Your Name and Title:
Aryamala Prasad, Researcher in Digital Government
Library, School, or Organization Name:
Center for Technology in Government, University at Albany
Co-Presenter Name(s):
Zong-Xian Huang; Mila Gascó-Hernandez; J. Ramon Gil-Garcia
Area of the World from Which You Will Present:
Albany, New York, United States
Language in Which You Will Present:
English
Target Audience(s):
Public Librarians, Local Government
Short Session Description (one line):
This session will present best practices on programs and services offered by public libraries to increase awareness about AI in their communities.
Full Session Description (as long as you would like):
Growing concerns about the societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI) have encouraged government and civil society organizations to discuss and explore strategies to empower communities and facilitate public participation. In this context, CTG UAlbany and the Urban Libraries Council have been funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to understand the role of public libraries in raising awareness and fostering inclusive civic engagement in AI initiatives in their communities. During the first stage of this project, the team has reviewed AI-related programs and services offered by public libraries in the United States and Canada. During this session we will present our findings.
In particular, our presentation will highlight the key purpose and different types of initiatives implemented by public libraries such as lectures and podcasts, hands-on workshops, seminars, exhibitions, and makerspaces. We will also discuss the collaborative relationships between public libraries and other types of organizations, including university research centers, non-profit organizations, private businesses, and government agencies. Lastly, given the implications of AI, we will present the gaps in the current programs and services available to local communities to ensure inclusiveness.
Overall, this session aims to provide an overview of the current AI-related programs and services to enable further discussion on the role of public libraries in empowering communities and engaging their users/patrons in AI initiatives.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
Replies
Sounds great!