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Librarianship: AI and Libraries

A guide to library resources and Web Sites for Librarians.

How are you using AI in the library?

ACC LS Research Guides on AI

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AI and Students

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AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers

🧠 ACRL AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers (2025)

Category Competencies (What Library Workers Should Be Able to Do) Related Abilities / Examples
1. Ethical Considerations Advocate for ethical, equitable use of AI in libraries Identify barriers to AI access (cost, licensing); promote inclusion and accessibility
Recognize and mitigate bias in data and algorithms Analyze datasets for bias; question neutrality claims; guide patrons in critical AI use
Protect autonomy, privacy, and intellectual property Apply privacy principles when using AI tools; cite and disclose AI use appropriately
Ensure transparency and accountability in AI tools Seek explainable systems; request documentation of training data and limitations
Evaluate social and environmental impacts of AI Consider labor, sustainability, and broader institutional effects of AI adoption
2. Knowledge & Understanding Demonstrate foundational understanding of AI concepts Define basic terms (e.g., machine learning, large language model, prompt engineering)
Identify and evaluate AI detection and attribution tools Understand how and when to acknowledge AI-assisted work
Stay current with AI trends and scholarship Follow credible sources across tech, education, ethics, and library domains
Critically evaluate information about AI Distinguish hype from fact; assess authority and evidence in AI claims
Understand legal and policy contexts Apply copyright, fair use, and privacy law considerations to AI use
3. Analysis & Evaluation Explain how AI functions and impacts library services Communicate AI processes to colleagues, students, and faculty
Assess benefits and risks of AI applications Compare efficiency gains against ethical and educational costs
Critically analyze AI technologies Examine tools for bias, transparency, reliability, and relevance
Evaluate AI tools for library tasks Match tool features to library needs (e.g., metadata generation, instruction support)
4. Use & Application Apply AI tools to improve library workflows Integrate AI responsibly into cataloging, instruction, or reference services
Use AI for communication and collaboration Employ AI to summarize discussions or generate draft documents with transparency
Develop effective prompting strategies Craft and refine prompts for teaching, reference, or administrative uses
Experiment with innovative applications Pilot new AI-based services aligned with library values and mission
Select tools for accessibility and usability Prioritize inclusive design and user experience when adopting AI platforms

🔑 Guiding Mindsets

  • Curiosity – Explore AI possibilities with openness.
  • Skepticism – Question results and claims critically.
  • Judgment – Balance innovation with ethics and evidence.
  • Responsibility – Act with care for privacy, equity, and impact.
  • Collaboration – Engage diverse voices across disciplines and roles.

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AI Tools for Research

Seven Principles from Association of Research Libraries

  • Foster digital literacy: Educate library users and IT professionals about AI.
  • Understand and raise awareness of AI bias: Content generated by artificial intelligence is vulnerable to distortion of information and images, and libraries are encouraged to help users navigate and assess AI with distortion in mind.
  • Advocate for openness and transparency: Specifically, focus on the algorithms, training data and methodologies used to create AI.
  • Understand there’s no AI without humans: Recognize human involvement is needed in ethical, accessibility and reliability considerations when it comes to using AI in research environments.
  • Security and privacy are key: Libraries are encouraged to advocate for laws and regulations that prioritize personal information of library users.
  • Continuation of copyright law enforcement: There is a push for libraries to “preserve library rights” for research and education purposes. The principle also points toward a separate set of copyright principles and its intersection with AI, created by the Library Copyright Alliance, which is the Association of Research Libraries and the American Library Association.
  • Equity in digital information: The copyright law needs to remain the guiding force of contracts with academic and research journals and institutions, according to Katherine Klosek, director of information policy and federal relations. She stated there have been some concerns on contracts with private companies overriding copyright laws. This principle emphasizes the need for fair use, intellectual freedom and freedom of information regarding the use, and access to, digital information.

ACC Acceptable Use Artificial Intelligence Policy

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