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