The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is supporting the launch of the Presidential AI Challenge, a national initiative encouraging K-12 students and educators to harness the power of artificial intelligence to address local community challenges. This effort invites participants from all backgrounds to develop innovative AI-based projects while building skills and confidence in…
Michelia Mason didn’t start out as a data expert. In fact, when she first opened Power BI, the data visualization tool felt more intimidating than intuitive. “Data analysis was not my background,” she admits. “Usage reports were about it.” But as the librarian at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), a nonprofit based in San Antonio that…
When most people think about artificial intelligence, they picture high-tech startups or Silicon Valley labs—not a library filled with patrons eating tamales, listening to musical performers and hearing the buzz of Spanish and English voices. But at the Frisco Public Library, that’s exactly what is happening, and it’s helping ESL learners get acquainted with emerging…
When it comes to summer programming, creativity is key—and Texas libraries are proving that artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool for bringing big ideas to life without stretching small teams too thin. This summer, two libraries—North Angelo Branch Library in Tom Green County and Pasadena Public Library near Houston—are showing how AI can…
When Cynthia Soll and Rachel Kramer from McLennan Community College (MCC) Library in Waco began experimenting with AI, they weren’t intending to lead a tech revolution; their main focus was just trying to save time. Like many library staff across Texas, they wear a lot of hats. So when they saw an opportunity to use…
Libraries have long been champions of expanding access to books, and digital platforms like Hoopla Digital, Libby, Audible, Boundless, or Scribd help make that possible. With a few taps, readers can borrow e-books and audiobooks from their local libraries, making literature more accessible than ever. With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), libraries have found…
Earlier this year, we did a spotlight on the Amarillo Public Library’s incredible digital literacy initiative. During that conversation, we learned about Emma, the city’s “digital human.” The first of its kind, Emma is an AI avatar, fluent in more than 60 languages, tasked with answering questions about city services and news. Micheal Keough, the…