AI in Action

Academic libraries are navigating a pivotal moment as AI reshapes research, teaching, and institutional workflows. While many leaders recognize AI’s transformative potential—from metadata creation and collections management to patron services and workflow optimization—few have systematic insight into where AI can most effectively streamline operations or how to implement these tools responsibly.

Our new initiative, AI in Action, will bring together 15-20 academic libraries starting this May for a 12-month, hands-on cohort to explore the potential for integrating AI into their own processes. The goal is to produce actionable, shared insights that strengthen the sector’s collective capacity for innovation, while staying aligned with library values.

This cohort project will be guided by the following research questions:

1. Where might library operations (e.g., acquisitions, cataloging, analytics, public services, or assessment) recognize the most benefit from AI tools?
2. How can libraries integrate AI tools in ways that reduce administrative burden while maintaining research integrity and ethical standards?
3. What organizational or cultural barriers inhibit AI adoption in library operations?
4. How can AI initiatives be evaluated for strategic impact and cost-effectiveness? What metrics might be most effective for libraries to demonstrate the impact of AI?
5. What governance models and skill sets within libraries best support responsible and sustainable AI use?

How will the project work?

Through structured pilots, peer learning, and expert guidance from Ithaka S+R, participating libraries will identify high-impact use cases, test tools in real-world settings, and develop practical metrics for success. The 12-month cohort project is divided into four phases.

Phase I

Phase one will provide orientation and an overview of how AI is currently being deployed within within academic libraries—including in the resources libraries license. Cohort members, with guidance from Ithaka S+R, will conduct an environmental scan of their own library.

Phase II

In phase two, each institution will identify one operational area, such as metadata generation, chatbot-based reference, or enhanced discovery, to explore more deeply. Concurrently, Ithaka S+R will provide virtual workshops for the cohort on AI tools, prompt engineering, data governance, and ethical use.

Phase III

During phase three, individual institutions will pilot AI tools at their local institutions, testing and documenting their use. While meeting monthly for peer learning and shared support, institutions will also draft new strategic goals for their libraries to define what constitutes successful implementation.

Phase IV

In the project’s final phase, Ithaka S+R will synthesize patterns and lessons learned across participants so that each institution can finalize a strategic plan outlining goals, metrics, and anticipated outcomes of their project work.

By the end of the project, each institution will have launched an AI pilot, clarified their goals for sustainable adoption within their institution, and strengthened internal capacity to lead AI innovation with confidence. Ithaka S+R will publish a research report and shared documentation of pilot case studies based on findings from the collected group of institutions.

How to get involved

If your institution is interested in learning more about participating in the inaugural cohort, please send an expression of interest to Tracy Bergstrom (Tracy.Bergstrom@ithaka.org) by April 30, 2026. We will then provide a more detailed prospectus including the timeline, staff capacity expectations, and cost.