At the RLUK Conference, 2025
The Academic Support Librarians are a learning team, who have attended professional development events in line with the prioritised themes in our team workplan. Ishbel Leggat attended the RLUK conference in Liverpool in March, where she learned “how colleagues at other institutions are embedding AI skills into the curriculum, how Generative AI is changing the HE landscape and how AI could be used to optimise library-related working practices”. The AI theme in our workplan was also explored by Anna Richards at the BIALL (British and Irish Association of Law Librarians) conference, with a view on how AI tools are being used in legal practice and library-led support. Jane Furness attended the CALC online conference in May which enabled her to “build my ability to contribute to and support the work of the ASL EDI group and in my support of ECA students and staff.” In June, SarahLouise MacDonald and Rania Karoula attended the SCURL Conference in Aberdeen which had an EDI focus, where they learned about “new avenues for research based on relevant presentations (specifically on radical hospitality and supporting diverse communities).” And Ruth Jenkins attended the LILAC Library Information Literacy conference in Cardiff, bringing back notes that were shared with team colleagues “… who picked up on different talks and themes so our conversations were different every time.” We share our learning with library colleagues in the ASL blog : https://libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk/asl/
Christine Love-Rodgers with international theological library association representatives at the Atla conference
The summer was a busy time for ASLs who were active in sharing their expertise with national and international networks. In June, the Associate Director for Library Academic Support Elizabeth Williams had the opportunity to present at the 5th IFLA (International Federation of Library Assoc) Artificial Intelligence Symposium in South Africa. Focusing on the university of Edinburgh as a case study she outlined AI risks and limitations, the barriers to AI in our internal operations, training, and the university’s innovative ELM. Elizabeth commented, “It was a great experience connecting with library colleagues from across the continent and around the world.”. The University of Pretoria Library in collaboration with the History department hosted the launch of her current book Black Britain and Nelson Mandela which was well received.
Elizabeth Williams with IFLA conference delegates
Anna Richards shared a poster with the July 2025 LIBER conference in Lausanne on Pioneering AI Literacy in Research Libraries: Strategies and Outcomes from the University of Edinburgh Initiative. Christine Love-Rodgers crossed the Atlantic to present on UK University librarians in Theology & Religious Studies : where are they now? to the Atla (American Theological Library Association) conference in Pittsburgh. Christine also presented as part of a panel of international representatives from theological library associations. Back in the UK, Ruth Jenkins presented on Capacity building and leveraging student expertise with Systematic Review Tutors to UHMLG University Health & Medical Librarians Group) in Worcester, benefiting from this small conference where the attendees are all in similar roles her own and “the presentations and conversations are always very relevant”. Large or small, every conference is an opportunity for learning and professional engagement which builds our professional expertise and develops us as library professionals.
In session at the IFLA Artificial Intelligence Symposium
Compiled by Christine Love-Rodgers