In partnership with the College of DuPage, and with support from the RAILS grant for Continuing Education, the DePaul University Library co-hosted the 26th annual Information Literacy Summit on May 1, 2026, at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. The summit brought together an in-person audience of over 120 librarians, educators, and information professionals from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin as well as all throughout Illinois to strategize, commune, and reflect at the only regional conference of its kind in the state.
The theme of this year’s in-person summit marqueed as “Skepticism (Not Cynicism): Navigating Knowledge in a Time of Uncertainty” inspired a celebrated keynote from speaker Teresa Helena Moreno, Assistant Professor and Reference Librarian at the Richard J. Daley Library at the University of Illinois. Critique As Optimism: Reimagining Information addressed the history of suppression and censorship to consider new pathways to reimagine access and information literacy. Moreno’s experience as the Liaison Librarian for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Black Studies, and The College of Architecture, Design and the Arts was evident in the presentation through use of art and historical references and was delivered with animation and sincerity.
In addition to the summit’s Keynote, the 7-hour schedule was fully realized through breakout sessions and a round table discussion to engage participants with audience interaction and dialog, hands-on lessons and demonstrations (and/or practical takeaways). The topics explored skepticism as a civic and scholarly skill, the emotional dimensions of information fatigue and burnout, the role of libraries in rebuilding trust, connections between information literacy, media literacy, and democratic engagement and strategies for resisting suppression and promoting equitable access. A highlight of the event were two rounds of lightning talks, 5-7 minute presentations on various topics, with DePaul planning committee members, Firouzeh Rismiller and Holly Cerney, working to referee. Fast and furious, these fabulous speakers brought energy and insight to the day. To conclude the day, Holly Cerney delivered closing remarks honoring DePaul and other institutions that have played a critical role in the dreaming and development of the Information Literacy Summit throughout the years.
The Information Literacy Summit Program includes links to the opening keynote, as well as selected session materials provided courtesy of the presenters. For more information about information literacy and instructional services at the DePaul University Library, please contact Firouzeh Rismiller, Instructional Services Librarian.
This year marks DePaul’s farewell to its facilitative role and partnership in the Summit’s manifestation. Since 2014, supporting the Information Literacy Summit has been an incredibly rewarding experience for our institution, and a huge applause to DePaul librarians who have contributed their hearts and minds to shape this remarkable event over the years. We are excited to see the conversation evolve and strengthen as new voices join in to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Information Literacy Summit in 2027.