{"id":1112,"date":"2025-08-22T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T08:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/?p=1112"},"modified":"2025-08-22T08:17:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T08:17:53","slug":"what-we-learned-from-our-conferences-academic-support-librarians-and-professional-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2025\/08\/22\/what-we-learned-from-our-conferences-academic-support-librarians-and-professional-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"What we learned from our conferences : Academic Support Librarians and professional engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Conference

At the RLUK Conference, 2025<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/a> in Liverpool in March, where she learned\u00a0 \u201chow 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<\/em>\u201d. <\/strong>The AI theme in our workplan was also explored by Anna Richards at the BIALL (British and Irish Association of Law Librarians) conference<\/a>, with a view on how AI tools are being used in legal practice and library-led support. Jane Furness attended the CALC online conference<\/a> in May which enabled her to \u201cbuild my ability to contribute to and support the work of the ASL EDI group and in my support of ECA students and staff<\/em>.\u201d In June, SarahLouise MacDonald and Rania Karoula attended the SCURL Conference in Aberdeen<\/a> which had an EDI focus, where they learned about \u201cnew avenues for research based on relevant presentations (specifically on radical hospitality and supporting diverse communities)<\/em>.\u201d And Ruth Jenkins attended the LILAC Library Information Literacy conference<\/a> in Cardiff, bringing back notes that were shared with team colleagues \u201c\u2026 who picked up on different talks and themes so our conversations were different every time<\/em>.\u201d We share our learning with library colleagues in the ASL blog : https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Two

Christine Love-Rodgers with international theological library association representatives at the Atla conference<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/a> 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\u2019s innovative ELM. Elizabeth commented, \u201cIt was a great experience connecting with library colleagues from across the continent and around the world<\/em>.\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n

\"Group

Elizabeth Williams with IFLA conference delegates<\/p><\/div>\n

Anna Richards shared a poster with the July 2025 LIBER conference<\/a> in Lausanne on Pioneering AI Literacy in Research Libraries: Strategies and Outcomes from the University of Edinburgh Initiative. <\/em>Christine Love-Rodgers crossed the Atlantic to present on UK University librarians in Theology & Religious Studies : where are they now?<\/em> to the Atla (American Theological Library Association) conference<\/a> in Pittsburgh. Christine also presented as part of a panel of international representatives from theological library associations. \u00a0Back in the UK, Ruth Jenkins presented on Capacity building and leveraging student expertise with Systematic Review Tutors<\/em> to UHMLG University Health & Medical Librarians Group<\/a>) in Worcester, benefiting from this small conference where the attendees are all in similar roles her own and \u201cthe presentations and conversations are always very relevant<\/em>\u201d. Large or small, every conference is an opportunity for learning and professional engagement which builds our professional expertise and develops us as library professionals.<\/p>\n

\"Looking

In session at the IFLA Artificial Intelligence Symposium<\/p><\/div>\n

Compiled by Christine Love-Rodgers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u00a0 \u201chow colleagues at … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[11,35,136],"tags":[176,42,122,19],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcUES5-hW","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1088,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2025\/07\/18\/reflections-on-attending-the-biall-conference-exploring-ai-and-legal-librarianship\/","url_meta":{"origin":1112,"position":0},"title":"Reflections on Attending the BIALL Conference: Exploring AI and Legal Librarianship","date":"July 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This year, I was lucky enough to attend the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL) conference for the very first time\u2014and I hope it won\u2019t be my last! From the moment I arrived, I was struck by how welcoming and friendly the event was. Thanks to the buddy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Conference reports"","img":{"alt_text":"View of students reading in a library on two floors","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2025\/07\/Law-Library-Senate-to-Mezzanine-View-with-Students-Studying-2-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1091,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2025\/07\/22\/approaching-critical-library-practice-calc25\/","url_meta":{"origin":1112,"position":1},"title":"Approaching critical library practice : CALC25","date":"July 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I attended the online CALC25 [Critical Approaches to Libraries] Conference from 13 \u2013 15 May 2025. The programme, slides and recordings are available at https:\/\/sites.google.com\/view\/calcconference\/calc2025 \u00a0It was great to see Alice our Strathclyde placement student there too. As you would expect from a conference on critical librarianship the programme topics\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Conference reports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2025\/07\/CALC-214x300.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":801,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2024\/05\/14\/report-from-the-annual-lilac-information-literacy-conference\/","url_meta":{"origin":1112,"position":2},"title":"Report from the annual LILAC information literacy conference","date":"May 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Between 25-27 March a host of librarians from across the globe descended on Leeds Beckett University for the annual LILAC information literacy conference. Information literacy is a key concept in the work of the Academic Support Librarians, covering all the skills that we teach, from referencing through to critical thinking.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Conference reports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1074,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2025\/07\/05\/challenges-changes-and-collaborations-american-theological-library-association-conference-pittsburgh-june-18-21-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":1112,"position":3},"title":"Challenges, Changes and Collaborations\u2013 American Theological Library Association conference, \u00a0Pittsburgh June 18-21 2025","date":"July 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I was delighted to be invited to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this year to speak at the Atla 2025 Annual meeting. It\u2019s actually the second time I have been to a library conference in Pittsburgh \u201cthe steel city\u201d, the first was to an ARLIS art librarians conference over 20 years ago. This\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ASL stories"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2025\/07\/Steps-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1099,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2025\/07\/25\/scurl-conference-2025-increasing-inclusion\/","url_meta":{"origin":1112,"position":4},"title":"SCURL Conference 2025: increasing inclusion","date":"July 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"To add to our recent schedule of conference reports, last month several members of our team attend the Scottish Confederation of University & Research Libraries (SCURL) Conference on the 19th of June, which took place in the striking Duncan Rice Library at the University of Aberdeen. We were delighted to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Conference reports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/b\/b5\/The_%27Sir_Duncan_Rice_Library%27%2C_University_of_Aberdeen_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3324721.jpg\/640px-The_%27Sir_Duncan_Rice_Library%27%2C_University_of_Aberdeen_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3324721.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":606,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2023\/10\/09\/meeting-the-challenges-facing-ecclesiastical-libraries\/","url_meta":{"origin":1112,"position":5},"title":"Meeting the challenges facing ecclesiastical libraries","date":"October 9, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"BETH are a European group of national organisations representing librarians working in theological college, seminary, Church and monastic libraries. Solo librarians or librarians working in small teams are characteristic of their membership, although there is also representation from University libraries. I attended their conference on the theme of Challenges facing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Conference reports"","img":{"alt_text":"Cordoba Mosque \/ Cathedral","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2023\/10\/Cathedral.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1112"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1112"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1123,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1112\/revisions\/1123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}