Information Literacy in Ghana, Bulgaria, Germany and Dubai

One paper from the WLIC conference that tool place in Busan, South Korea, last week and two papers from the IFLA Information Literacy Section satellite meeting to the WLIC conference (they are all short full-text papers): 
- A Case Study of Public Libraries in Ghana: Equipping Students with Critical Information Literacy Skills in the Age of AI and Misinformation by Ugne Lipeikaite and Ramune Petuchovaite https://repository.ifla.org/handle/20.500.14598/7250 
- AI, Misinformation, and Trust in Higher Education: Information Literacy Approaches of University Librarians in Germany and Bulgaria by Munazza Jabeen, Claudia Lux and Marina Encheva. https://repository.ifla.org/handle/20.500.14598/7249 
- Using 360° Tours and AI-Generated Media to Support Inclusive Discovery and Information Literacy by Sayed Mahmoud
Photo by Sheila Webber: no rain on Blackheath for many weeks, August 2026

Recordings and presentations from #LILi (Lifelong Information Literacy) conference

The slides and recordings are available for the excellent LILi (Lifelong Information Literacy) conference that took place online in July 2026. The recording links (one recording for each day) are at the top of each day's page, and the slides are linked session by session. There were lots of interesting talks, with both practical examples and ideas to refelect on afterwards (also lively dialogue in chat), and it was one of those conferences that you are sorry has to end. The theme was Artificial Intelligence Meets Information Literacy: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future.
I did a talk at the start of day 2 I think you're talking about information literacy, which had four elements: Why am I not more excited about AI?; The overlap of Information Literacy and Generative AI; My approach to teaching and learning; Generative AI in Information Literacy education - example. I refer back to some of the talks that had been given on day 1 of the conference.
Go to https://lili.libguides.com/lili2026conference/Schedule for the links (the first day is displayed, click on the tab at the top for the 2nd day)

New articles: Assessment; Medical students; AI and primary source literacies; Critical infolit; Everyday Life Information Seeking

The latest issue of open-access Communications in Information Literacy (vol 20 no. 1) is the first under the new editorial team. It comprises:
- Application of Information Literacy Skills to Everyday Life Information Seeking in College Students: Implications for Instruction by Stephanie Ward, Rachel Dineen, and Darren Ilett
- Assessment of Information Literacy Instruction in Reference: Applying VanScoy’s Conceptual and Procedural Framework in Practice by Vanessa Arce
- Exploring Information Literacy Skills, Attitudes, and Barriers Among Medical and Nursing Students in Bahrain: A Mixed-Methods Perspective by Asif Altaf, Suchita N. Dsilva, Simple Sibi Joseph, Fida Mukhtar, Muhammad Zeeshan, and Bindhu Nair
- "An Open Mind and a Critical Stance": A Content Analysis of Information Literacy Integration into a Course about Poverty and Discrimination by Ashley Shealy, C. Rebecca Oldham, Clay Oldham, and Tara L. Griffith
- Critical Information Literacy in Higher Education: An Evolution in Theory, Practice, and Assessment by Dan Williford
- Information Literacy Tutorials for High Enrollment Courses: An Iterative Design-Based Approach by Kimberly Casey and Rebekah Heleen
- The Spectrum of Authority: A New Approach to Teaching AI and Primary Source Literacies by Kristen Howard
- Research Matters: Problem-Setting: A Research Reflection Process by Merinda Kaye Hensley
Plus an editorial and a book review. Go to https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/comminfolit/vol20/iss1/
Photo by Sheila Webber: hydrangea in the park, July 2026

Recent articles: One-shots; Students and AI; Teaching referencing

The latest issue of the Journal of Academic Librarianship (vol 52 issue 4) includes the following (priced, unless it says they are open access):
 - Exploring alternative approaches to the one-shot by Elizabeth Borges, Faith Rusk (open access)
- Teaching citation in the age of generative AI: Rethinking research literacy, academic integrity, and epistemic responsibility by Dag Øivind Madsen, Emmanuel Sirimal Silva (open access)
- ‘I shouldn't be saying this’: Library-based student confessions about AI, cheating, and academic integrity by Sarah T. Zipf, Tiffany Petricini, Steve Borrelli
- University libraries in the age of generative AI: Perceptions and usage among students in developing countries by Bolaji David Oladokun, Diana Atuase, Gloria Tachie-Donkor, Tshepho Lydia Mosweu, Panorea Gaitanou
Go to https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/the-journal-of-academic-librarianship/vol/52/issue/4 
Photo by Sheila Webber taken in Second Life, July 2026

New books: Faculty and Librarian Partnerships

These books can be bought individually or as a set:
Dye-Reeves, A. & Watson, E. (Eds.) (2026). Faculty and Librarian Partnerships, Volume 1: Information Literacy and Faculty Empowerment. ACRL. Price US $85 (ALA Member $76.50). Item Number 979-8-89255-617-0 https://alastore.ala.org/faculty-and-librarian-partnerships-volume-1-information-literacy-and-faculty-empowerment?
Dye-Reeves, A. & Watson, E. (Eds.) (2026). Faculty and Librarian Partnerships, Volume 2: Customized Program Support. ACRL.  Price US $85 (ALA Member $76.50). Item Number 979-8-89255-367-4  https://alastore.ala.org/faculty-and-librarian-partnerships-volume-2-customized-program-support?
Photo by Sheila Webber: colourful border, July 2026

New articles: Infolit and politics postgraduates; Sensory knowledge

The latest issue of Learning and Teaching (vol 19 issue 1) includes (open access): 
- Atkinson, D. & Thornton, S. (2026). Information literacy in the postgraduate Politics and International Relations classroom. Learning & Teaching, 19(1). 108-126. https://doi.org/10.3167/latiss.2026.190106 
A survey was administered to taught postgraduate (PGT) students studying Politics at a British and and Austrian univerity (this included students from other countries as well). In the conclusion the authors note limitations of the study, but say that "the main finding of this research is unambiguous: namely that, unless the students surveyed here were wholly unrepresentative of the wider population, we simply cannot assume that all – even most – PGT students can confidently manage, critically engage with, and use ethically any sources of information they might encounter. Where comparison with undergraduate students was possible, PGT students surveyed did generally suggest higher levels of information literacy but not by an overwhelming degree, and in some aspects – including awareness of any previous information literacy training – there was barely any difference at all. If this finding proves not to be a one-off, then this discovery has important implications for the ability (or not) of PGT students to deal with information in a sufficiently sophisticated manner to do well in their academic studies, particularly in a discipline such as Politics and International Relations. This conclusion would be striking enough in a world in which generative AI tools were not liberally available. That we now do live in such an environment only makes this finding even more concerning. As the authors argued even before this new information revolution kicked off, the discipline really does need to wake up and start to take information literacy seriously."

- Lane, K., Welch, C. & Miller, A. (2026). Music in the city : Teaching and learning through the senses. Learning & Teaching, 19(1). 108-126. https://doi.org/10.3167/latiss.2026.190102 (This discusses sensory knowledge) 
Photo by Sheila Webber: found allium seed head, July 2026

New articles: Critical Information Literacy; Teaching IL; Critical Indigenous Studies Liaison Librarianship

The latest issue of open-access College & Research Libraries (Vol 87, No 4) includes: 
- Two Decades of Critical Information Literacy: A Review and Analysis of the Literature by Eamon Tewell
- The State of Critical Indigenous Studies Liaison Librarianship: A Landscape Analysis by Kathryn Randall, Alexander Watkins, Adrienne VandenBosch 
- Information Literacy Instruction Redux: What Are Instruction Librarians Doing Now? by Heidi Julien, Jesus Montiel Hernandez, Melissa Gross, Don Latham
Go to https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/issue/view/1700/showToc
Photo by Sheila Webber: A pleasant tea tray, July 2026.

Developing a Teaching Style

A blog post with short reflections from three first-year academic librarians on their experiences of teaching. 
ACRLog Team. (2026, June 10). Developing a Teaching Style… In Style! https://acrlog.org/2026/07/10/developing-a-teaching-style-in-style
Photo by Sheila Webber: rose, June 2026

Pressing prompts

Pressing Prompts, was recently published by Duke University , USA, with "activities, resources, and learning notes" around three themes:
- Trust & Truth: How do we evaluate what AI tells us?
- Power & Access: Who controls AI and who is affected?
- Self & Society: How does AI change us and our world?
It is "designed for dialogic and experiential learning". It already has useful material and they say that they also welcome further ideas. It is desgned for university-level use and (implicitly) North America, but could be applied more widely.
Go to http://pressingprompts.org/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Foxgloves, June 2026

LOEX outputs

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

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

Books: infolit and transformational learning; Critical Information Literacy

I need to catch up on highlighting some books I'd missed, today it's 
- Hess, A.N. (2025). Information Literacy and Critical Thinking: Using Perspective Transformation to Break Information Bubbles. ALA. Item Number 979-8-89255-324-7. Cost: ALA Member US$53.99, others $59.99. https://alastore.ala.org/ILandCT "Hess invites academic librarians to consider critical librarianship, pedagogy, and information literacy instruction in tandem with transformative learning theory, demonstrating tangible ways to integrate these concepts into their practice." 
- Hornick, J.N. & Kehoe, L. (Eds.) (2025). Critical Information Literacy Applications for All Libraries. ALA. Item Number 979-8-89255-218-9. Cost: ALA Member US$49.49, others $54.99. https://alastore.ala.org/libcil There are sections on: Theoretical Frameworks of Critical Information Literacy (3 chapters); Critical Information Literacy Programming (7 chapters); Professional Development Programs (6 chapters); Critical Information Literacy Lesson Plans (8 plans).
Photo by Sheila Webber: under the willow tree, May 2026

New articles: AI; Top trends; why librarianship

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

New articles: Use of AI; faculty development; upkilling with systematic reviews; guided inquiry; reflection; mis- and disinformation; open source communities

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

Horizon Report 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

New articles: AI + IL; Data literacy; Gamification; Services to visually impaired; Virtual reference; International students

The latest issue of the Journal of Academic Librarianship (vol 52 issue 3) includes the following (priced, unless it says they are open access):
- How artificial intelligence is reshaping information literacy in academic libraries: A global Scientometric analysis (2020–2025) by Munazza Jabeen, Claudia Lux (open access)
- How academic libraries can intervene in the frustrating academic information seeking of international students in China by Ming Zhu, Yidang Wang, Yixuan Cao
- Librarians' understanding of instruction in virtual reference services: A just-in-time learning perspective by Nove E. Variant Anna, K. Kiran
- Supporting blind, visually impaired, and print disabled students: Are academic libraries doing enough? by Dick Kawooya et al.
- Breaking the ice: A social exchange study on gamification, library anxiety, and the willingness to return at the University of Malta Library by Ryan Scicluna (open access)
- Digital reference tools and information literacy: Adoption patterns among university communities and their implications for libraries by Shakir Khan, Saad Alzahrani, Nazia Salauddin
- From information to data literacy: Faculty readiness and alignment in the community college by Jeonghyun Kim, Brady Lund, Nelson Santana
Go to https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/the-journal-of-academic-librarianship/vol/52/issue/3
Photo by Sheila Webber: rhododendron, May 2026

University library outreach for transition

McCabe, K. (2026, May 18). Using university library outreach to demystify the transition from high school to higher education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/using-university-library-outreach-demystify-transition-high-school-higher-education (I think this was sponsored by University of Northern British Columbia, which is why it's open access, but it's still a useful example of information literacy)
Photo by Sheila Webber: Solomon's seal plants, Sheffield Botanical Gardens, May 2026

New items: Graduate students; Outreach; AI Literacy; Digital Reference Services; Google classroom

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

Transforming higher education

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

New articles: AI; Inclusivity: Research experiences

The latest issue of open-access College & Research Libraries News (vol 87 issue 5) is now published. It includes:
- Susan Archambault, Elisa Acosta, Darlene Aguilar, Samantha Blanco, Alexander Justice, Nicole Murph, Shalini Ramachandran, and José J. Rincón Inclusivity by Design: Creating the Best Practices Checklist for One-Shot Library Instruction
- Jennifer Jarson and Kate Morgan: From Listener to Learner: A Podcast to Peek Behind the Curtain of Research Experiences.
- Russell Michalak, Trevor A. Dawes, and Ava Wallace: Envisioning AI’s Role in Libraries: Perspectives from an LIS Student, a Library Director, and a University Librarian
- J. M. Shalani Dilinika: Teaching Students to Think Critically About AI: Practical Approaches for Academic Librarians in Designing Literacy Instruction
Go to https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/issue/view/1696/showToc
Photo by Sheila Webber: cherry blossom scattered, May 2026

New articles: Introverst; Collaboration; ACRL Framework

The latest issue of open-access College & Research Libraries News (vol. 87 issue. 4) includes: 
- Barbara Maratos. Introverts and Library Instruction: Challenges and Strategies. 
- Russell Michalak and Rachel Gandhi. Fostering Holocaust Education: A Collaborative Model Between an Academic Library and Middle Schools.
- Sara D. Miller, Leslie Ross, and Kay P. Maye. The Framework’s Next Chapter: An Interview with ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education Review and Revision Task Force Leaders Sara Miller and Leslie Ross. 
- Jamia Williams and Twanna Hodge. Reflecting on Our Careers and Transitions: A Year of Exploring Why We Choose Librarianship. 
Go to https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/issue/view/1694/showToc
Photo by Sheila Webber: cherry blossom, April 2026