Artificial intelligence can feel overwhelming for libraries. Between privacy concerns, confusing headlines, and pressure to “keep up,” it is easy to see why many library workers feel uncertain about what role they should play.

But according to Jose Ruiz-Vazquez, assistant manager at the Milwood Branch of Austin Public Library, librarians already have the exact skills needed to help shape how AI is used responsibly.

Jose has spent nearly two decades working in libraries while also diving deeply into cybersecurity, AI security, compliance, and governance. He describes himself as someone who “straddles both worlds,” bringing a librarian’s perspective into technical conversations that often overlook public-serving institutions. He recently wrote an article on AI governance, highlighting his unique perspective, that will be featured soon in the online version of Public Libraries Magazine.

His central argument is simple: librarians are not outsiders to AI governance. In many ways, they have been doing versions of this work for years.

Library Skills Translate to AI

When people hear “AI governance,” they often imagine software engineers or computer scientists. Jose sees something different.

At its core, AI governance is about questions librarians already ask every day. How is information organized?  What bias exists? Who has access? How do we help people make informed decisions?

Library science concepts such as controlled vocabulary, metadata, provenance, and information organization closely align with the challenges AI systems face. “Governance” may sound technical, but libraries already practice it regularly through policy creation, privacy considerations, intellectual access, and information stewardship.

“We do governance all the time,” Jose explained. “We just don’t call it that.” For example, librarians are trained to think critically about where information comes from and whether it is trustworthy. Those same instincts matter when evaluating AI outputs, identifying bias, or understanding what information an AI system uses to generate answers.

As Jose sees it, librarians’ expertise in findability and provenance positions them to educate people about ethical and transparent AI systems that better serve communities.

Moving Beyond Fear and Toward Practical Use

Jose does not approach AI as a cheerleader. In fact, he acknowledges many librarians are skeptical or frustrated, especially given concerns about privacy, misinformation, surveillance, and workforce disruption.

His view is more pragmatic. AI is already affecting patrons, workplaces, and civic life, which means libraries have a responsibility to understand it. “It’s happening regardless,” he said. “If we don’t understand it, it will run us over.”

Rather than treating AI as a separate initiative, Jose encourages libraries to fold it into existing work and meet staff where they are.

That can mean small, practical uses that improve efficiency or spark creativity:

• Brainstorming multigenerational program ideas for events and refining them with staff expertise
• Turning photos of reports or statistics into usable data for faster analysis
• Exploring tools that simplify repetitive tasks such as shelf reading or workflow organization
• Helping patrons better understand job searching, digital literacy, and emerging technology

The goal is not replacing staff judgment. It is using AI as a tool while librarians remain firmly “holding the steering wheel.”

A Growing Need for Library Voices

Jose also argues that libraries have a narrowing window to influence how AI systems are governed. Questions around privacy, bias, surveillance, accessibility, and transparency are already shaping public policy and technology development. Yet many of those decisions are happening without librarians at the table.

That absence matters because librarians have long advocated for intellectual freedom, privacy, equitable access, and informed decision-making. Who better to ask hard questions about an AI system than information professionals trained to examine how knowledge is organized and delivered?

Jose encourages library workers to begin learning now, even if they do not consider themselves technical. “If you want to build your AI fluency and explore how these tools can support your day-to-day work, Anthropic offers free introductory courses. If you’re ready to get off the bench and into the game, understanding ethical implications and joining those governance conversations, BABL AI offers a free course designed exactly for that.”

For libraries, the future of AI may not be about catching up to technology.  The first step, he suggests, is not becoming an expert overnight. It is becoming informed enough to ask better questions.

Jose is active on LinkedIn and writes about AI, libraries, and governance on Substack, where he encourages librarians to network if they want to know more about AI in libraries.