The Innovation and Technology Round Table (ITRT) of the Texas Library Association (TLA) aims to promote and improve the use of innovation and other technologies in Texas libraries. On the last Thursday of each month, ITRT holds informal, half-hour Lunch & Learn chats about an innovation and technology topic via the TLA’s Zoom room. Starting in June, the topics centered on Artificial Intelligence and libraries. You can see the webinar videos by clicking on the links below.
Jun 27 | “AI Literacy at Lunchtime” Campus Webinar Series
Texas Tech University librarians offered an 8-part learner-centered AI Literacy at Lunchtime series during the spring semester as a response to a survey of instructors of record and a general interest from the campus community. The series, hosted simultaneously in-person and online, was open to any student, staff or faculty member interested in the topics. Threaded throughout the series were discussion questions which explore the potential impact of AI on our lives, including an unflinching examination of how the shortcomings of AI can also result in deep harms to historically underrepresented and marginalized groups and the environment. The sessions were facilitated by librarians and use Padlet for discussion, to encourage in-person and online learning. The LibGuide for the workshop series is also a community-sourced resource, in which they share the ideas, concerns and tools that participants mention throughout the series, the links to the recordings of the sessions, and the Padlet discussions.
Jul 25 | AI for Workforce Development and Grant Writing
Hear from two TSLAC consultants (Henry Stokes and Maria Freed) on how libraries can introduce their communities to ChatGPT and other generative AI by incorporating it into workforce development training. Examples include helping patrons write cover letters, build resumes, and improve the operations of their small businesses. They’ll also describe how libraries can use the technology for themselves to improve productivity and write grants, the latter of which has the potential to significantly level the playing field and ensure those that historically miss out on funding due to lack of capacity get the support they need.
Aug 29 | AI Research Tools for Lit Reviews
Literature Reviews are time consuming and often overwhelming. Scholars have long looked to librarians for guidance on the lit review research process, but new artificial intelligence (AI) tools are streamlining the process and creating new opportunities for librarians to leverage their expertise. Jess Williams, Director of Teaching & Learning at Texas State University Libraries, joins us to chat about the results from a low-key education effort at TXST University, nerd out about open citation data and visual knowledge maps, and probably share enough links to write a lit review of our own.
