Achieving an AI Vision for California Libraries: Executive Summary
In April 2024, library leaders from across California gathered at the California Libraries & AI Summit to tackle the big question: how can we prepare to build artificial intelligence (AI) services and support in local communities and libraries? The California State Library brought together a diverse group — library directors, university professors, academic librarians, and vested partners — to dive deep into the possibilities, pitfalls, and ethical quandaries of bringing AI into the library world.
Summit participants expressed both excitement and hesitation. On one hand, leaders see AI as a game-changer, with the potential to supercharge services like information retrieval, streamline day-to-day operations, and bridge the digital local community divides. They also know they need to tread carefully, making sure to put privacy first, fight bias, and ensure equity is prioritized in decision-making. While there is both excitement and hesitation, it is also clear that library leaders are still learning and need opportunities to consider short and long-term impacts of AI and develop flexible strategies for learning and decision-making.
Education and teamwork emerged as key themes. As libraries grow into their role as community hubs where people can learn about trends in technology, like AI, Summit participants highlighted the importance of training and resources that help customers navigate the AI landscape safely and confidently. They also acknowledged that by partnering with local government agencies, tech companies, and community groups they will have the power to pool resources and knowledge.
Summit Takeaways
The following takeaways reflect Summit discussions, highlight critical focus areas, and present strategic considerations for libraries as they prepare to adopt and integrate AI.
Cautious Optimism and Ethical Considerations
Library leaders expressed both enthusiasm and caution regarding AI integration, highlighting its potential benefits alongside ethical challenges and risks like misinformation, expanding community divides, and privacy breaches. Ethical use of AI, particularly concerning privacy and bias, remains a major concern, with leaders advocating for accountable and transparent AI applications that do not perpetuate social inequalities.
New Technology Integration and Accessibility of AI in Library Services
AI’s potential to enhance information retrieval, expand digitization and preservation practices, automate workflows, and improve accessibility was central to many Summit conversations. Participants emphasized the need to explore immediate integration of AI while ensuring equitable access. There is a commitment to overcoming physical, educational, and technological barriers to make AI tools available to all.
Education and Community Impact
Library leaders acknowledge the potential for libraries to serve as critical hubs for AI education, offering classes and resources to help customers understand and use AI. Training library staff on AI applications is essential to achieve this education goal. AI can enhance educational and economic opportunities, improve social well-being, and increase community engagement. Library and community leaders aim to use AI to bridge technological divides and support communities experiencing marginalization.
Next Steps
As California libraries prepare to embrace the transformative potential of AI, it is essential to establish a clear and strategic approach. The following recommendations aim to provide a framework to guide AI initiatives, ensuring they are ethical, community-focused, and technologically advanced. By fostering collaborations, investing in professional development, leveraging research partnerships, and seeking adequate funding, libraries can effectively integrate AI to enhance services and support their communities.
Develop an AI Vision and Mission
California public libraries, in collaboration with community, academic, and vested partners, need to clearly define their goals for integrating AI into library services. Using data collected during the Summit, inviting a small group of Summit invitees to draft an AI vision and mission is recommended. This draft can then be reviewed and refined with feedback from the larger group of Summit participants.
Foster Collaborations
Summit attendees emphasized the importance of working together to make informed strategic decisions. With a clear vision and mission, the California library community has an opportunity to build a collaborative network that can work towards that vision and mission. They will be able to achieve this by sharing knowledge, designing initiatives, and developing AI-related strategies. The network can be multifaceted with small groups working on specific projects aligned with the vision, while also facilitating regular updates and collaborative learning sessions.
Implement Continuous Professional Development
Library leaders made it clear that ensuring library staff stay current with AI technologies is a top priority. The California State Library should leverage existing initiatives, such as California Libraries Learn (CALL); Community Centered Libraries; and programs related to California history, digitization, and preservation to provide ongoing training that enhances service delivery and staff AI expertise.
Research Practice Partnerships (RPPs)
The Summit made clear that academic faculty have knowledge and skill that public libraries can learn from and public library staff have knowledge and skill that academics can learn from. California library leaders and library school faculty should co-design RPPs that give libraries the chance to learn from and with each other. RPPs may focus on areas such as, working with those experiencing marginalization to design AI policies for the community (including the library), engaging with technologists and AI vendors to explore ways to build AI systems that support community strengths and challenges, and fostering connections with decision-makers to bring library knowledge and skill to processes for AI decision making.
Seek Out Funding
To bring the AI vision and mission for California’s public libraries to life, substantial funding is needed. Current support from the state and a portion of the State Library’s Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Grants to States allotment is insufficient. The California library community must actively seek additional funding sources to support AI research and implementation statewide. Library leaders, vested partners, and state library staff have the potential to join forces to build support for library and community initiatives that lessen equity gaps and build the strength of communities across the state.
Conclusion
The California Libraries & AI Summit highlighted the transformative potential of AI for libraries, balanced by the need for ethical considerations and strategic planning. By embracing AI thoughtfully and collaboratively, California’s libraries can enhance their services, support community education, and ensure equitable access to emerging technologies. This proactive approach will enable libraries to better serve their communities, addressing local strengths and challenges in the evolving AI landscape.