Information Literacy and democracy

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

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

iConference proceedings published

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

Tackling misinformation and disinformation for Scottish school librarians.

CILIPS (CILIP Scotland) has published the report: Tackling misinformation and disinformation for Scottish school librarians.
The project was funded by the CILIPS Research Fund and led by Dr Bruce Ryan, Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland. The small-scale project included a survey, focus groups and interviews with school librarians and leaders of school library services, plus a review of policy documents.
Go to  https://www.cilips.org.uk/misinfo-school-report/
Photo by Sheila Webber: museum (closed), Sweden, August 2025

Video: Information Literacy in Public and Health libraries

There's a video from the CILIP Members Fest about Information Literacy in Public and Health libraries with speakers Drew Feeney (North Lanarkshire Council, Scotland) and Katie Wise (Royal Berkshire NHS, England)
Go to https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/MembersFest24_Recordings? and scroll down to that video
Photo by Sheila Webber: autumn colour in the Botanics, October 2024

Fact checking Ferret and misinformation

At the CILIP Scotland conference in June 2024 there was a presentation from Alastair Brian of The Ferret fact checking organisation based in Scotland. It is "a registered co-operative with places reserved on the board for both journalists and subscribers." The video is 37 minutes (embedded below and at https://youtu.be/odBxfjsS4bM?si=j6uQn_GehDMsz9-M)

New secretary for Scottish CoP @Bruce_Research

 Bruce Ryan, of Napier University, is becoming the new Secretary of the Scottish Information Literacy Community of Practice, so it's a good moment to highlight that this group is still active. They have brought together stakeholders and also interacted with the Scottish Executive in a more active way than has been possible with the UK Government. Activities include, for example, a forthcoming meeting in Scotland to disseminate the Bridge project.
Their website needs updating with the latest information (something I imagine Bruce will be able to help with!) but it still has very interesting material, including their inspirational Scottish Information Literacy Framework (an early lifelong framework).

#ECIL2023 New clicks: developing user led digital literacies in older adults in Scottish public libraries

Pam McKinney blogging from the second presentation in the doctoral forum at ECIL. Andrew Feeney from Edinburgh Napier university presented a summary of the beginning stages of his PhD research. He intends to use participatory methods with a peer supported approach to understand his topic.
There is a huge range of literature on participatory methods, older adults and public libraries. Older adults are disproportionately and tangibly affected by gaps in digital literacy development. Digital by default negatively affects older adults e.g. public policy often focuses on developments for younger people in schools or the workplace. There are no equivalent policies for older adults. Public Libraries are ideally placed as sites for development as trusted locations.
Participatory methods are useful for meeting older learners on their own terms, and peer supported approaches are under explored in this context. There is a need to address intersectional approaches to information literacy development, and sustainable change needs direct engagement, and the public library is a good place for this to happen. Andrew’s research questions focus on how older adults determine their own digital literacy needs, and how they might address these without formal intervention. How could participatory and peer supported methods address these needs? Andrew is hoping to work with a group of around 40 adults that he already engages with in his professional practice.
He hopes to examine the CILIP definition of information literacy through the research, which prioritises empowerment and engagement. One of the impact areas outlines by CILIP is information literacy in everyday life, and this is key to the research. Participatory research involves the research hers giving up power, and become a participant themselves. Recent studies have shown that targeted engagement work best with older adults. These methods can reach out to older adults that may not have engaged with traditional learning.
Ageing is a non uniform process, and this means that methods should have a range of outputs. The ladder of participation presents a range of ways that participatory research can be conceived, and Andrew is aiming for the top of the ladder which gives more power to participants. An initial establish cohort of participants will help Andrew design the research, and a pilot series of workshops with this cohort will trial and develop new approaches.
Some early conclusions are that current policies do not address the varied and compound digital literacy development needs of older adults. User-led methods proposed can address this, and can develop scalable solutions. Public libraries are already active in this space, but lack a holistic vision that is supported by government policy.
The abstract for this talk is on this page

Maddie Is Online in an elementary school #ECIL2023

The next presentation I (Sheila Webber) am blogging at ECIL is Maddie Is Online: Embedding Creative Audio-Visual Resources to The Teaching of Information Literacy in an Elementary School in Greece from Konstantina Martzoukou (Robert Gordon University , Scotland) and Evi Tramantza (Anatolia College, Thessaloniki, Greece).
I have blogged about the excellent videos series Maddie is online before and the channel is here https://www.youtube.com/@maddieisonline2579. After introducing the Maddie is Online series, the presenters explained how they used Maddie is Online series 2 and decided to integrate it into primary school lessons at Anatolia College Elementary School in Greece (it is an American school and therefore the students can cope with English language). This was done in collaboration with teachers, and sessions were in the library (with teachers also attending).
Tramantza examined material to select and contextualise it for the students. Lesson plans and assignments were developed. They surveyed both students and teachers after the last lesson. Benefits included
- interactive and video material appealed to student
- the quantity and quality made it easier to select and introduce material
- storytelling aided the effectiveness of the learning, including describing feelings
- Maddie herself was a good role model
Interaction included students reciting key messages together – they enjoyed this. They also enjoyed competing in groups to produce fake news posters. Another activity was students taking on a character in the series and exploring that character in more depth.
From the post-class survey, student and teacher feedback was positive overall, and they think the activity should be repeated. Tramantza herself also reflected that she enjoyed using different ways to teach information literacy. Some challenges were also identified. Recommendations included sharing lesson plans; the need to discuss Miss Mason’s deceitfulness (she's a teacher in the series), how even usually trusted people may be untrustworthy and the need to be careful; that Maddie can be used by both teachers and librarians; that the videos are engaging.
Photo by Sheila Webber: brochure in the presentation room

Open Education

As some Sunday reading - after attending and presenting at the OER 2023 conference Sheila MacNeill reflects on what Scotland might look like in 2043 if it had truly embraced the ideas of open education https://howsheilaseesit.net/oer/reflections-and-speculations-from-oer23/
Photo by Sheila Webber: fallen blossom, April 2023

New articles: Data cultures; Older adults' proxies; e-health literacy

There is is a new issue (volume 28 issue 1, 2023) of the open access journal Information Research. It includes:
- Data Cultures: a scoping literature review by Gillian Oliver, Jocelyn Cranefield, Spencer Lilley, Matthew Lewellen ("This paper reports the outcomes from a literature review of the concept of data cultures as the first step in extending the body of knowledge relating to information culture in the information science domain and raising awareness of the need for further research.")
- Internet use and e-health literacy among tuberculosis patients in the Directly Observed Therapy Centre, Lagos State, Nigeria by Olalekan Moses Olayemi, Timothy Shola Abolarinwa
- Social Media by Proxy: how older adults work within their ‘social networks’ to engage with social media by Gemma Webster, Frances VC Ryan
Go to https://informationr.net/infres/issue/view/28-1

Young Scot and the European Youth Information Charter

One of the presentations at the webinar I was at last week was from Young Scot. They have a Get Informed website and have a section on Information Literacy at https://youngscot.net/information-literacy which includes their own commitment to provide information in line with the European Youth Information Charter. The latter document seeks "to guarantee the right of young people to complete, reliable and updated information" and so is worth looking at if you provide information to young people."
Photo by Sheila Webber: Teddy, September 2022

Responses to #COVID19 : Librarians in lockdown in Scotland; the state of American libraries

Two new reports with insights into the response of libraries to the pandemic. Firstly, Peter Reid & Lyndsay Bloice (Robert Gordon University) undertook research supported by the Scottish Library & Information Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, now published as Libraries in Lockdown. Through analysis of social media and web based content and interviews with librarians they examine "Scottish Public Libraries and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21 and in particular the way in which they have, through their digital offering, helped to support community resilience and cohesion. The research also explores the issues that library services have had to contend with during lockdown." It is a 100 page report that finishes with reflections and recommendations. Go to https://librariesinlockdown.weebly.com/
Secondly the State of America's Libraries 2021 Special Report: COVID-19 has been published by the American Library Association. The ALA produces a "state of the libraries" report every year, and it's always interesting to see their perspective on trends and developments. This time they "find 2020 was a year when library professionals answered the call to serve amid multiple emergencies and a year when library workers again proved to be essential 'first restorers' or 'second responders.' " The final section in the report is about librarians fighting disinformation "Throughout 2020, librarians responded to misinformation about vaccines, the census, and the November election, as well as the demonization of the mainstream media as purveyors of “fake news,” by creating resources to fight disinformation." It also talks about issues such as internet/broadband provision, supporting learning, dealing with banning of books. and dealing with inequalities. Go to http://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2021
Photo by Sheila Webber: tulips, March 2021

Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety (CRIS)

Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety (CRIS) is an initiative from Education Scotland. They have produced some videos and other resources, and are running some challenges for Scottish children to do with cyber security and staying safe online. Go to https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/digilearn/remote/cyber-resilience-and-internet-safety/

#lisrival presentations on Syrian Information Literacy; public libraries & citizenship; e-legal deposit; school library provision

RIVAL is a collaborative network of Scotland-based Library and Information Science (LIS) researchers and practising library and information professionals interested in maximising the impact and value of library and information science research. They are having a closed meeting on 19 November, but video presentations and some other resources are already available to all. These include 

- A keynote from my colleague in the Information School, University of Sheffield, Dr Leo Appleton: Public library services and citizenship: a longitudinal analysis of roles, impact, and value 

- Syrian new Scots’ information literacy way-finding practices: Dr Konstantina Martzoukou and Professor Simon Burnett (Robert Gordon University) 

- Digital library futures: the impact of e-legal deposit in the academic sector: Dr Paul Gooding (University of Glasgow) with Dr Frankie Wilson (Bodleian Libraries) 

- Turning school library provision digital and return to school in times of COVID19: Hayley Lockerbie 

Go to https://lisrival.com/rival-events/event-3/

Health Literacy at university level; Information avoidance #AECIST20

Continuing liveblogging notes from the first day of the online conference Information Science Trends: Health Information Behavior, organised by the European Chapter of ASIS&T. Noora Hirvonen gave a presentation based on her ongoing doctoral work, Girls' Positions and Authoritative Information Sources in Finnish Online Discourses on the HPV Vaccine: the abstract is here
Kristin Hocevar and Melissa Anderson (Southern Oregon University in the USA) presented a poster on Teaching Online Health Literacy at the University Level. The library collaborated with the Healthcare Studies programme to develop learning about ehealth, cognitive processing theories and calculating risk; there is information teaching and an assessed project which gets students to find and evaluate information for themselves. This has run twice, the second time (only) with the library input, and evidence was that the students had learnt from the experience.

Gemma Webster and (presenter) Bruce M. Ryan (Napier University, Scotland) had authored a poster on Information avoidance and diabetes: a preliminary empirical study. The focus of this ongoing project is those with type 1 Diabetes. There have been studies on information avoidance, but in the healthcare field the main focus has been information avoidance as regards cancer. The researchers carried out 10 interviews with young adults and 5 health practitioners. Early findings are that healthcare professionals lack the time to support the patients with information. In terms of the young adults with diabetes, findings include going through a period in adolesence where they want to deny the disease; distrust of sources of information and advice; and there is avoidance because future complications (e.g. blindness) are just too depressing. There also seem to be regional differences (even within Scotland) in terms of information and advice available.

Presentations from CILIP Scotland conference

I don't think any of them are specifically about Information Literacy - but an interesting selection of presentations from the CILIP Scotland conference that just took place in Dundee, Scotland https://www.slideshare.net/CILIPScotland/clipboards/cilips-conference-2019
Photo by Sheila Webber: yellow rose in June, 2019 (at one of the rare points when it wasn't raining)

Public library digital participation programmes – the impact on #employability #infolit

There is a blog post summarising results from a project funded by the CILIP Information Literacy Group (with additional financial support from the Scottish Government): Public library digital participation programmes – the impact on employability. The post is by Lindsay McKrell, Team Leader for Libraries and Archives, Stirling Council, and Angela Short, Digital Inclusion Officer. "Work IT is a flexible programme of digital support for employability offered by libraries in libraries, established in response to increased demand for job-related IT assistance ... It was felt a dedicated Digital Inclusion Officer could offer effective digital support to jobseekers, enhance skills and build confidence in a local library setting. We applied for funding for an action research programme to investigate this and were awarded a bursary from the Information Literacy Group of CILIP funding a Digital Inclusion Officer for 4 months. Scottish Government Digital Participation Unit funding allowed us to extend the research period by a further 10 months and the research programme ran from September 2017 – November 2018. Through partnership working and 1-2-1 support the Officer engaged with a large number of jobseekers, 32 of whom attended four or more times and agreed to participate in the research. Findings showed participants gained new skills and confidence and after attending the percentage using the internet to find information rose from 22% to 54%."
Go to https://infolit.org.uk/ilg-funded-project-public-library-digital-participation-programmes-the-impact-on-employability/ for the blog post and the report is at https://infolit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Work-IT-FINAL-Report-201218.pdf
Photo by Sheila Webber: West Port Gardens, Edinburgh, March 2019

Impact of government and corporate surveillance on writers

An interesting new report produced for Scottish PEN, Scottish chilling: impact of government and corporate surveillance on writers. It is authored by Nik Williams, David McMenemy and Lauren Smith. The findings are based on 118 responses from an online survey and 8 interviews in 2016/7. They found that there is widespread concern among writers about government surveillance, about tech companies working with government. Writers reported changes in behaviour including self-censrship when they were writing or speaking. They also might avoid using search engines, email and other online communication in case they were monitored. The report ends with recommendations for the UK government. https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/66291/

Presentations on digital and information literacy in Scotland

There are presentations from recent Scottish events. Firstly, from the Digital and Information Literacy Forum organised by the Scottish Information Literacy Community of Practice and the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC): Presentations are here https://scottishlibraries.org/about-us/events/digital-information-literacy-forum-2017/ on Scottish Government Digital Strategy; The Digital Footprint MOOC; Health Literacy Action Plan Update; Information Literacy of Scotland's Teenagers; Information Literacy and Syrian New Scots; Wikimedia and Information Literacy  (additionally the video Wikipedia in the Classroom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQR_1mZ-gAA)
From the SLIC Showcase & AGM: UWS Information Literacy Journey, presentation at https://scottishlibraries.org/media/1760/uws-info-lit-journey.pdf with student-made videos on library services at https://youtu.be/AITUpsjrU0w and https://youtu.be/aWUbiqK29hQ
Photo by Sheila Webber: Inverness, Scotland, June 2017

Evaluating Information Literacy Activity at a National Level: Sheila blogs from #ecil2017

John Crawford's talk on Evaluating Information Literacy Activity at a National Level: an Introductory Study is the next one I'll liveblog from the European Conference on Information Literacy in Saint-Malo. Crawford's context was Scotland. He started by drawing attention to initiatives in Scotland, such as the Scottish Information Literacy Community of Practice. The last slide shows some of the initiatives, and he namechecked the CILIP Information Literacy group as funding some small scale research projects.

He identified that literature which provides guidance on evaluating IL at a national level is sparse. Some points were drawn from the document that Lau and Catts drew up (see second slide), sponsored by UNESCO (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/resources/publications-and-communication-materials/publications/full-list/towards-information-literacy-indicators/). He also drew some points from two papers in Library Trends, one by Woody Horton and one by Andrew Whitworth (see below). The first slide shows what the Community of Practice had done in line with Horton's "commandments". There has been mixed success e.g. they achieved a visit with a government minister, but the minister proved to be much more interested in digital literacy than information literacy (see first slide).

Horton, W. (2011) Information Literacy Advocacy—Woody's Ten Commandments. Library Trends, 60(2), 262-276. https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2011.0044
Whitworth, A. (2011) Empowerment or Instrumental Progressivism?: Analyzing Information Literacy Policies. Library Trends, 60(2), 312-337. https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2011.0039