Williams, Lauren
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is starting to creep into various
aspects of our lives including in the library.
On March 9, 2026, Library 2.0 in partnership with California Libraries
Learn, the California Library Association, and the California State Library put
on a virtual mini conference that went over the many ways that A.I. is being
used in different library settings. The three-hour event had twenty-one panels in
all that spanned topics such as programming ideas using A.I., patron and staff training
about A.I., useful ways to make reporting easier for staff using A.I., and much
more. The event kicked off with an hour-long keynote session that made it clear
that right now is the time for librarians to design A.I. policies for their
institutions. A.I. is a relatively recent technology but it is growing and
advancing at an alarming pace. Many institutions are facing pressure from their
organizations to explore and use A.I. with the goal of efficiency. A.I. can be a useful tool but there can be
drawbacks. To control those drawbacks
better, library administrators must begin creating institutional policies about
the use of A.I. Creating policies that lay down the groundwork for the
appropriate use of A.I. is necessary for information institutions. The keynote panelists presented the A.I.
policy of the Toronto Public Library. The policy lays down good guard rails
on the appropriate use of A.I. for the institution’s staff. The policy breaks
down how A.I. is to be used while stating that the underlying principles of “[t]his
policy is driven by principles as defined in the Library’s Values, Vision and Mission
and in TPL’s [Toronto Public Library] Equity statement and Intellectual Freedom
Statement,” (Toronto Public Library, 2025). The policy clearly states how staff
can appropriately use A.I., the areas that A.I. can be used, and it describes the associated challenges of using
A.I. Panelists encourage library administrators to review other institutions’
A.I. policies, like the shared Toronto Public Library’s policy, as they begin
to design their own policies. The entire virtual mini conference is available online
for those interested in seeing how A.I. is being used in the library. One thing
is for sure, A.I. is here and libraries will need to make decisions on how it
is used in their institutions effectively and responsibly. Overall, I found the mini conference to be
very engaging and enlightening. The
panels I attended really showed the possibilities of A.I. but it was clear that
before jumping in completely, we need our institutions to lay down ground
rules. Our input is needed.
Library 2.0. (2026, March 9). Perspectives on AI:
Exploring experiences with AI in library work [Webinar]. https://www.library20.com/miniconferences/perspectives-on-ai
Toronto Public Library. (2025, January 27). Artificial
Intelligence (AI) Policy. https://tpl.ca/policies-and-terms-of-use/artificial-intelligence-policy/
