Celebrating the 35th Anniversary
Annual Conference on Libraries and the Future
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Manage AI

Friday, October 16
Heritage Club at Bethpage

Early Bird Registration June 1st - August 31st

How I learned to Stop Worrying and Manage AI. This tongue-in-cheek reference to the film,  “Dr. Strangelove”,  highlights the theme of this year's conference on Libraries and the Future. Our speakers will be addressing the fears people have about AI as well as the nature of AI and the ways to use AI in their libraries.  Meredith Broussard is our opening speaker and an associate professor at New York University. Her books include More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech, and Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World. She appears in the Emmy-nominated documentary “Coded Bias” on Netflix. Our second speaker is Amanda Sweet who is the Technology Innovation Librarian for the Nebraska Library Commission. She has spoken frequently about the use of AI in libraries. She received the Excellence in Leadership Award through the State of Nebraska in 2022. We will close our conference with Jaci Cooper, Director of Projects and Planning, at the Kent District Library. She will be presenting “AI with Heart: Serving People in a Digital Age.”

Presenters:

Meredith Broussard is an associate professor at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University and the research director at the NYU Alliance for Public Interest Technology. She is the author of More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech(MIT Press, 2023), as well as the award-winning 2018 book Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence in investigative reporting, with particular interests in AI ethics and using data analysis for social good. She appears in the Emmy-nominated documentary “Coded Bias,” now streaming on Netflix. Her work has been supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Institute of Museum & Library Services, and the Tow Center at Columbia Journalism School. A former features editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, she has also worked as a software developer at AT&T Bell Labs and the MIT Media Lab. Her features and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, Vox, and other outlets. Follow her on Twitter @merbroussard or contact her via meredithbroussard.com.

Presentation: Does AI Give Good Advice?

Under the hood, AI is just math. Does it make sense to take mathematical advice about travel? How about fitness? Does a machine give better interpersonal advice than an actual person? What happens when a chatbot advises a person to self-harm? In this talk, Meredith Broussard will explore when and why people trust algorithmic advice, where that trust breaks down, and what the research actually says about AI’s strengths and limits. Drawing on real-world examples of AI successes and failures, she will explore the ethical, social, and safety implications of delegating judgment to machines—especially in high-stakes situations—and offer practical guidance for deciding when AI can help, when it can harm, and whether taking AI advice is making us less human.

Amanda Sweet the Technology Innovation Librarian for the Nebraska Library Commission where she helps libraries leverage technology to drive positive innovation and change within their communities. In a rapidly changing world, she helps communities explore Industry 4.0 technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality, then apply this newfound knowledge to solve pressing community problems like affordable housing or aging with dignity. She develops resources to help libraries and community partners support entrepreneurs, technologists, students, and change-makers in pursuit of strong communities, and is a frequent conference speaker on related topics. Sweet has a BA in English from Carleton College, a Masters in Library Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and received the Excellence in Leadership Award through the State of Nebraska in 2022.

Presentation: AI & Automation Workflows Description

AI and automation tools can help in nearly every facet of library life, from web development and accessibility improvement to building and maintaining databases or improving research techniques. This workshop will help you identify areas ripe for automation, offers an effective step-by-step framework to implement automation workflows, and includes some recommended tools and techniques to incorporate AI and automation tools effectively in your day to day life. By the end of this workshop, you will have a grab-bag of opportunities to apply AI effectively, work with your peers to flesh out ideas, share tool recommendations, and choose a level of automation that works for you and your organization. Participants will leave with an effective AI & Automation Planning Guide, an AI Literacy Framework, AI Policy recommendations, and solid preparation for the future of librarianship, powered by AI.

Jaci Cooper holds a dual Master of Public Affairs and Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri–Columbia and has a decade of library experience. She serves as Director of Projects and Planning at Kent District Library, where she launched the project management office and oversees the organization’s project portfolio, strategic planning, internal communications, and performance metrics. Jaci was named a 2024 Crain’s Grand Rapids 40 Under 40 Leader, serves on the Michigan Library Association Board, and is a member of the Kent County Food Policy Council.

Presentation: AI With Heart: Serving People in a Rapidly Changing Digital Age

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes how people seek, evaluate, and interact with information, libraries are facing a profound shift in patron behavior and expectations. This presentation explores why AI is not simply a technology trend, but a defining issue that information professionals must actively engage with to remain trusted guides in an evolving digital world.

Grounded in the human-centered values of librarianship, the keynote examines ethical approaches to AI, the growing scope and importance of community digital literacy, and the practical role of tools like Copilot and ChatGPT in modern library service. At its core is a central question: how can libraries embrace innovation while preserving the personal connection, trust, and accessibility that communities rely on most?

Code of Conduct

For questions, please email Eliscia Cirrone, ecirrone@lilrc.org.

Contact Hours: 3

Program Recording: This is an in-person event. 

FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS -

1. If you do not receive a confirmation email after registering, please contact Eliscia Cirrone, ecirrone@lilrc.org to check your registration.

2.  If you have any questions regarding this program or registration and program access, please contact Eliscia Cirrone, ecirrone@lilrc.org

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