At the Helm of Innovation: Librarians at the Forefront of AI Engagement and Integration

Presented by the Library Team at Georgetown University's International Campus in Qatar

Introduction

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has ushered in a new era of opportunities and challenges in the academic landscape. Recognizing the transformative potential of AI, the library team at Georgetown University's International Campus in Qatar embarked on a proactive journey to engage with and integrate AI tools across the campus. This article delves into their comprehensive approach, highlighting staff development initiatives, experimentation with AI, faculty outreach, and the incorporation of AI into daily operations.

Staff Development: Building AI Competency

The foundation of the library's AI integration strategy was robust staff development. The acting director of library services emphasized the importance of equipping the team with the necessary resources, time, and training to navigate the evolving AI landscape.

Workshops and Training Sessions

ALA's AI Literacy Workshop: The team participated in the American Library Association's workshop on "AI Literacy Using ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence in Instruction," which provided valuable insights into AI applications in educational settings.
Collaborative Learning: The library facilitated special sessions and collaborations with colleagues to foster a culture of continuous learning and shared expertise.

Access to AI Tools

ChatGPT Account: A dedicated ChatGPT account was secured for the librarians, serving as a sandbox environment to explore and understand the capabilities and limitations of AI language models.
Skilltype Investment: The library invested in Skilltype, a talent management and development platform that provided personalized learning paths, including AI-related courses through LinkedIn Learning.

Experimenting with AI: Collaborative Exploration

Understanding the importance of hands-on experience, the library team engaged in active experimentation with AI tools.

Inter-Institutional Collaboration

The team collaborated with other institutions within Education City, including the Qatar National Library and neighboring universities like Texas A&M and Virginia Commonwealth University. These collaborative sessions focused on:

Demonstrating AI Tools: Sharing knowledge about various AI applications and how they can be utilized effectively.
Discussing Challenges: Identifying pitfalls and limitations of AI tools to develop best practices for their use.

Creative Applications of AI

The library leveraged AI creatively to enhance their services and outreach efforts:

Marketing Initiatives: AI tools were used to develop innovative marketing campaigns and materials, showcasing the library's commitment to embracing new technologies.
Workshop Development: AI was utilized to design a series of workshops aimed at exploring AI's creative potential, catering to faculty members who were hesitant to integrate AI directly into their courses.

Faculty Outreach: Bridging the Gap

Recognizing the varying levels of acceptance and familiarity with AI among faculty, the library undertook a strategic outreach initiative.

Understanding Faculty Perspectives

The team reached out to faculty members to gauge their plans and comfort levels regarding AI integration in their courses. They discovered that:

Some faculty were resistant to incorporating AI, often due to a lack of familiarity or concerns about academic integrity.
There was a trend toward eliminating traditional research papers in favor of in-class assessments to mitigate potential misuse of AI tools.

Adaptive Support and Resources

In response, the library developed alternative strategies to support faculty and students:

New Workshop Offerings: They created workshops that complemented and supplemented existing information literacy sessions, focusing on ethical and effective use of AI in research.
Alternative Assignments: The library assisted faculty in designing alternative assignments, such as podcasting and video discussions, that leveraged technology while addressing concerns about AI misuse.

Incorporating AI into Daily Operations

The library team integrated AI tools into their everyday workflows to enhance efficiency and innovation.

Brainstorming and Content Creation

Utilizing AI Language Models: Tools like ChatGPT and Claude were used for brainstorming ideas, drafting content, and refining communications.
Enhancing Marketing Efforts: AI-generated content and images were incorporated into marketing materials, increasing engagement and showcasing the library's forward-thinking approach.

AI-Driven Projects

One notable project involved using AI to recreate book covers for a library display:

Image Generation: Using tools like Leonardo AI, the team reimagined existing book covers, demonstrating the creative capabilities of AI.
Community Engagement: The display sparked interest among students and faculty, serving as a conversation starter about the role of AI in creativity and design.

Instructional Integration: AI in the Pre-Research Process

The Instructional Services Librarian took significant steps to integrate AI into the research instruction provided to students.

Addressing Citation and Academic Integrity

By the summer of 2023, major citation styles (APA, MLA, and Chicago) had issued guidelines on citing AI tools. The library:

Collaboration with the Writing Center: Partnered to create a cheat sheet on how to cite AI content and tools correctly.
Resolving Challenges: Addressed issues with citation management tools like Zotero, which lacked specific item types for AI-generated content.
Promoting Ethical Use: Emphasized the importance of attribution and academic integrity when using AI tools in research.

Overcoming Faculty Resistance

Some faculty members prohibited the use of AI in their syllabi. To navigate this:

Educational Frameworks: Utilized the CLEAR framework and UNESCO publications to demonstrate ethical and effective ways to incorporate AI into academic work.
Non-Generative AI Tools: Introduced tools like Research Rabbit, which assist in literature mapping without generating text, alleviating concerns about plagiarism.

Integrating AI into Lesson Plans

The librarian incorporated AI tools into instruction sessions, focusing on:

Free and Privacy-Conscious Tools: Selected AI applications like Copilot in Microsoft Edge that protect student data and are accessible without cost.
Parallel with Existing Tools: Demonstrated how AI can perform similar functions to familiar tools like Credo's concept mapping, easing the transition for both faculty and students.

AI Workshop Series: Empowering the Campus Community

To further AI literacy on campus, the library launched a futuristic-themed workshop series titled "AI's Creative Edge."

Workshop Offerings

Advanced Prompt Engineering: Taught participants how to use AI for brainstorming keywords and concepts to enhance database searches.
Citing AI Content: Provided hands-on training on using Zotero and Grammarly to correctly cite AI-generated material.
Student Perspectives: Invited students to share their experiences and discuss ethical uses of AI tools.

Engagement and Outcomes

The workshop on citing AI content saw the highest attendance, indicating a strong interest in understanding how to use AI ethically within the bounds of academic integrity. This response highlighted the need for ongoing education and support in navigating AI's role in academia.

AI Across the Research Process

The library team developed a comprehensive framework illustrating how AI tools can be integrated at various stages of the research process:

Research Stage	AI Applications
Brainstorming	Tools for organizing tasks, defining topics, and generating ideas (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT).
Literature Review	Non-generative AI tools for mapping literature and identifying key sources (e.g., Research Rabbit).
Evaluation	Using AI to verify sources, assess credibility, and filter results based on journal rankings (e.g., Consensus).
Citing	AI-assisted citation tools for proper attribution (e.g., Grammarly add-on with ChatGPT, integrated with Zotero).

Leadership in AI Engagement: A Collaborative Effort

The Data, Media, and Web Librarian discussed the library's leadership role in advancing AI engagement on campus.

Proactive Initiatives

AI Literacy Development: Embraced AI as an area of intellectual curiosity and practical application, positioning the library as a knowledge hub.
Workshop Series: Expanded offerings to include topics like generative AI in images, music, and video, as well as AI's impact on career development.

Creative Projects and Experimentation

AI-Generated Book Covers: Created a library display featuring AI-generated reimaginings of existing book covers, engaging the community in discussions about AI and creativity.
Teaching AI Skills: Offered instruction on prompt engineering and image generation, enabling students and staff to interact effectively with AI tools.

Advanced AI Applications

GPT-4 and Claude 3 Vision Features: Explored the use of AI to transcribe and analyze handwritten historical documents, enhancing access to primary sources.
Support for Course Development: Participated in a pilot course on learning processes and AI, addressing the ethical considerations and potential of AI in education.

Campus Collaboration and Conversations

The library facilitated campus-wide discussions and collaborations regarding AI:

Campus Conversations: Organized events where faculty, IT staff, admissions officers, and finance team members shared perspectives on AI's impact in their areas.
Faculty Workshops: Engaged with faculty to discuss AI's role in teaching and learning, offering support and resources for integration.
Increased Course Support: Provided enhanced support for courses incorporating AI, ensuring that students and faculty have the necessary tools and knowledge.

Overcoming Challenges and Resistance

Throughout their journey, the library encountered challenges, including resistance from faculty and staff hesitant to adopt AI tools.

Addressing Faculty Concerns

Demonstrating Value: Showed faculty how AI could enhance research and learning without compromising academic integrity.
Alternative Assignments: Assisted in designing assignments that leveraged technology while mitigating concerns about AI misuse.

Engaging Resistant Staff

Demonstrations and Training: Conducted sessions to showcase the practical benefits of AI, highlighting efficiency gains and new capabilities.
Collaborative Approach: Encouraged open dialogue and shared experiences to ease apprehensions and build confidence in using AI tools.

Conclusion

The library team at Georgetown University's International Campus in Qatar exemplifies proactive leadership in AI engagement and integration. Through dedicated staff development, innovative experimentation, strategic faculty outreach, and the incorporation of AI into daily operations, they have positioned themselves at the forefront of academic innovation.

Their efforts not only enhance the library's services but also contribute significantly to the campus's overall readiness to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in education. By fostering a culture of ethical use, continuous learning, and collaborative exploration, they are shaping a future where AI is harnessed to enrich learning, research, and creativity.

Questions and Engagement

During their presentations and workshops, the library team actively engaged with students and faculty, addressing questions such as:

How can AI tools be used ethically in academic work?
What are effective strategies for citing AI-generated content?
How can resistance to AI adoption among staff and faculty be overcome?

Their willingness to share resources, such as cheat sheets for citing AI content, and to collaborate across departments underscores their commitment to supporting the campus community in embracing AI responsibly and effectively.