaching information literacy under budget cuts

The Reference Librarian plans a special issue "addressing how instruction librarians manage their information literacy and liaison programs while adapting to budget cuts and changes in organizational structures." 
Deadline for 500 word proposals is 19 December 2025. Submit proposals via https://harrisburgu.libwizard.com/f/_wrefSP2526. 
Questions can be directed to co-editors Lauri Rebar (Lrebar@fau.edu) and Christine Bombaro (cbomb22@gmail.com).
Photo by Sheila Webber: a sturdy tree in autumn, October 2025

Book: Information Literacy and Social Media

A book I missed posting 
Santamaría, M. & Pfannenstiel, A.N. (2024). Information Literacy and Social Media: Empowered Student Engagement with the ACRL Framework. ALA. Price: ALA Member US $45.00; others US $50.00. 979-8-89255-545-6. 
The sections are: Social Media and Information Literacy; The [ACRL] Framework, Social Media, and Empowered Educators; Lesson Plans Within Social Media to Develop Information Literate Citizens; Creativity and Ethics as Key Components of Metaliteracy.  Go to https://alastore.ala.org/information-literacy-and-social-media-empowered-student-engagement-acrl-framework 
There is a review of the book just published in College & Research Libraries at  https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/article/view/27051/34930

The LIRT Librarian Recognition Award

The ALA Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) is calling for nominations for the LIRT Librarian Recognition Award (which recognises a practicing librarian's contributions to information literacy education) and the LIRT Innovation in Instruction Award (presented to a library for its innovative approach to information literacy education). Submissions can be from any type of library. 
Winners will receive a US $1,500 award for Librarian recognition or US $2,000 for Innovation in Instruction and  US $1,000 stipend to be used to attend the 2026 ALA Annual Conference. Deadline is 15 January 2026. 
You can self-nominate for either award, and it does not say that the awards are restricted to people/libraries in the USA (though all the ones listed from 2014 were in the USA - but perhaps there weren't enough applicants from elsewhere!) 
Full information at http://www.ala.org/rt/lirt/awards
Photo by Sheila Webber: autumn leaves, October 2025

Webinar: Information Literacy: Still powered by humans

The Central Library, Indian Institute Of Science Education And Research (IISER) (Berhampur, India) has organised a free webinar Information Literacy: Still powered by humans on 4 November 2025 at 10.30 GMT. The opening address will be by Professor Ashok K. Ganguli (IISER) and the speaker is Dr Alison Hicks (University College, London), Editor in Chief of the Journal of Information Literacy. Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/57BJ1zV7QSq8Hs6hGssKcQ
Photo by Sheila Webber: autumn day, October 2025

The AI and Digital Transformation in Government Course

In UNESCO's Global Media and Information Literacy week, the AI and Digital Transformation in Government Course is launched, created by the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and UNESCO.
It is free online, in English and Spanish (starting on 10 November 2025) with courses in French, Portuguese and Arabic to follow. Successful completion will give a Joint certificate from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and UNESCO.
The modules are: AI & Human Rights, Ethics, Data Governance, Inclusive Service Design, Leadership and hands-on experience with Generative AI tools.
The course is aimed at civil servants and public administration professionals at all levels.
Go to https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/equipping-civil-servants-ai-era

AI can make mistakes #GlobalMILWeek

UNESCO launched a campaign AI Can Make Mistakes on 24 October as part of Global Media and Information Literacy Week. This is a short compilation video 

Global analysis of the current state of play of media and information literacy

UNESCO, as part of Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week, has published an 18-page report comparing e.g. policy about MIL in different regions. It is not clear how the research was gathered (from my personal experience I think they circulated a questionnaire, and assume they did desk research). There is a press release which states among other things that "According to the research, 171 countries reference MIL within national policy frameworks, signalling growing political recognition of its importance. However, only 17 countries have taken the next step to develop dedicated, standalone MIL policies, a key factor linked to more systematic integration of MIL into education. Overall, 43% of countries have incorporated elements of MIL into formal education, while 29% offers MIL education limited to technical digital skills, neglecting critical thinking, analysis, and ethical engagement." 
The publication can be downloaded here: 
UNESCO. (2025). Media and information literacy for all: closing the gaps: global analysis of the current state of play of media and information literacy https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000396030

Webinar: Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces

IFLA's Information Literacy & School Library Sections have a free webinar Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces on 29 October 2025 14.00-15.00 UTC (which is the same as GMT, UK time). This is in celebration of Global Media and Information Literacy Week and International School Library Month. There will be 2 presentations:
- AI integration initiatives at LEAD International School, Malaysia by Mayasari Abdul Majid (Library, LEAD International School, Malaysia)
- Building AI Literacy to Tackle Misinformation: Lessons from the PRODIGI Project by Tania Azadi (Media Culture & Policy Lab, KU Leuven, Belgium)
More information at https://www.ifla.org/news/2025-ifla-ils-sls-joint-global-mil-week-webinar-online-via-zoom-october-29th/ 
Registration is required - go to https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/EmxN4-8kRVSz9llxSnWrWA#/registration

Media and Information Literate Cities webinar for World Cities Day and Global MIL Week 2025

The is an online event today 27 October 2025 to celebrate Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Cities Around the World at 14.30 CET (which will be 13.30 UK time - and those in the Americas note that Europe has changed the clock already, so there is one less hour time difference than usual) - MIL Cities: Connecting Communities through Information and Culture. 
There will be a panel and short presentations on the MIL cites: Dubrovnik (Croatia), Athens (Greece), Al Rayyan (Qatar), Ramallah (Palestine), Jambi City (Indonesia), Quezon City or Malabon (Philippines), Comodoro (Argentina), Santos (Brazil), Santa Rosa de Copán (Honduras), Antonio Cardoso, Municipality of São Gonçalo do Amarante (Brazil), Abuja (Nigeria). 
The programme is here and you can register at https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aQdfrmU4TcWw0TREFh-UfA#/registration

UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy week - conference day 2

Today is the official start of Global Media and Information Literacy week (24 - 31 October). However, the feature conference in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia started yesterday.
You can find the recording of the first day in English here and in Spanish here. The Programme for both days is here https://www.unesco.org/en/weeks/media-information-literacy-2025/programme?hub=66833

You can attend the livestream of day 2 today (24th, which starts at 14:25-17.45 Colombia time (which the same as US Central time, so with the start at 20.25 UK time) here https://www.youtube.com/live/lyoseHHVuHc?si=GOwIw1F90aIBwoX0 On 22nd I attended virtually the UNESCO MIL Alliance reluanch event, and I will blog about that separately.

Library instruction and information literacy 2024

The annual annotated bibliography on information literacy has been published by Reference Services Review. It is the usual substantial item, listing 404 items (mainly journal articles: they exclude books). This is a priced publication. It starts by outlining their inclusion/exclusion decisions and some statistics on journal, author and country coverage, and some trends they observe. 
Caffrey, C., Perry, K., Lee, H., Dowell, L., Warriner, S., Britto, M., Shareef, C., Haas, A., Philo, T., Ospina, D., Wood, N., Clawson, H., Kohn, K.P., Mackenbach, D. & Clarke, M. (2025). Library instruction and information literacy 2024. Reference Services Review [early online publication]. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-07-2025-0045
Photo by Sheila Webber: bookshop, Brännö, August 2025

Co-Creational News Media Toolkit

A publication from the Public Interest News Foundation (which monitors/ promotes independent news sources) is the Co-Creational News Media Toolkit 
"The toolkit is built around four modules of news media – governance, content creation, fact checking and impact – combined with four principles – participation, truth-seeking, accountability and care." 
For each of 16 elements there is a short explanation, some tips on application and an example. 
Go to https://toolkit.publicinterestnews.org.uk/resources/
Photo: Centre for Ageing Better Age-Friendly image library: Couple outdoors: Credit: Peter Kindersley https://www.agewithoutlimits.org/image-library

Webinars: From Search to AI Mode; Navigating Information in the AI Age Navigating the Risks of AI Adoption

Singapore Management University Libraries celebrates Global Media and Information Literacy Week  with free online events
24 Oct 2025 10.00 - 11:30 AM (Singapore Time: 3am-4.30am BST) From Search to AI Mode: Teaching Students and Citizens to Verify and Contextualise Information with LLMs with Mike Caulfield (creator of the SIFT method and co-author of Verified
24 Oct 2025 14.00-16.00 (Singapore Time: 7am-9am BST) Trust, Truth, and Technology: Navigating Information in the AI Age. There is a talk from Dr. Leo Lo (Dean of Libraries and University Librarian at the University of Virginia, USA) followed by a panel discussion including Lim How Khang (Singapore Management University, Assistant Professor of Law and Computer Science),  William Tjhi (AI Singapore, Head, Applied Research for Foundation Models (ARF), Rachel Teo (Google, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy)
28 Oct 2025 15:30 PM - 16:30 PM (Singapore Time, 7.30 GMT) Navigating the Risks of AI Adoption featuring Nicholas Quaass from Statista
30 October 2025 12:00 noon - 13:00 pm (Singapore Time) Shifting Power and Community Revolts: A Balancing Act in This Uncertain Technological Age a workshop with Samantha Seah, a librarian with the User Services and Experiences at SMU Librarie.
Register here: https://eventregistration.smu.edu.sg/event/TTT2025/summary
Photo by Sheila Webber: Christmas baubles, Bamberg, September 2025

Book: Instructional Design for Teaching Information Literacy Online

I missed the publication of this book earlier in the year:
Mattson, J., Lemmons, D., Linsinbigler, V. & Lowder, C. (2025). Instructional Design for Teaching Information Literacy Online: A Student-Centered Approach. ALA. ALA Member US $63.00; others $70.00. https://alastore.ala.org/instructional-design-teaching-information-literacy-online-student-centered-approach?_zs=&_zl=0oEAA
Photo buy Sheila Webber: autumn boughs, October 2025

Registration open for LOEX Fall Focus

Registration is open for the online LOEX Fall Focus conference, taking place 17-19 November 2025. This information literacy conference has the themes: Artificial Intelligence; Archives & Special Collections; Sense of Belonging.
The programme has been posted (bear in mind that times are in USA Eastern which is, for example, 5 hours behind UK time (GMT). The fee varies depending whether your insitution is a LOEX member, and there is a cheaper rate for students.
For registration go to https://loexfallfocus.org/registration/

New publication: Global challenges for Information accessibility

A UNESCO 16-page pamphlet: 
Hargrave, A.M. et al. (2025). Global challenges for Information accessibility: key principles and good practices in the digital age. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000395614 
Photo by Sheila Webber: slogan on a shop in Bamberg selling quirky overpriced home items "Ich suche nicht, ich finde" [I don't search, I find] - a saying attributed to Picasso

Call for chapters: The Practical Literacies Cookbook

There is a call for chapters for The Practical Literacies Cookbook edited by Haley L. Lott and to be published by ACRL. 

They are seeking " "recipe" (chapter) proposals on instructional activities for teaching skills that extend information literacy and connect it to other essential areas of student learning ...  recipes or chapters on practice-based examples of lesson plans, activities, or programs." Submit 500–700 word proposals by 14 November 14 2025. 

Go to  https://docs.google.com/forms/de/1FAIpQLSeCecA9XRjzM61B2_dd1Fi260bZ20LN9yBxHFegps2wlEYe8Q/viewform
Photo by Sheila Webber: meal in the fish church, Gothenburg, August 2025

Call for proposals: #LOEX2026

Breakout Session Proposals There is a call for proposals for sessions at the 54th Annual LOEX Conference, which has the theme Oceans of Knowledge: Diving into Information Literacy . The conference will be held 7-9 May 2026 in Norfolk, USA. The deadline for proposals is 1 December 2025. Two types of proposals will be accepted: Presentation (a 50-minute session that includes time for a 40-45 minute presentation and 5-10 minutes of question and answer) and 50-minute Interactive Workshops. 
Proposals have to be aligned with one or more of the Tracks (each with a watery theme, as you can see): 
- Pearls of Pedagogy: Teaching Techniques that Work 
- Techtonic Shifts: Innovation and Educational Technology 
- Captain's Log: Navigating Leadership in Library Instruction 
- The Depth Gauge: Measuring Instructional Impact 
- Swimming Together: Collaborating with Others 
- The Bermuda Triangle: Exploring (Seemingly) Eternal Challenges 
- Uncharted Waters: Proposals that Defy Categorization. 
More information at https://loexconference.org/proposals/breakout-proposals/

Webinar: AI ‘everything’: AI tools, AI search, AI images and more

Expert Phil Bradley's final webinar will be on 24 October 2025 AI ‘everything’: AI tools, AI search, AI images and more 11:00-14:00 BST. "he will bring together all the best and latest content from his popular Power Hours on AI for information professionals." Tickets cost £90.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/26fnmauv
Photo by Sheila Webber: autumn in the partk, October 2025

Recent articles: information behaviour on Tiktok; Misinformation in Brazil; genAI and feeling

These are all open access
- Hendrickx, J. (2024). ‘Normal news is boring’: How young adults encounter and experience news on Instagram and TikTok. New Media & Society, 27(10), 5736-5754. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241255955
- Hassoun, A., Borenstein, G., Osborn, K., McAuliffe, J., & Goldberg, B. (2024). Sowing “seeds of doubt”: Cottage industries of election and medical misinformation in Brazil and the United States. New Media & Society, 27(10), 5710-5735. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241255379
- Given, L. M., Polkinghorne, S., & Ridgway, A. (2025). ‘I think I misspoke earlier. My bad!’: Exploring how generative artificial intelligence tools exploit society’s feeling rules. New Media & Society, 27(10), 5525-5545. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448251338276
Photo by Sheila Webber: spot the squirrel, October 2025

Open access book: Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online

A book which is free in online reading & pdf form, or priced in other formats. 
Howard, J.T., Romero-Hall, E., Daniel, C., Bond, N. & Newman, L. (2025). Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online. AUpress. https://www.aupress.ca/books/120334-feminist-pedagogy-for-teaching-online/ 
It isn't specific to librarianship or information literacy, but obviously is relevant to any kind of online teaching.
Photo by Sheila Webber: children's books to borrow, Bamberg, September 2025

Call for proposals for the BOBCATSSS 2026 International Conference on Library and Information Science

There is a call for proposals for the BOBCATSSS 2026 International Conference on Library and Information Science taking place 20-22 January 2026 at  Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania. The theme is Thinking for Tomorrow: Redefining Information Networks in the Digital Age. Deadline for abstracts is 31 October 2025.
"BOBCATSSS is an annual symposium in the field of library and information science. It is a tradition which has been passed on from one country to another since 1993. It is held under the auspices of EUCLID (European Association for Library and Information Education and Research) and is organized by students from at least two universities." This year the universities are Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania and Faculty of Letters and Arts, and Romance Studies Department, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain. 
More detail here https://bobcatsss2026.org.ro/conference-theme/

Information Literacy & Information Behaviour in performing arts

An interesting lengthy blog post from an arts librarian, reviewing some literature on the information behaviour of practitioners and students in performing arts, and adding her own experience to draw some conclusions. 
Ross, C. (2025, October 2). Reframing Traditional Models: Research Needs in the Performing Arts. ACRLog. https://acrlog.org/2025/10/02/reframing-traditional-models-research-needs-in-the-performing-arts/ 
One article she cites is: 
Fleming-May, R. A. (2025). The information needs and behaviours of creative artists: A meta-ethnography of research, 2019-24. Information Research, 30(CoLIS), 551-566. https://doi.org/10.47989/ir30CoLIS52315 
Photo by Sheila Webber: old photo of the Boathouse in Bamberg, September 2025

Webinar: Advancing Women’s Health Information Literacy

A free webinar from the Institute for Information Literacy at Purdue, USA: Advancing Women’s Health Information Literacy: Global Researcher Spotlights on 17 November 2025 at 10.00-11.00 EST (USA Eastern time; which 1s 15.00-16.00 GMT, UK time).
"The Institute for Information Literacy at Purdue is thrilled to feature two research teams in our upcoming ID:EALS 2025-26 online speaker series whose respective projects examine women’s health information literacy needs and future solutions.
"Leili Seifi and Neda Zeraatkar will present their research project, Access and Strengthen Health Information Literacy: A Toolkit to Alleviate Information Poverty in Pregnant Rural Women in Iran. Seifi and Zeraatkar aim to understand the health information awareness of pregnant women in rural Iran in order to develop tools for strengthening health information literacy in regions that lack health centers and libraries. Seifi and Zeraatkar will share findings from their expansive literature review, which will inform future data collection efforts.
"Professor Anwarul Islam will share his team’s ambitious project, AI and Health Information Literacy: A Study Exploring the Perceived Usefulness, and Readiness Among Women in South Asia. Across five countries, the team seeks to identify South Asian women's perceptions of AI’s usefulness and their readiness to utilize AI technology to support health information needs. Professor Islam will share early research findings from focus groups conducted in India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka."
Register at: https://lnkd.in/ggwjER5m

New articles: Banned books; Feedback literacy; Decision makers' IL; Teaching with AI

- Chakraborty, M., & Ford, S. (2025). Reading Between the Lines: Celebrating Banned Books Week Through the Lens of the Information Literacy Framework. College & Research Libraries News, 86(9), 376. https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.86.9.%p  

- Hui, L., Ippolito, K., & Charalambous, M. (2025). Agency Development and Valuing Peer Perspectives: Lessons from an Intervention to Enhance STEM University Students’ Feedback Literacy. Teaching and Learning Inquiry, 13, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.20343/teachlearninqu.13.45 

- Al-Azri, H. M., Al-Harrasi, N. H., & Al-Aufi, A. S. (2025). Exploring variations in the experience of information literacy among decision-makers of Omani government companies: A phenomenographic study. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000625135703 

- Seeley, S., & Cournoyea, M. (2025). “I’m Not Worried about Robots Taking Over the World. I Guess I’m Worried about People”: Emoting, Teaching, and Learning with Generative AI. Teaching and Learning Inquiry, 13, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.20343/teachlearninqu.13.43
Photo by Sheila Webber: autumn rose, Sheffield, October 2025

Call for proposals: California Conference on Library Instruction

There is a call for proposals for the California Conference on Library Instruction (CCLI) taking place on 29 May 2026 at Cal State University Monterey Bay, USA, with the theme Library Instruction in Changing Times. Deadline for proposals is 29 October 2025.
"Instruction librarians are teaching and leading in a time of seismic shift. Lightning-fast technological innovation, divisive politics, and threats to equity and inclusion are all converging in a time of tightening budgets. These factors impact our students and our instructional roles.
"CCLI invites instruction librarians to reimagine how we teach, learn, and lead at the intersection of these forces. Imagine library instruction that not only keeps pace with changing times but actively shapes a more inclusive, informed, and hopeful future. Share how you are reimagining library instruction and your innovative teaching methods with colleagues to transform uncertainty into opportunity for the students we serve."
Note also that there are links to slides from previous conferences on the CCLI website.
More info at https://www.cclibinstruction.org/

Call for proposals #LILAC2026

There is a call for presentations for LILAC 2026 (the UK's Information Literacy conference) which takes place in Sheffield, UK (at my university!), 30 March - 1 April 2026. The deadline is 13 November 16.00 GMT (UK time).
"There are no set themes for LILAC 2026, the focus is simply information literacy. We welcome proposals from all sectors and contexts. We ask that your presentation makes explicit reference to your innovative practice or research in information literacy."
Proposals can be for short or long presentations, workshops, panel discussions, open review, lightning talks, "wildcards" and posters.
For more information go to: https://www.lilacconference.com/lilac-2026/call-for-presentations-1
There is a webinar for those who would like more advice abour submitting abstracts on 3 October 2025 at 12 noon - 13.00 BST (UK time) - register at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cilipinformationliteracygroup/1850273 

AI + Age-Friendly Media and Information Literacy: Gerontechnology: slides #ECIL2025

Today's post is a link to the presentation that Bill Johnston and I gave at the European Conference on Information Literacy last week, AI + Age-Friendly Media and Information Literacy: Gerontechnology.
In the presentation we defined Ageism, and looked at the intersection of AI and Ageism. The AI generated images on the title slide (presented here) show how ageism is embedded (notably the small older woman sitting with the big AI robot pressing on her toes!)
We defined Gerontechnology ("the interaction between aging individuals and technology, aiming to develop technologies that promote the health, safety, independence, and social engagement of older adults” (Ji et al., 2025, p2) and then looked at Ageism + AI + Gerontechnology (The World Health Organization has published a report on this).
In response we highlighted: firstly the 3 Media & Information Literacy roles for older people that are proposed in our Age-Friendly Media and Information Literate (#AFMIL) model (Webber & Johnston, 2019); secondly, the need to exlplore older people's Digital Repertoires (rather than concentrating just on digital skills) and finally we presented Birkland's (2019) interesting typology of older people's technology use. A goal is to to create gerontechnology which is life-wide, creative, and going beyond a focus on care and health.
You can download a copy of the slides (in pdf format) from here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ut9j6fIvHa98c44rdEk5hTwW_bUkuTlg/view?usp=drive_link