In this episode, we speak to Amelia Haire (Senate House Library; Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network). She joins us to talk about the research she conducted as part of her Masters dissertation, which focuses on what it means to be information literate for an autistic librarian in the academic library workplace.

"I guarantee you, you have a perspective that is valuable".

In this episode, Laura Woods (PhD student at the University of Sheffield, Co-chair of the Information Literacy Group Committee) joins us to promote action learning sets at this year’s LILAC conference in Sheffield. She speaks to Kerrianne Orriss about how action learning sets work, how listeners can get involved, and why they are especially beneficial to new professionals who would like to develop their practice and widen their professional networks.

Episode links

Apply to join a LILAC learning set! See the blog post which includes the link to the expressions of interest form: https://infolit.org.uk/keep-that-lilac-buzz-going-with-lilac-learning-sets/

Randomised Coffee Trials by ILG New Professionals - sign up to our New Professionals mailing list to hear about the next ones, coming soon: http://eepurl.com/ivBM_A

NHS webpage on action learning sets, has some useful links out to further information: https://library.hee.nhs.uk/knowledge-mobilisation/knowledge-mobilisation-toolkit/knowledge-mobilisation-toolkit/keep-up-to-date-with-best-practice

Journal article “Working together: supporting projects through action learning”: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2003.00461.x

LILAC Stories report: https://eprints.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/id/eprint/12245/

The book "Feminist Pedagogy for Library Instruction": https://litwinbooks.com/books/feminist-pedagogy-for-library-instruction/

In this episode, we present a conversation between Eva Garcia Grau (Royal Holloway University of London) and Josh Rodda (University of Nottingham), on the topic of generative artificial intelligence and Information Literacy in UK Higher Education. Recorded at the end of a semester's teaching on AI literacy, Eva and Josh discuss how their institutions have responded to the challenges of generative AI, and explore the academic librarian's role in providing guidance. On the way, they discuss accessibility, social justice, ethics, institutional FOMO, and utopian and dystopian visions for the future. Sound effects for this episode are sourced and adapted from Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/.

After a short hiatus, Chatting Info Lit returns! In this episode, we talk to two school librarians: Jacob Lusk (International School of London) and Eleni Karakosta (Raha International School, Khalifa City Campus). Jacob and Eleni share their experiences of taking on a school library role, teaching information literacy for children, interacting with students and teachers, and getting involved in larger projects as a new professional. Jacob talks through the logistics of a library move, while Eleni shares her work on a student volunteer programme. The interviews were recorded in summer 2024 by Josh Rodda and Beth Morgan.

In this special documentary episode, we look back over 50 years of Information Literacy with guests William Badke, Moira Bent, Debbi Boden-Angell, James Elmborg, Jane Secker, and Geoff Walton! Sharing experiences, influences, and stories across a range of contexts, they discuss the definition of Information Literacy, the formation of the CILIP ILG, the need for librarians to be taken seriously as teachers, and the challenges posed by the rise of generative AI. And on the way, they offer plenty of guidance and encouragement for new professionals! The interviews for this half-century retrospective were recorded in March 2024 by Beth Morgan, Josh Rodda, and Ella Wharton.

In this episode, Ella Wharton chats to Jess Haigh (Leeds Beckett University) about LILAC Stories - a project Jess is undertaking to mark the 20th anniversary of the LILAC Conference. LILAC Stories is intended to showcase the positive impact LILAC has had on individuals' practice, to demonstrate the benefit of conference attendance. As well as talking about her research, and her ambitions for the project, Jess shares her own story, recounting how the conference shaped her interests and contacts when she was a new professional. If you would like to share your LILAC story, you can find more information about the project at https://www.lilacconference.com/lilac-stories.

In this episode, Tom Peach (York St John University) shares his experience of stepping into a management role as a new professional, and chats to Bethan Morgan about the challenges, opportunities, and new perspectives that managing library staff can bring. Tom's invaluable advice covers imposter syndrome, sources of support, and how to avoid the temptation to micro-manage - essential listening for those who find themselves moving into a new phase of their career! The conversation then delves into critical librarianship, with an eye to both accessibility and access to the profession, across social and economic backgrounds.

In this episode our guest, Drew Whitworth (University of Manchester), chats to Josh Rodda about the remote island of Saint Helena. Perhaps best known as the venue for Napoleon's exile, Saint Helena has a deeper history of commercial governance and scientific research, and the arrival of high-speed internet is about to have lasting effects on its consumption and production of information. Drew has been conducting research into the island's current information literacy practices, and into the inhabitants' preparations (and expectations) for the coming acceleration of communications technology.

In this episode, Corin Peacock (Arts University Bournemouth) tells Ella Wharton about self-tracking as a form of Information Literacy within the LGBTQ+ community. The conversation, arising from Corin's research at Sheffield, covers the use (and implications) of self-tracking apps in the context of wellbeing challenges and the rise of anti-trans rhetoric. Corin also recalls their experience of working on the project as a new professional, whilst diversions include the correct quantity of memes for a professional presentation and the state of trans healthcare in the UK.

Podcasting eats itself this episode, as we are joined by guests Jane Secker & Chris Morrison (Copyright Waffle) and Mark Childs (one half of Pedagodzilla, with Mike Collins). Recorded in front of a live audience at LILAC 2023, the conversation covers all things podcasting and information literacy! We chat to our guests about how to get started casting the pods, and how the format works as a teaching tool. Meanwhile, the delegates and attendees at the conference share some of their IL tips and experiences!