Preparing Library Organizations to Run With AI

The Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium kicks off a new week of Channel One virtual hub this week with a presentation by SCELC's Director of Strategic Library Services and Communications, M Ryan Hess, on the topic of developing the "guardrails" that library organizations like ours should consider when developing guidance on staff usage of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and other similar tools in a rapidly-expanding landscape.

Ryan's talk will open with general context for the current state of generative AI tools, including a high-level overview of machine learning, the role of data, and how AI really works, as well as general ethical and professional issues with AI. He will then focus in on our organizations' context by discussing:

- Likely impacts of AI on the various library professions
- Library-relevant skills for ‘running’ with AI

We will close with a brief review of SCELC's own staff policy for using AI tools, before opening up community Q&A and discussion on establishing similar guidelines for your own organizations.