Literacy Information

Registration for the 15th Augustana Information Literacy in Academic Libraries Workshop opens on Monday, August 17 2015. The workshop takes place 21-22 October 2015 at the University of Alberta, Canada. The theme is Considering Implementation Options for ACRL's Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education, led by Sharon Mader (ACRL's Visiting Program Officer for Information Literacy). The first day is a consultation day, and the second day includes short talks by partcipants using the new ACRL Framework. More information at https://www.library.ualberta.ca/augustana/infolit/workshop/
Photo by Sheila Webber: palms at the IFLA conference in Singapore, August 2013: soon I will be reporting from this year's conference!

The iConference is the annual conference for iSchools (Information Schools). The 2016 conference takes place in Philadelphia, USA, March 20-23 and the theme is Partnership with Society. "This year’s theme of “Partnership with Society” examines the dynamic, evolving role of information science and today’s iSchool movement, and the benefits to society. The conference includes peer-reviewed papers, posters, workshops and sessions for interaction and engagement, interspersed with multiple opportunities for networking. Early career and next generation researchers can engage in the Doctoral Student Colloquium, Early Career Colloquium and Undergraduate Student Showcase forums." The deadline for paper submissions is September 9 2015. You do not have to be at an iSchool to submit a proposal. More information on the conference website: http://ischools.org/the-iconference/

BOBCATSSS is the annual conference for students of library and information science. The next conference, taking place 27-29 January 2016, will take place in Lyon, France, organised by French and North American students. "BOBCATSSS 2016 will explore several key topics: The Role of Libraries in Democratic Cultures, Intellectual Freedom and Censorship, Libraries, Open Access and Open Data, and Protecting Privacy." Deadline for abstracts is September 15 2015. More information at http://bobcatsss2016.com/
Photo by Sheila Webber: a bee on teh wild oregano by my front door, August 2015

There's a call for proposals for the Library Instruction West 2016 conference (theme: Learning Elevated), June 8-10 2016, to be held in Salt Lake City, USA. The deadline for proposals is October 2nd 2015. "possible topics include: Beware of false summits: Elevating student learning; Tools for the trail: Supporting innovative technologies & online learning; Improve the path for next time: Building authentic assessments; Establish new footholds: Implementing threshold concepts & the Framework; Never hike alone: Collaborating with faculty; Finding your path: Developing ourselves as teachers
Session formats are: 15 minute talk or 45 minute session (which can be a talk, panel, workshop etc.). More info on the conference website: http://campusguides.lib.utah.edu/liw16/proposals
Photo by Sheila Webber: Botanic gardens, daisy, July 2015

Join us in the virtual world Second Life for a one-hour discussion of an open-access article. Professor Diane Nahl (Adra Letov in Second Life) leads a discussion on:
Forster, M. (2015). Refining the definition of information literacy: the experience of contextual knowledge creation. Journal of Information Literacy, 9(1), 62-73. http://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/JIL/article/view/PRA-V9-I1-5/2148

When: 3 August 2015 at 12 noon SL time (which is 8pm UK time, see http://tinyurl.com/pbpzwku for times elsewhere)

Where: Infolit iSchool, in the virtual world Second Life. You need a SL avatar and the Second Life browser installed on your computer. Go to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Infolit%20iSchool/134/47/22

Everyone is welcome to join the one-hour discussion. A Sheffield iSchool Centre for Information Literacy Research event.
Photo by Sheila Webber, taken in Second Life

What: Reports from the EAHIL+ICAHIS+ICLC 2015 Workshop (Health librarians) (https://eahil2015.wordpress.com/) and the i3 conference (http://www.rgu.ac.uk/research/conferences/i-2015) both held in June 2015. This meeting is held in the 3D virtual world, Second Life.

Marshall Dozier (Pancha Enzyme in SL, and President of EAHIL), Sheila Webber (Sheila Yoshikawa in SL, who presented at EAHIL+ICAHIS+ICLC and i3) and Vicki Cormie (Ishbel Hartman in SL, co-organiser of EAHIL+ICAHIS+ICLC) will give their impressions of the conferences. This will include session highlights, reflections on organising the conference and feedback from delegates at EAHIL+ICAHIS+ICLC.

When: July 8 at 12 noon Second Life time (8pm UK time, see http://tinyurl.com/nrytf2w for times elsewhere)

Where: Infolit iSchool, in the virtual world Second Life. You need a SL avatar and the Second Life browser installed on your computer. Go to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Infolit%20iSchool/89/36/22

Everyone is welcome to join the one-hour discussion.

A Sheffield iSchool Centre for Information Literacy Research event.
Photo by Sheila Webber, taken in Second Life

On 28 August 2015, the CILIP Information Literacy group are running the Developing a Blended Learning Skills Programme workshop, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The event will be delivered by Jennie Blake and Jade Kelsall. "In the morning, participants will explore best practices in the overall design of blended learning support programmes. Using examples from the University of Manchester's My Learning Essentials programme, we will examine the underlying development processes that enable the development a flexible, coherent and complementary suite of face-to-face and online support opportunities. The afternoon will focus on the development of workshops and online resources. Participants will come away with the beginnings of a workshop plan and an online resource storyboard, as well as having a structured process they can use to transform successful face-to-face sessions into interactive online resources."
The event is free for CILIP Information Literacy Group members. Priority booking is available now for group members via Eventbrite: http://bit.ly/1Jzj2Dt You must include your CILIP membership number on the booking form, or indicate if you are a group-only member. Tickets for non-members will be available from 15 July 2015 and will cost £25.
Photo by Sheila Webber, white rose, July 2015

My twitterstream is filled with conference hashtags at the moment. Some which are current, or just past, and you might want to check up on are:
- Centre for Study of Literacies 2015 conference: https://twitter.com/hashtag/15csl?src=hash
- ISHIMR (health informatics) conference https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISHIMR2015?src=hash
- International Conference on Informetrics and Scientometrics see https://twitter.com/hashtag/issi2015?src=hash
- America Library Association annual conference see https://twitter.com/hashtag/alaac15?src=hash
- Eurovariety in Chemistry Education (some interesting stuff about learning and teaching that might apply to other disciplines, too) see https://twitter.com/hashtag/eurovariety15?src=hash
- CILIP conference see https://twitter.com/hashtag/cilip2015?src=hash&lang=en-gb
I also have some last posts about the 2 conferences I attended: my hayfever is slowing me down at the moment ;-(
Picture is a tagxedo of the ALA conference page

The 4th annual Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week starts tomorrow, and runs June 22-28, 2015. Events include the NAMLE (US) National Association for Media Literacy Education) Conference taking place June 26-27, 2015 in Philadelphia, USA. It includes a focus on MIL and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) with some interesting panel sessions and presentations. As you might expect, given the organisers, the strength of the conference is more in media and digital literacy than information literacy. The website for MIL week 2015 is at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/media-development/media-literacy/global-alliance-for-partnerships-on-media-and-information-literacy/global-mil-week/ and it includes the 10 Ways to Celebrate MIL Week advice sheet at http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/10_ways_mil_week.pdf
Photo by Sheila Webber: rose in my garden, June 2015

A priced ($250) online course is offered via Library Juice Academy: Threshold Concepts in the Information Literacy Classroom: Translating the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy into Our Teaching Practices. The course leader is Andrea Baer. "In this 6-week interactive workshop, participants will explore ways that the ACRL Framework does and can inform their teaching practices. Reflecting on the specific contexts and environments in which they work, participants will share their interpretations and applications of the Framework. In addition to engaging in readings and discussions related to the Framework, individuals will develop an instructional activity or lesson plan that relates to one or more of the ACRL Framework’s threshold concepts. In developing these instructional plans, participants will give particular attention to articulating student learning outcomes and developing activities that enable authentic assessment of learning." More information at
Dates: July 6 to August 14, 2015 http://libraryjuiceacademy.com/119-frameworks.php
Dates: August 3rd to September 13, 2015 http://libraryjuiceacademy.com/119-frameworks-Aug15.php
Also in August (3-28) there is Transforming Your Teaching Toolkit, led by Maria Accardi ($175) see http://libraryjuiceacademy.com/121-teaching-toolkit.php
Photo by Sheila Webber: yet more daisies, this time in Edinburgh, June 2015

There is a chat via Adobe Connect about STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math)in libraries - Translating STEM into informal education organised by the ACRL STS Information Literacy Chat sub-committee on 23 June at 2-3PM US Central time (which is 3-4pm US Eastern time, 8-9pm UK time). The discussion is led by Stephanie Long, Children’s Services Supervisor and STEM Lab Director at Frederick County Public Library. "To add fuel for the discussion please check out this website resource: http://www.starnetlibraries.org/stem.html STEM is a buzz word heard in many places and it has become the focus of many education platforms across the country. Like many libraries across the country, Frederick County Public Libraries in Maryland has decided to focus much of its educational efforts on STEM and is home to one of the first STEM Labs in the state. A dedicated space to STEM education for those aged preschool to 18, the STEM Lab is an ever evolving space that aims to educate kids on STEM concepts in an informal and fun way. In this discussion, STEM Lab creator and director Stephanie Long will give an overview of the Lab, how it began, where it is headed, and how the education of both librarians and patrons happens in the space. There will also be plenty of time for questions and open discussion on the STEM Lab and STEM in libraries."Use this web address http://ala.adobeconnect.com/r16y4cdb7fa/ "If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before: Test your connection: http://ala.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html "
Photo by Sheila Webber: Arthur's seat, Edinburgh, June 2015

On the same theme as the last post - this is Adult Learners' Week in the UK. If you are based in the UK, you can look for courses and events in your area. http://www.alw.org.uk/

Ponteland High School (Ponteland, UK) is hosting a Lib TeachMeet on 24 June, 1:30pm - 4pm. "A chance for librarians from the region (and beyond) to meet up, share experiences of teaching information skills, activities and library events. Even just to help each other out." Visit the Eventbrite page to book a place https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lib-teachmeet-north-east-tickets-15301928480
Photo by Sheila Webber: daisies in the grass, Sheffield, June 2015

Registration is open for the 2015 Annual Indiana University Libraries Information Literacy Colloquium (taking place on August 7 in Kokomo, USA), and closes on 10 July. The theme is What Does It All Mean?: Unpacking the Information Literacy Framework. Information on the programme and how to register are on the website at http://iuk.libguides.com/IULILC2015.
Photo by Sheila Webber: daisies in the grass: 1 (June 2015)

The ACRL Instruction Section Conference Planning Committee is calling for information on projects that have "redesigned a library classroom to better align changing pedagogy and student learning". They are having "a Virtual Poster Session that will accompany the panel taking place this summer at ALA Annual [on 27 June] entitled, Aligning Learning Spaces with Pedagogy: The Instruction Librarian’s Role in Classroom Re/Design." "In lieu of designing a formal poster, we ask that you respond to the following questions in your submission, in addition to providing photographs: Describe the finished teaching or classroom space, including any specifics about furniture or technology that was included in the design. What were the goals of the re-design or creation of the space? What strategies did you use to advocate for student learning and active learning pedagogy in the space? What lessons did you learn from this experience that you'd most like to share with someone undertaking a similar project? How have changes you made to the classroom changed your teaching? How have changes you made to the classroom changed your instruction programs?"
Photographs and responses should be emailed to Cindy Fisher at cindyf@austin.utexas.edu
The deadline for submission is 6 June 6.

Photo by Sheila Webber: wild flowers, Gilbert's pit, May 2015

The next discussion for the blog post journal club is 3rd June 2015 at 8pm UK time (which is 3pm US Eastern time, 12 noon US Pacific time). We will be discussing:
McNicol, S., and Shields, E. (2014). Developing a new approach to information literacy learning design. Journal of Information Literacy, 8(2), 23–35. http://doi.org/10.11645/8.2.1911
Anyone can join this discussion! Participants aim to read at least some of the article in advance, then come along at 8pm GMT and join in the discussion by adding comments to the blog post which introduces the article http://infolitjournalclub.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/next-discussion-3-june-on-information.html

You can see how this works by looking at previous discussions on the blog http://infolitjournalclub.blogspot.co.uk/
Photo by Sheila Webber: dandelion clock, photoshopped, May 2015

The call for poster and paper proposalss for the 2015 iFutures conference (to be held at Sheffield University, UK, on 7 July 2015) closes on June 5 2015. The conference is run by, and for, PhD researchers in the information science field (so it is run by PhD students in my department ;-) The theme of the 2015 conference is Open Information Science: exploring new landscapes. "Openness is a key part of Information Science research, from using open source tools and big open data sets to open standards advocacy, creating open accessible environments in institutions, and opening information science to radical perspectives and exploring diverse communities. The conference will give delegates the chance to talk about how open information influences and relates to their research." Submissions can be for posters, papers, or pecha kucha presentations, and are welcomes from PhD students at any stage of their research. There are two keynote speakers: Fabio Ciravenga (Professor of Computer Science, University of Sheffield) and Helen Kennedy (Professor of Sociology, University of Sheffield). More details at http://ifutures.group.shef.ac.uk/
There is also a twitter chat today at 5pm UK time (which is e.g. 12 noon US Eastern time) using the hashtag #iFutures