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Urbana Free Library staff recommend developing AI policy and public workshops
Summary
A staff presentation outlined three library responses to artificial intelligence — collections development, patron education and internal policy — and recommended the board consider a formal AI policy and public workshops focused on safe and effective use.
Erica (staff presenter) told the Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees on Sept. 9 that libraries are responding to artificial intelligence in three main ways: collections development, patron education and development of organizational policies and best practices.
"People are gonna come into libraries asking for help, with it," Erica said, arguing that libraries should prepare by offering workshops and by training staff. She described examples from other systems: San Jose Public Library workshops on machine learning and ChatGPT; Brooklyn Public Library sessions on using AI for resumes and genealogy; San Mateo County classes for community members; and Skokie and Georgia libraries running parent-focused events on AI in education.
Nut graf: Staff recommended the board consider an AI policy and programming that would include public workshops, staff training (similar to CPR or Narcan training for other mandates), and privacy safeguards to reduce risks from surveillance or misinformation.
Erica said potential library activities include hands‑on workshops for adults, age‑appropriate programs for children and teens about using AI responsibly in research, and parent/caregiver sessions to help families navigate AI in classrooms. She also noted risks such as misinformation and "hallucination" by large language models, and the need to educate patrons about those limitations.
Board members discussed that community demand for assistance is likely to grow and asked whether service desk requests for AI help had already been received; staff said none had yet, but that it seemed only a matter of time. Erica recommended looking to peer libraries for policy language and suggested the board consider a policy that defines allowable uses, staff responsibilities and training expectations.
Ending: No formal motion or timeline was recorded. Staff said they will monitor demand and return with policy language and training recommendations for board consideration; the board did not set a deadline at the Sept. 9 meeting.
