The School of Information recently convened a dynamic audience of students, faculty, alumni, and working professionals for “The AI Moment in Libraries: What It Means for Our Profession,” a timely panel conversation examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping the mission, work, and future of libraries.
Featured Panelists
The discussion brought together four leading thinkers whose work spans information science, AI, management, and librarianship:
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Dr. Sanda Erdelez, Dean, School of Library ad Information Science, Simmons University
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Dr. Leo Lo, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries, University of Virginia
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Dr. R. David Lankes, Virginia & Charles Bowden Professor of Librarianship, School of Information Science, University of Texas at Austin
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Professor Jeff Saltz, Associate Professor and Director, MS in Applied Data Science, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University
Moderated by our own Beth Patin, Associate Professor and Director of the Library and Information Science program, the group offered a sweeping view of the opportunities and responsibilities facing libraries as AI transforms the information ecosystem.
AI Is Changing User Expectations—and Librarianship Must Respond
Panelists began by noting that AI has already altered how people search for and interact with information. Patrons increasingly expect synthetic answers—not just search results. Dr. Sanda Erdelez emphasized that this shift from retrieval to generation requires rethinking reference services, information literacy, and LIS education itself. Users now engage in conversational searching that blends discovery, analysis, and creation, and librarians must help them navigate this new terrain.
Dean Leo Lo underscored the scale of this shift. Hundreds of millions now use AI tools daily, yet few receive structured guidance from librarians or educators. With trust in institutions declining—but trust in libraries remaining high—Lo urged librarians to proactively help communities understand not only how to use AI but how to question it.
Libraries as Trusted Interpreters of Algorithmic Systems
Dr. David Lankes expanded the conversation beyond individual tools. AI systems already influence people’s life chances—from hiring decisions to access to services—often invisibly. Because libraries serve as trusted civic institutions, Lankes argued they must help communities confront bias, uncertainty, and the opaque nature of algorithmic decision-making.
Becoming “AI-Ready”: Clarity, Capacity, Culture
The panel introduced a practical framework for institutions preparing to adopt AI, anchored in Clarity, Capacity, and Culture.
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Clarity ensures libraries know why they are using AI and how it aligns with mission.
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Capacity includes staff training, time, and infrastructure.
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Culture fosters experimentation, psychological safety, and shared learning.
Without all three, organizations risk chasing hype or launching isolated pilots that fail to scale.
A Collective, Not Just Individual, Responsibility
Panelists stressed that responsible AI adoption requires institutional action—not just user-facing literacy. Libraries and iSchools can shape the AI landscape through procurement decisions, policy engagement, and by preparing graduates to influence AI development upstream in industry roles where datasets, documentation, and model behavior are first determined.
Supporting Faculty and Students Through Rapid Change
The panel closed by acknowledging the pressure AI places on teaching, research, and scholarly communication. Faculty are overwhelmed, students are anxious about appropriate use, and disciplinary norms are shifting quickly. Libraries, the panelists agreed, must again serve as the connective tissue of the university—supporting experimentation, offering guidance, and adopting new pedagogical strategies that go beyond traditional rational frameworks.
As AI continues to evolve, the event made one message unmistakable: libraries are essential to helping communities interpret, navigate, and shape an AI-driven world.