Lightning Talks: AI in Academic Libraries: Ethics, Bias, Accessibility, and Practice

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping academic libraries, presenting new opportunities alongside complex questions. This lightning talk brings together four librarians to explore AI from complementary perspectives. Tiffany will examine the ethical considerations and institutional policies that can guide responsible AI adoption. Kris will discuss bias in AI-generated content, highlighting how generative tools can produce images and responses based on problematic assumptions and stereotypes. Derek will explore AI's potential to improve accessibility and support users with disabilities and diverse learning needs. Carrie will share practical examples of integrating AI into the daily operations of a medical academic library, demonstrating how these tools can enhance workflows and patron services.

Together, these four perspectives provide attendees with a balanced look at both the promise and the challenges of AI in academic libraries, offering practical insights that can be adapted across a variety of library settings.

Krishawna (Kris) Brown, Librarian for Instructional & Technical Services, Fayetteville Technical Community College

Carrie Forbes, Liaison Librarian to the College of Nursing, East Carolina University

M. Tiffany Messer-Bass, Electronic Resources & Systems Librarian, Lenoir-Rhyne University

Derek Ramsey, Instructional Design Coordinator, Cleveland Community College

Please register by August 7. A Zoom link will be sent to all registrants. Registration is available at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfi3Rw2l3s-cl55nnMDLHK04bNoxg4-w3YdAv-aHwv6BkoJlg/viewform