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SI Libraries

Original
Brandi Porter

Libraries as AI Literacy Leaders

In this special issue we explore the role that libraries, librarians, and information professionals can play in advancing AI literacy in our workplaces and communities.  AI literacy is a broad term meant to encompass educating users about AI use, production, and evaluation; however, as we can see there is no commonly agreed upon definition as of yet.  The included literature reflects common similarities in the need to incorporate AI literacy into our ongoing work as librarians and educators, while also recognizing that libraries serving such a wide base of communities will need to lead literacy efforts that are uniquely tailored to the populations they serve.

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Education
Misti Smith

AI Literacy Is Information Literacy: One Academic Library’s Plan for AI Instruction

Artificial intelligence, specifically Generative AI, is a topic that cannot be ignored in education, regardless of the level. As a library director at a four-year private university, I believe it is our duty as librarians to meet the challenge of AI head-on and meet the instructional needs AI creates. Using generative AI is a skill that both students and faculty should be trained in, including the proper uses of AI and how it can be used as a tool, while also being clear how to use it in a positive way. Libraries are uniquely positioned to do oversee this effort on college campuses, because AI literacy is information literacy, and librarians should lead.

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Education
Mónica Colón-Aguirre

The Complexity of Ethic Centered AI Literacy in Higher Education

One of the main challenges which academic librarians face when trying to develop programs and services that support AI literacy is the wide array of stances taken by institutions, and individual faculty members, when it comes to teaching with and about AI tools. These dimensions are not only applicable to students, but also to faculty, who also need help and guidance navigating the new technologies. One aspect which becomes central to this conversation is promoting the ethical use of AI tools in the academic environment. Although the topic has gathered considerable attention in recent conversations, these remain fragmented and divisive.

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Education
Erezi Ogbo-Gebhardt

Preparing Information Professionals to Educate Users on Generative AI: Best Practices from North Carolina Central University

The pace of adoption of generative AI has been groundbreaking—faster than the adoption of personal computers and the internet. Advocates argue that AI can help bridge digital literacy barriers and provide non-experts with access to specialized information, from coding assistance to digestible legal and medical information. It supports learning across the educational spectrum, from K-12 through higher education and workplace training. While we must accept that students will inevitably find and use generative AI tools, two critical issues demand attention: first, disparities in AI acceptance and use among students and faculty could deepen existing digital divides and affect educational and career outcomes; second, within higher education institutions, questions remain about whose responsibility it is to teach students how to use AI tools effectively and ethically. 

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Original
Troy Davis

The Inward Turn: From AI Outputs to AI Discourse

Librarians have spent decades teaching students to evaluate sources, trace authority, and recognize how information is constructed. We’ve built sophisticated frameworks for this work. The advent of generative AI has obviously intensified these efforts. We’ve provided frameworks for evaluating AI-generated content: Is this output accurate? What biases might it contain? But as we’ve rushed to develop “AI literacy” programming, I wonder if we’ve overlooked a rich space where these same frameworks can be applied: the language we use to describe these systems in our own conversations, instructional materials, task forces, and workshops.

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EducationFeatured
Jennifer Hicks

Teaching Library Users About AI Images: A Case Study

AI-generated images and videos are now frequently found across social media, advertising, and academic spaces, yet many users interact with these visuals without recognizing them as AI or understanding how they are created. As academic libraries increasingly position themselves as leaders in information and digital literacy, AI image literacy presents both a challenge and an opportunity. To help our patrons better understand, I developed and facilitated an AI image literacy workshop focused on helping participants critically evaluate AI-generated images and videos while also understanding how they are made.

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EducationFeatured
Agnes Pearcy

From Information Literacy to AI Literacy: Preparing Librarians for Emerging Responsibilities

As artificial intelligence reshapes how we search, write, and learn, librarians are increasingly expected to help communities navigate an unfamiliar digital landscape. This article advocates for incorporating AI literacy into Library and Information Science education and introduces a new course, “AI and Libraries,” designed to prepare future-ready information professionals. It emphasizes that AI literacy is critical for promoting equitable understanding and access in an age defined by intelligent systems.

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FeaturedTranslation
Evelyn Cox

AI in a Tribal Context: Diverse Perspectives Matter in a Changing Landscape

With Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) seemingly increasing integration into various aspects of society, nations worldwide—including Tribal Nations—are assessing its impact on the changing landscape. AI is a revolutionary technology that poses potential opportunities and risks for federally recognized Indian Tribes (Tribal Nations or Tribes) and their citizens. This article provides an overview of the literature related to AI in a tribal context.

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EducationFeatured
Jenna Hillhouse

Confidence Without Comprehension: Why AI Literacy Needs a Reset

When AI tools collapse complex search processes into seamless responses, they can obscure uncertainty, mask gaps in understanding, and smooth over meaningful distinctions of meaning, relevance, and confidence. Users may feel informed without ever confronting the limits of their knowledge or the assumptions guiding how information is interpreted. The challenge for libraries is not just teaching people how to use AI tools, but how to think with them without surrendering judgement.

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