As a librarian trainee at Longwood Public Library, out in Suffolk County, NY, I find myself often wondering how it is that I can begin to include programming and even just everyday conversations on AI into the fabric of my work as a librarian and as a point of contact for teens. When I ask any of my fellow librarians at Longwood if anyone is doing any programming on AI, the answer is always the same - "programs on AI?" "why?" "how?"
This makes a lot of sense, since the experiences of most librarians is being weary of a technology that has a history of continued racist algorithm issues, being used at unmatched force for any hw assignments, and being an unfamiliar vortex of answer-giving that has led to many children being given dangerous advice.
Similarly, as a newer generation of librarians step into the workforce, we must also prepare to step into (or deepen our roles within) our library settings; the urgency of equipping patrons and students with AI literacy has never been clearer. Teens are not just consumers of AI—they're often unknowingly shaped by it, whether through TikTok algorithms, generative AI tools like ChatGPT, or automated content curation on Google and YouTube.
But knowing how to use AI isn't enough. As school librarians and information professionals, we must help teens become responsible digital citizens, able to critically analyze how AI works, recognize algorithmic bias, and engage ethically with these technologies.
Programs like the AI + Ethics Curriculum for Middle School by MIT Media Lab and Common Sense Education’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum are fantastic starting points. They offer lesson plans, discussion prompts, and hands-on activities that help students explore ethical dilemmas—like whether using AI for homework is a shortcut or a cheat, or how deepfakes could impact trust in the media.
What I find most exciting is how this intersects with our profession’s core values: equity, access, and inquiry. School libraries can become safe spaces for critical conversations around data privacy, AI bias, and ethical tech use. Imagine AI "sandbox" workshops where students can experiment with tools like DALL·E or ChatGPT, followed by discussions on the implications of misuse.
Now, how does this AI translate to our role as librarians using Ai for our social media ?
Well, many of us are already exploring AI for social media content in assisting us with posts, scheduling campaigns, and aiding in overall program development (I know it has been such a gift to ask chatgpt to create for me a monthly calendar on collection development or program breakdown!). Similarly, practical technologies like LibChat, chatbots, and even Twitterbots, are paving the way for more automated and engaging library social media strategies.
Well, there are certainly a few articles on the topic, and there will certainly be many more to come. There does equally seem to be a generational divide on librarians who detest AI for its moral and ethical implications, and those who see the inevitable and already current part of education it has already established itself within. I personally tend to side with the later sentiment; to deny AI as information professionals, literal agents of information access and stewardship, to me, seems to be equally unethical a stance to have.
Thus, let’s not leave this to computer science teachers alone. As stewards of digital and media literacy, we are uniquely positioned to lead this charge—and support our students in becoming not just users, but ethical navigators of AI. I’m excited to explore, by way of this blog, how to become better equipped with the language, the skills, the resources, and the mindset around becoming a librarian who is able to meet our patrons in this ever evolving digital landscape.
Hi Tova, this is an awesome post and couldn't be more relevant and timely! If my library decides to do AI literacy workshops, I'd love to help lead the charge. I actually chose AI literacy in the school library as my topic in another class, LIS 568: Computer Application in School Libraries. I created a professional development workshop about AI Edu Tools and how to use them with resources for students and librarians. I even recorded live sessions tinkering around with ChatGPT and Padlet. I'll link it here in case that's helpful: https://feehanpdworkshop.weebly.com/
ReplyDeleteThere is so much mysticism, fear, and misunderstanding around AI and I can't blame people, so I think teaching them about it will help them feel better. I agree with you that teens are exposed to it and use it in their daily life. It's inevitable, so instead of being reluctant and scaring people away from it, we should train people, especially teens and the younger generation, how to get the best use of it. I think there's such a fine line between using AI as an enhancement tool and making it do your work for you.
I also think that collaboration between computer science educators and librarians is so important! When I shadowed a school librarian for another class here, she told me about how they were planning to combine the library and computer room as one big space. This shows how the lines between those two professions are increasingly blurred and there keeps being a greater emphasis on the technology aspects of being a librarian. Instead of just being literate, in this day and age librarians are expected to be digitally literate.
Hi Tova,
ReplyDeleteI am having the same experience at my library. There is a lot of mistrust around AI right now, which is warranted. However, I agree with you that it is here to stay, and it is our responsibility as library professionals to teach patrons how to use it safely and ethically. We have not had any programs on AI yet, and that is because librarians in general are so hesitant about it; no one wants to be the first to do a program about it.
I am also in an emerging technologies class, and it is all about AI. In fact, we are encouraged to use it throughout the semester, as long as we are transparent about it. There are a lot of benefits to it from reading my classmates' discussion posts. It definitely feels odd to be told to use AI in school, though, but I am learning a lot about it so far. Learning about AI is crucial because the more we know, the more we can share with teens and kids.