Library and Information Science Commons^™

University Library Services Innovation: Strategic Ai Integration And Evidence-Based Insights, Liping Yang, Jun Wang, Lulu Wang, Zixuan Zhang

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is reshaping higher education. In response, university libraries are gradually adopting these tools to enhance service capability and foster user engagement. Aligned with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s “Education + AI Strategic Framework”, specifically the strategic goal of AI for Research and Innovation, this study examines how the Library leverages AI technologies to support scientific discovery and provide more inclusive, responsive library services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the XJTLU Library AI-enhanced service framework. This framework consists of the LibAI Portal, a unified service platform that includes the LibAI Chatbot, LibAI Database Navigator, and …

From Information To Impact: The Strategic Role Of Libraries In University Ranking, Tatiana Usova, Fiona Glasgow, Lisa Chisholm

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Academic libraries are increasingly positioning themselves as strategic partners within their institutions, moving beyond traditional support roles to actively advancing institutional priorities, particularly in global university rankings like QS and Times Higher Education (THE). These rankings significantly influence how universities are perceived and funded, and they rely heavily on the use of bibliometric data, research outputs, and institutional reputation.

This paper, presented by SIGMaRI, examines the evolving role of libraries in the rankings landscape. We will highlight impactful library-led initiatives and partnerships with other strategic university departments that advance the university's reputation and shape institutional research strategies. While libraries share …

Bridging Cultures, Building Communities: The Role Of Academic Libraries In Fostering Multicultural Engagement And Digital Inclusion, Emily Chan, Catarina Lei

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

This paper explores the evolving role of academic libraries in small, multicultural settings. Using the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macao as a case study, we examine how the library acts as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration. By bridging the gap between diverse faculty departments—such as History, Sound Engineering, and Design—the library facilitates innovative projects that preserve local heritage and promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This document outlines two specific case studies: the "First Global Typhoon Macau 1874" exhibition and the "OttoSonic" sound installation.

Sparking Collaborative Connections Through Immersive Technologies, Jacky Wong

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

NIE Library created an innovative space called LIBytes to connect people and ideas through immersive technologies— Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality(MR), and AI robots—and to widen equitable access to digital experiences. LIBytes is both a space and a service: we co-design with departments to integrate immersive learning into teaching, research, and outreach.

For instance, we partner across NIE to build shared experiences:

• English Department – Digital Literature: VR for immersive narrative exploration and perspective-taking, with multimodal discussion.
• Asian Languages & Cultures Department – Digital Storytelling: co-creating VR stories that surface linguistic and cultural perspectives and support authentic …

Enhancing Student Engagement And Learning Outcomes Through Microlearning In Academic Libraries, Kate Lora Cruz, Robert Vallente, Kelvin Samson

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The rapid evolution of educational technologies and student learning preferences has prompted academic libraries to explore innovative strategies for instruction and engagement. One such approach gaining traction is microlearning—a method that delivers concise, targeted learning content designed to meet specific objectives in a short period. This research proposes to investigate the integration of microlearning in academic libraries, focusing on its impact on student engagement, information literacy, and the overall effectiveness of library instruction. The study aims to (1) assess the current awareness and use of microlearning in academic library settings, (2) suggest content and factors to consider in implementing microlearning …

Free-Dom In Creativity: Cost-Accessible Ai Tools For Makerspaces In Academic Libraries, Marvin Factor, Kate Lora Cruz, Yugosto Balbas

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into academic library makerspaces presents emerging opportunities for enhancing innovation, creativity, and user engagement. However, financial considerations often influence the adoption of advanced technologies, particularly in academic institutions located in developing regions. This study systematically reviews freely available AI tools applicable to makerspace environments in academic libraries, providing a descriptive and comparative analysis of their functionalities and potential applications.  By mapping the current landscape of open-access on a gratis level,  this research identifies key categories of AI applications such as design generation, image generation, language processing, and data visualization, highlighting the strengths, limitations, and …

Reimagining Library Services In The Age Of Ai: A Case Study From A Canadian Academic Library, Wei Xuan, Christine Shaw

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

As artificial intelligence reshapes higher education, academic libraries are reimagining their services to meet emerging challenges and opportunities. This article presents a case study of the University of Manitoba Libraries (UML), a Canadian academic library actively integrating AI to improve service delivery, enrich research support, and enhance user engagement while upholding core values of access, equity, and scholarly integrity.

Four key initiatives are discussed: (1) the development of an in-house AI chatbot built on Microsoft Azure services, offering real-time conversational assistance grounded in trusted library content; (2) the implementation of Ex Libris’ Primo Research Assistant to enhance discovery with GPT-based …

Strategic Collection Management In Academic Libraries - Balancing Digital Resources, Print Collections, And Study Spaces, Xiaolu Guo, Trish Wilson

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

In the time of digital transformation and constrained resources, academic libraries must align collections with institutional priorities. This paper presents how Victoria University of Wellington Library’s strategic approach to balancing physical collections and student needs for study space. By sharing practical approaches and lessons learnt from collection evaluation initiatives, this paper will explore how an academic library seeks to align collections with institutional goal s in a sustainable, user-cantered way. Key discussion points include collection budget and usage trends; stakeholder engagement and UX; data driven approaches; and staff capability building.

Generative Ai As Disruptor And Driver For Library Data Services, Shahira Khair

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Over the past decade, academic libraries around the world have focused on developing new services to support data-intensive research and open science. This shift has been driven by funder and publisher mandates emphasizing transparency, reproducibility, and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) research l data. Just as these services are maturing, the rapid rise of generative AI tools and their application in research presents a disruptive l force, but also a transformative opportunity for library data services. This paper addresses the evolving impact of generative AI and library data services, contextualized by the experiences of researchers captured in a series of …

Ai Empowerment Of Medical Libraries For Promoting Accessible Reading Of Evidence-Based Health Guidelines, Wenjing Ding

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

In an age marked by overwhelming information and a rapidly aging global population, the need for accessible, comprehensible health information has never been more urgent. Although evidence-based health guidelines play a crucial role in supporting informed medical decision-making, their dense medical language and structural complexity often render them inaccessible to lay audiences. This study investigates the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enabling medical libraries to serve as dynamic platforms for promoting the accessible reading of such guidelines, thereby advancing public health literacy and equity.

A dual challenge emerges: on one hand, the expanding volume and sophistication of clinical …

Navigating Transformation: Staffing, Structure, And Strategy In The Ai-Integrated Academic Library, Renji Jacob, Beth Russell

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The rapid integration of AI, automation, and digital transformation necessitates a strategic evolution of academic libraries in staffing, structure, and strategy. At NYU Abu Dhabi, a global campus navigating a transient, multicultural environment, workforce development is paramount for sustained innovation, service excellence, and future readiness.

This presentation outlines our library's transition from a traditional repository to a dynamic knowledge facilitator and inclusive community hub. We are actively redefining roles to include AI competencies, creating professional development pathways that support AI literacy, and fostering hybrid positions that promote flexibility and growth. Key initiatives include cross-training, peer mentoring, and comprehensive AI literacy …

Ethical Governance Framework For Artificial Intelligence In Library Contexts——A Comparative Analysis Of Ifla Guidelines And Chinese Implementation, Xu Shan, Chengyu Zhang

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in libraries is becoming increasingly widespread, bringing with it not only enhanced service effectiveness but also various ethical challenges. This study constructs a framework for responsible AI ethical practice in libraries based on the AI ethics guidelines of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), contextualized within China's national conditions. The paper first deconstructs the 14 key issues in IFLA's ethical framework, categorizing them into three dimensions: technical risks, social risks, and governance risks, and analyzes the application limitations formed within the Western context. It then explores the policy adaptability of …

Beyond The Desk: Forging A New Future For Academic Libraries, Alex Mcmanus

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

New LMS? No problem! New Library? Sure! Pandemic? Why not! And now Generative AI, with a cost-of-living crisis thrown in for good measure. The client services staff at UTS Library have weathered their fair share of change safely tucked behind their helpdesk. But the traditional model of librarianship (or library officer-ship) just isn’t cutting it anymore. Instead of clinging to tradition, UTS Library are removing the things that don’t work and letting their community shape what they do to fill the empty spaces left behind. This presentation chronicles the adventures of the staff who have boldly stepped out from behind …

Controlled Digital Lending, Equitable Access To Knowledge And Future Library Services, Xuan Pang, Peggy Glatthaar

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) became a popular term in the United States of America (USA) libraries as a result of a white paper authored by Kyle K. Courtney (Harvard University) and David Hansen (Duke University). (Citation?) The white paper gave the legal groundwork to explore the copyright aspect of CDL: Fair Use, First Sale Doctrine and Supreme Court rulings. The white paper also provided guidelines for Library professionals implementing this new technology to fulfill their users’ needs. Inspired by the recent CDL guidelines developed by Courtney and Hansen (2018) two librarians from the University of Florida (UF), and Florida …

University Rankings Called To Account – Library Voices In The Conversation, Kara Jones Ms

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The past few years have seen increasingly raised voices against the impact of University Rankings, such as QS, THE World University Rankings, ARWU and USNews. Research administrators have been particularly vocal about the influence of ranking systems on university behaviors and called for more responsible metrics and profiling tools that demonstrate distinctiveness.

This paper seeks to understand the role of the library in these conversations, particularly in light of recent strengthening of bibliometrics and scholarly communication initiatives that deal with source data for publication and citation elements of the rankings, and increased relationship-building with Research Offices and Institutional Policy and …

Fostering Community Health And Well-Being Through The Development Of A Mindfulness Program And Meditation Space At The University Of Miami Libraries, Kelly E. Miller, Vera Spika, Scott Rogers

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

This paper offers a case study in the development of a mindfulness program and meditation space within the context of a university research library in the United States. In 2016, thanks to a collaboration with the University of Miami Mindfulness-in-Law Program, the University of Miami (UM) Libraries began offering weekly mindfulness sessions for the benefit of the University community and with the goal of supporting community health and well-being. Appropriate for novice meditators and led by mindfulness researchers and certified teachers, these sessions offer guided meditations and talks that cultivate awareness and compassion. Attendees also have the opportunity to ask …

A Marriage In Community Of People, Workflows And Practices: How Covid-19 Pandemic Propelled A Blending Of Inter-Library Loans And Reference Desk Services At The Botswana International University Of Science And Technology (Biust), Ayanda A. Lebele, Galefete Leswadula

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The Covid 19 health protocols restrictions propelled BIUST library to adopt a multidimensional document delivery service that transcends beyond geographic boundaries. This descriptive narrative presents an innovative interweaving of workflows at BIUST library Reference Desk and the Inter-Library Loan (ILL) Services amidst the inherent digital divide and multiple copyrights related restrictions. Both the reference services and the ILL desk took up responsibilities of service administrations; user registration, orientation and instructional services; collection building and sharing; while also serving as the needed conduit with all types of stakeholders. The resultant net-lending service has not only transformed service processes but also enabled …

The Future Of Flexible Work And Hybrid Work Culture Beyond Covid-19: Challenges, Opportunities And Lessons Learned At Uva Library, Mira Waller, Carla Lee

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The COVID-19 pandemic led to some significant changes in how many of us work and live. It also exposed deep infrastructure problems and systemic equity issues around income, race, and employment and redefined the meaning of front-line essential worker. The pandemic’s acceleration of the move to remote and hybrid work in many areas, coupled with the redefining of essential work, will result in many libraries having to adapt operations and culture around a hybrid work environment.

While libraries prior to the pandemic did allow for some flexible work arrangements, telework was not an expected benefit nor was it universal enough …

Community Outreach And Engagement In A Time Of Crisis: The Peer Research Consultants Program, Lauren Fralinger, Shatha Baydoun

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The Peer Research Consultants (PRC) program at the University of Miami Libraries (UML), was formed in 2016 as part of the Learning Commons initiative to collocate and centralize academic services at Richter Library. Although the program had a virtual component in the form of chat and phone services when founded, it was primarily a physical setup where library student workers assisted researchers using a peer-to-peer system. In this paper, we highlight the historical trajectory of the peer research consultant (PRC) program in academic libraries using Richter Library as a case study. We argue that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic …

Rethinking Organizational Structures To Support Digital Innovation, Lindsey Wharton, Devin Soper

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

This paper presents a vision for supporting the growth and development of innovative digital services in research libraries. While libraries have been undergoing digital transformation for decades, we have seen a flowering of new digital services in recent years, from research support services related to data and digital publishing to learning support services that seek to make our pedagogy more accessible, engaging, and suited to the needs of 21st-century learners. The question of how best to support these services structurally within an organization remains an open one, however, and there is little consistency in how this is accomplished across different …

Leveraging Socio-Technical Collaborations To Support Researchers At The University Of Florida, Plato Smith

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The Developing socio-technical collaborations to promote good laboratory practice (GLP), responsible conduct of research (RCR), and research data management (RDM) at the University of Florida (UF) proposal seeks to further support of GLP, RCR, and RDM through support for infrastructure such as electronic research notebooks (ERN), data repositories (general and domain-specific), and policies. Select ERNs, also known as electronic lab notebook (ELN), promote GLP. “The Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is to ensure the quality and integrity of test data related to non-clinical safety studies” (OECD, n.d.). “Responsible conduct of research (RCR) is defined as ‘the practice of scientific …

Tools Against Predators? Transparency, Education, And The Courage To Speak Up, Kristýna Paulová

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The existence and growth of predatory practices damage the reputation of open science and jeopardizes the idea of science transparency as a whole. This article introduces the tools against predators developed as part of the Stop Predatory Practices project. The project was divided into three phases. In the first phase, an analysis of the current situation in the Czech Republic was carried out. We organised an open discussion, during which participants from the scientists, librarians and other parts of the academic community talked about the systemic problems, misunderstandings and obstacles they face in the area of predatory practices. Based on …

University Libraries And The Open Research Knowledge Graph, Sorën Auer, Irina Sens, Markus Stocker, Lars Vogt, Anna-Lena Lorenz

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The transfer of knowledge has not changed fundamentally for many hundreds of years: It is usually document-based - formerly printed on paper as a classic essay and nowadays as PDF. With around 2.5 million new research contributions every year, researchers drown in a flood of pseudo-digitized PDF publications. As a result research is seriously weakened. In this article, we argue for representing scholarly contributions in a structured and semantic way as a knowledge graph. The advantage is that information represented in a knowledge graph is readable by machines and humans. As an example, we give an overview on the Open …

Supporting The Academic Library Workforce: Updates From The Canadian Association Of Research Libraries, Vivian Lewis

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) has invested significant energy over the last 20 years in building workforce capacity across the country’s academic libraries. The global pandemic has given this work a whole new intensity as directors find themselves seeking to fill large numbers of vacancies in a highly competitive market, to encourage more candidates from equity-deserving groups to apply, to prepare both new and long-serving staff members to take on new kinds of work, and to create workplace environments that encourage staff to stay.

This paper will update the international community on a number of CARL initiatives that …

Out Of The Darkness: How Can Librarians' Skills Help Us To Change Our Organization?, Frederic G.A. Brodkom

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

In 2020-2021, the libraries of the Catholic University of Louvain have been confronted with major challenges: new objectives for providing support to research (RDM, …), the development of new learning centers, the announced retirement of our Chief Librarian, the installation of a new ILS platform, and the pandemic which has involved new services for faculties (loan of co-modal teaching material, click & collect, …). Too many challenges together and it soon became clear that the structure of our organization, which had remained unchanged since 2001, was not adapted to meet these challenges. For our librarians, facing the changes was like …

Developing An Assessment Program: From Zero To Sixty, Valrie I. Minson, Laura Spears

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

In 2016, the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries created a new position and hired an Assessment Librarian. Five years later, the program is highly agile and supports a larger culture of assessment. This talk will outline the steps, and missteps, as well as the scope of a program that includes an Assessment Advisory Team and multiple sub-teams. The program supports grant applications, IRB submissions, assessment resource recommendations, user engagement, usability and user-experience studies, public service assessment, dashboard development, and continues to expand. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the key steps for implementing a successful program, …

Current And Emerging Space Priorities In University Libraries Across The Globe: An Interactive, Participatory Session With The Special Interest Group (Sig) On Library Space, Kelly E. Miller

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

No abstract provided.

Anatomy Of A Renovation, Michael Crumpton

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The seeds of innovation are changing how libraries use their space and plan for future remodels, renovations or expansions, especially post-COVID. Examples of this range from converting space from materials storage to user space needs along with technology enhancements. Technology driven initiatives that impact space usually start as small ideas or seeds of innovative initiatives, such as makerspaces, but are growing into digital media centers, video and imaging rooms, gaming labs and augmented reality spaces.

This presentation shares a case study approach to a master space planning project but goes beyond the typical consultant led project into developing a boarder …

Advancing Open Science At Florida State University Libraries, Renaine Julian, Nicholas Ruhs

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

No abstract provided.

Role And Opportunity Of Library In The Context Of Open Science, Jitka Dobbersteinova, Jozef Dzivak

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The role of libraries on Open Science has been recognised and discussed at multiple fora and have been accepted publicly by international organisations and stakeholders. It is natural, as academic libraries are already supporting a knowledge sharing and build a common good. In Slovakia, the National Research Library plays a key role in open science movement as we work as the national body strategically coordinating open science issues accross Slovakia. We participated very actively in the bottom-up project, which is Slovak National strategy for Open Science adopted by the Slovak Government in 2021. The Strategy for years 2021 – 2028 …