An interesting open access book:
Mfengu, A. et al. (2025). Advancing Social Justice Through Curriculum Realignment: Centering Scholarly Communication in LIS Curricula. UCT Libraries Press https://openbooks.uct.ac.za/uct/catalog/book/79
Photo by Sheila Webber: roses, May 2026
On 25 June 14.00-15.30 BST (UK time) there is a free online event: DigiCONS (Digital Co-Creation with Nursing Students: Enhancing Digital Competencies).
"This online session brings together educators, researchers and practitioners from Scotland, Portugal and Greece, who are passionate about embedding equitable, human‑centred digital competencies into the future of nursing education." They will "explore innovative approaches, share international perspectives and build connections across institutions committed to advancing digital readiness in nursing curricula."
There is a project website. The organising Committee (Robert Gordon University, Scotland) is Dr Konstantina Martzoukou, Dr Errol Luders, Emma Hay-Higgins and Jennifer Elliott.
Registration at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/co-creating-the-future-of-digital-competencies-in-nursing-education-tickets-1990315901439
Photo by Sheila Webber: relaxation in the Botanic Gardens, May 2026
There's a short interview on the UNESCO website with Professor Arul Selvan, who leads development of a Media and Information Literacy Curriculum (based on the UNESCO MIL Curriculum) for South and Southeast Asia.
UNESCO. (2026, June 6). Shaping a new generation: Integrating Media and Information Literacy into India’s education system. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/shaping-new-generation-integrating-media-and-information-literacy-indias-education-system
Photo by Sheila Webber: greenery, including stickyweed, May 2026
A news stories comments that "Australian students have recorded their worst-ever results in national tests that measure digital literacy, with just 37 per cent of year 10 students [about 15 years old] and 50 per cent of year 6 students [about 11 years old] assessed as proficient."
They are commenting on the recently released results from the large scale test on ICT literacy carried out by Australia's National Assessment Program (NAP) in 2025. The news release from NAP mentions that the year 10 result is "the lowest percentage observed since the assessment's inception [in 2005]." This despite the fact that participants report using digital tools of various kinds at home and at school.
Although the full report from NAP has the most detail, I've included the news report as it has comments from various experts, providing different views - from "Blaise Joseph, a former teacher and current director of education at the Centre for Independent Studies" saying that AI was making digital literacy skills redundant (so perhaps the low score was no big deal) to "Therese Keane, a professor of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education at La Trobe University" seeing AI making digital literacy more, not less, important.
News report: Duffy, C. & McAloon, C. (2026, May 26). School students have grown up online but test shows digital literacy at new low
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-27/school-students-digital-literacy-at-new-low-test-shows/106724164
Full report on the NAP site: https://www.nap.edu.au/nap-sample-assessments/results-and-reports (elsewhere on the site you can find the survey instrument etc. and there is an interactive statistics dashboard)
Photo by Sheila Webber: bearded iris, May 2026
The latest issue of open-access College and Research Libraries News (vol 87 issue 6) includes:
- 2026 Top Trends in Academic Libraries: A Review of the Trends and Issues by the ACRL Research Planning and Review Committee
- Envisioning AI’s Role in Libraries: Perspectives on Innovation, Equity, and Responsibility Across Career Stages by Russell Michalak, Trevor A. Dawes, Ava Wallace
- PEACEful Use of AI: A Tool for AI Education by Kimberly Shotick
- Information as Currency: The Social and Cultural Value of Knowledge in the Algorithmic Age by Chereeka Garner
- Wellness and Intentionality: A Year of Exploring Why We Choose Librarianship by Rose Beranis, Justine Cotton
Go to: https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/issue/view/1697/showToc
Photo by Sheila Webber: rhododendron, May 2026
The UK's Media and Information Literacy Alliance (MILA) has shared slides from a webinar on AI and deefakes, organised by MILA with Deep Truth
You can find it here: https://mila.org.uk/deepfakes/
The 54th Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Information Science (CAIS) is free online 22-26 June 2026. The times given on the program are in Pacific Daylight Time (which is, for example, 8 hours behind UK time (BST) and 9 hours behind Paris time. The theme is Information in Repair.
Refreshingly "There is no need to register-Zoom links will be available on the program site"
The program is here https://cais2026.ca/program/ There are numerous sessions that catch the eye including:
- Critical pedagogies and practices for care and connection in online teaching and learning (Panel) with Tami Oliphant, Danielle Allard, Heather Hill, Kirk MacLeod, Lorisia MacLeod, & Pamela McKenzie
- Reparative information literacies of civic engagement for racial justice in the American South: Exploratory qualitative perspectives of public library staff in the domain of economy: Bharat Mehra, Kimberly Black, Baheya Jaber, & Kaurri C. Williams-Cockfield
- The Actuality of the obsolete: Inscriptions, traces, and the documentary life of zines: Iulian Vamanu
The latest issue (vol 20 issue 1) of the open access Journal of Information Literacy includes
- Critical thinking, disillusion, and dissent: Information literacy in a refused knowledge information landscape by Madelene Logren
- The anatomy of collaborative open-source software development: A practice-based view on how open-source communities work by Renesa Tamannum, José Apolinário Teixeira , Gunilla Widén
- Disinformation and gender issues: A study with young people from Salvador and Porto Alegre (Brazil) by Daniela Silva, Ana Cristina Prates, Josiene da Silva Niesciur
- Digital literacy challenges in higher education: Information literacy in the face of misinformation by José G Casas-Puente
- Information and digital literacy at school: A BRIDGE between critical thinking and equality values by Dora Sales, Christina Banou, Mara Morelli, Anna Antoniazzi, İpek Şencan, Serap Kurbanoğlu, Heidi Enwald, Noora Hirvonen, Stéphane Goldstein, Sarah Pavey, Konstantina Martzoukou, Petros Kostagiolas
- Guided inquiry design for online information literacy media by Nove E Variant Anna, Miyarso Dwi Ajie, Piyapat Jarusawat, Yollanda Nundy Alshafa
- Teacher, trainer, or facilitator? by Katie Smith, Jessica Waite
- From one-shots to assignment design: Developing a library-led faculty development program by Nathaniel King, Alena Manjuck, Yvonne Tran
- Subject librarian reflections on upskilling to support staff and students with systematic reviews: Our experience at UWE Bristol by Hannah Poore, Philip O'Shaughnessy
- Promoting reflection by students on their use of information by Andrew K. Shenton
- Articulating generative AI information literacy competencies: An ACRL Framework–driven model for academic libraries by Ladislava Khailova, Melissa Netzband Wathen , Melissa Jones
- Adding a simple log to in-text citations to strengthen information literacy and argumentation while blocking casual misuse of generative AI by Peter Tamas, Leonie Kamminga
plus book reviews and two reports on the 2026 LILAC conference (by Jane Pothecary and Tom Cross)
Go to https://journals.cilip.org.uk/jil/issue/view/58
Photo by Sheila Webber: spring roses, May 2026
In the latest episode of the IATUL (International Assiciation of University Libraries) podcast Beyond the Shelves (hosted by Vicky Grant and Alanna Ross) Maria De Brasdefer and Louise Hisayasu talk about Supercharged by AI an exhibition on how artificial intelligence impacts our online lives.
The podcast is at https://open.spotify.com/episode/4geRvGBxSHac3mEOi7r1Qr
Photo by Sheila Webber: Icelandic poppies, May 2026
This is the book connected with the course I blogged yesterday: I don't think I blogged this open access book when it was published:
Rath, L., Davies Hoffman, K. & Elmore, J. (2025). Communities of Practice for the Advancement of Library Instruction: An OER curriculum. Pressbooks. https://copali.pressbooks.sunycreate.cloud/
They say "This OER provides a curriculum for librarians to create a community of practice related to library instruction. The authors provide everything you would need, including application materials, session agendas, reading lists, and track descriptions."
Photo by sheila Webber: hollyhocks in the botanic gardens, May 2026
The latest EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Teaching and Learning Edition has been published. Using the Delphi method, this gives the perspective of (mainly North American) educational technology experts' views on the trends for the Higher Education sector. In addition to a STEEP analysis (aka a PESTLE analysis without the L), this year they identify "Signals of change" (which "point to early, often surprising, indicators of how teaching and learning might evolve.)
The STEEP analysis has a good deal of AI in it, including under the "Social" factor "AI is reshaping trust in information. AI is changing how people decide what to trust by weakening traditional signs of credibility such as knowing who wrote something, where the information came from, and whether it was built through visible steps, including drafting, citing, and checking sources over time. ... Colleges and universities will increasingly need
to help students focus on the skills underneath any tool: evaluating claims, checking evidence, explaining reasoning, and verifying information." hmmm - so .. information literacy needed? (sadly, that is not what they propose)
The "Signals of Change" section presents practical examples from the (not very "surprising" imho) areas:
Evolving Use Cases for AI Technologies;
AI Governance and Trust;
The Changing Landscape of Education Systems;
Attempts to Improve the ROI of Higher Education;
External Pressures on Education Stakeholders.
This year they don't present alternative scenarios, perhaps because all of the scenarios would end up looking grim (certainly last year's ones all seemed dystopian to me).
Although I realise I'm sounding a bit sceptical, I do think it is always worth reading this report as it presents the consensus amongst people who have power of educational tech budgets, and does present some interesting examples. Also, it is concisely written. An omission is a statement about whether or not AI was used in producing it (a bit ironic, considering the nature of the report).
Go to https://library.educause.edu/resources/2026/5/2026-educause-horizon-report-teaching-and-learning-edition
Photo by Sheila Webber: a horizon, Vancouver, 2024
The UK electronic information Group (UKeiG) has organised a half-day online CPD course YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and beyond: video marketing for libraries and cultural organisations on 25 June 2026, 10 am to 1 pm BST. The Course leader is Ned Potter. Cost is: UKeiG/CILIP members £50 + VAT; Non-members £80 + VAT.
More info and registration at https://www.cilip.org.uk/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2061428&group=201314
Photo by Sheila webber: rhododendron, May 2026
There is a free webinar from ACRL on 21 May 2026 at 14.00 US EST (19.00 BST): Project Outcome for Academic Libraries 101. Project outcome helps "libraries understand and share the true impact of their services and programs with simple surveys and an easy-to-use process to measure and analyze outcomes. Project Outcome is a free toolkit offering libraries access to training, data analytics, and standardized surveys that measure outcomes in key library service areas."
One of the areas in the toolkit is Instruction "Services or programs to assist students in their coursework and enhance their learning. Examples include: instruction sessions in classes, library orientation programs, or topic-specific workshops." (i.e. including information literacy education).
Register at: https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mVr2EKYnRjSQUu45Ow76yw#/registration
Photo by Sheila Webber, cherry blossom in May 2026
These are all open access.
- Desilets, M.R. & Pendell, K. (2026) Building Connections with Graduate Students Through Credit-Bearing Instruction. RUSQ: A Journal of Reference and User Experience, 61(3), 15-27. https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.61.3.8668
- Mixon, N, Johnson, A. & Taylor, J,. (2026). Microsites as Outreach Tools: A Case for Targeted Engagement in Academic Libraries. RUSQ: A Journal of Reference and User Experience, 61(3), 5-8. https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.61.3.8666
- Li, L. & Coates, K. (2026). Navigating the Generative AI Wave: AI Literacy Instruction in Academic
Libraries Today. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/lib-facpresent/313 [a powerpoint presentation about the approach specifically at Georgia Southern University Libraries, USA]
- The Infosphere: Nigerian Journal of Knowledge and Information Studies: Vol. 1 No. 1 & 2 (2026) contains, for example: March, M. & Yusuf, D. Information Literacy and Digital Reference Services in Academic Libraries in Nigeria https://journals.fuotuoke.edu.ng/index.php/njkis/
- Saleh, S. (2026) Implications of Online Learning Environment and Google Classroom https://dapp.orvium.io/deposits/69a5ca66e6caf72bc3f50de7/view [This is a student work but looks interesting]
Photo by Sheila Webber: dandelion heads, May 2026
There is a call for submissions for the Modern Language Association-EBSCO Collaboration for Information Literacy Prize
There are up to two annual awards of $500 each for coursework developed in collaboration between department faculty members and academic librarians in literature, language, or related disciplines. Deadline for submissions is 1 July 2026. It looks like you can make submissions from any country.
"The award recognizes successful integration of the disciplinary objectives of the course with learning objectives in information literacy, as defined in the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education." Submissions should relate to teaching in the current or previous calendar year.
More information at https://www.mla.org/Resources/Career/MLA-Grants-and-Awards/MLA-EBSCO-Collaboration-for-Information-Literacy-Prize
Photo by Sheila Webber: flowers in Mason's Regency china, May 2026
There has been a UNESCO report on the future of university education, stemming from the 2022 World Higher Education Conference and consultations following on from that. There isn't any mention of information literacy (or any other kind of literacy other than a mention "advanced" literacy) but one of the seven guiding principles is "Establishing a human-centred role for digital technologies and AI" which includes the statements (p27) "In recent decades, information has become much more accessible while its volume has increased considerably. And, while there are many tools that help us process these vast amounts of information and data (and here AI offers important strategies and tools), it still falls to human beings, both individually and collectively, to generate knowledge and understanding. This is where universities and other higher education institutions come in; one of their contemporary roles is to enhance the capabilities of individuals and societies to advance the ethical and equitable use of digital technologies."
UNESCO. (2026). Transforming higher education: Global collaboration on visioning and action. UNESCOhttps://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000397582
Photo by Sheila Webber: rhododendron in bloom, May 2026
A new book "shifting the focus beyond humans to explore the rich and complex realms of information and knowledge shared with animals, plants, microbes, technologies, and landscapes." It includes When animals teach: Lessons for information pedagogy and Urban dog parks as information grounds: A multispecies family perspective
Solhjoo, N. (Ed.) (2026). Multispecies Information Science. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Multispecies-Information-Science/Solhjoo/p/book/9781032951553
Photo by Sheila Webber: squirrel on a rock, April 2026
This report is particularly related to my interest in education for older people, and combatting ageism: it has recommendations for upskilling and reskilling of older people. Sadly, information literacy isn't mentioned, but it does talk about aspects of digital literacy.
UNESCO and Shanghai Open University. (2026). Implementing effective
reskilling and upskilling: learning programmes for older adults. UNESCO
Institute for Lifelong Learning. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000397435
The report describes examples from Colombia, Japan, Singapore, Sweden and the United States of America (USA) taking different approaches. For example there is the example of The Senior University: A lifelong learning experience for older adults at the Universidad del Rosario, Colombia. The report ends with recommendations.
Photo by Sheila Webber: lilac and buttercups, May 2026
The IFLA Section Education and Training has organised a free webinar on 27 May 2026 at 15.30 CEST (14.30 BST): AI in Library Schools.
"This webinar explores students’ experiences with artificial intelligence in Library and Information Science education, including ethical AI use, privacy and data protection, AI-related coursework, and the opportunities and challenges AI brings to LIS programs." The keynote speaker is Iman Magdy Khamis (a data scientist and director of the library at Northwestern Qatar) on Understanding the Ethical Use of AI in Higher Education and Libraries. "The webinar will also feature presentations by LIS students sharing research projects, case studies, and practical experiences related to AI in LIS education"
Register at https://tinyurl.com/SETMay27
Photo by Sheila Webber: rhododendron - it was actually an even more flourescent colour! - May 2026
Tom Mackey (Empire State University, USA) has posted the recording of his keynote from the virtual iConference that took place 23-26 March 2026: From Information Literacies to Metaliteracy: Learner Agency in an AI-Mediated World.
"This keynote argues that evolving approaches to information literacy, AI literacy, and digital authenticity require a shift beyond discrete or skill-based methods toward a more comprehensive and reflective model of learning."
Go to https://metaliteracy.org/2026/04/03/from-information-literacies-to-metaliteracy-learner-agency-in-an-ai-mediated-world/
Photo by Sheila Webber: blossom on the tree, May 2026
UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning has organised a free webinar: From misinformation to empowerment – Media literacy for youth and adults in the age of AI on 19 May 2026, 13.30-15.00 CEST (which is one hour earlier in teh UK, BST).
"To mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, this webinar - organized by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in collaboration with UNESCO’s Media and Information Unit within the Communication and Information Sector - will explore the role of MIL in adult learning and education in the age of AI. Bringing together policymakers, researchers and practitioners from Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) countries, the event will examine emerging challenges and promising practices for equipping adult educators with essential MIL competencies.
A highlight of the event will be the official launch of our new multilingual self-learning course on media and information literacy for adult educators."
Register at https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BUiAKkzGQeqabt7yKqjhUQ#/registration
Photo by Sheila Webber: Cherry blossom, April 2026
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
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.
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/
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
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
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
The IFLA Information Literacy Section (ILS) and Environmental Sustainability and Libraries Section (ENSULIB) are organising a session within the World Library and Information Congress (talking place in Busan, South Korea, 10-13 August 2026): Climate Literacy for Sustainable Futures: Libraries Empowering Communities to Act.
There is a call for papers (at least one author has to present in person) and the deadline is 27 April 2026.
The focus is on "how libraries of all kinds can play a role in tackling mis/disinformation about climate change and support their communities to live more sustainably."
"We welcome contributions that share original research, case studies, or practical initiatives from any library setting or region. Proposals might address strategies for tackling climate mis/disinformation, partnerships that advance climate literacy, innovative programs that empower users to live more sustainably, or professional development approaches that build the skills and confidence of library workers in this area. Submissions from diverse geographic and community contexts are strongly encouraged. In addition: Papers should reflect the WLIC’s theme, Libraries Powering Transformation".
More information, including submission guidance, at https://2026.ifla.org/ils-ensulib/
Photo by Sheila Webber: cherry blossom, March 2026.
The UK government plans to lower the voting age to 16 (you can already vote in Scottish and Welsh parliamentary and local elections at 16 if you are qualified to vote in Scotland/ Wales) so there is interest in how this younger cohort of voters might engage with information relevant to voting decisions.
Earlier in the year a report was published by Internet Matters and Full Fact. Internet matters is a not-for-profit that works "collaboratively with our partners to support our joint vision of a safer, happier connected world for children and young people" (partners include Tiktok, Amazon Kids, Sky). Full Fact is the fact checking organisation.
The report uses "November 2025 data from Internet Matters Pulse ... based on a survey of 573 children aged 13-17 and 801 parents of children aged 13-17 based in the UK") and also previous Internet Matters research.
The report identifies that this age group encounters political information online, their confidence that they can evaluate it is in the 50%s and when asked about their peers' confidence, that is rated even lower. A small majority are concerened about the veracity of what politicians say and about the impact on misinformation on election results. A large majority of young people think that schools, parents / carers, Government, and social media companies all have responsibility to support them in being more informed voters (they were not asked whether they felt they had a responsibility to develop themselves). The report makes recommendations for various stakeholders, including about media and digital literacy. Sadly, librarians/ libraries are not mentioned.
Internet Matters. (2026, February 8). Preparing young voters in a complex, attention-driven information environment. https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/research/preparing-young-people-to-vote-in-a-complex-attention-driven-environment/
Photo by Sheila Webber: spring branches, April 2026
