Atla Annual 2025

As a hub for learning, the theological library facilitates the resourcing and delivery of academic material on campus. Within this setting, library staff serve at the forefront of curating content to support student objectives. The advent of Artificial Intelligence has led libraries to analyze anew the meaning of information literacy as students increasingly turn to this recent technology to research, analyze and disseminate their knowledge. Fundamental to this discussion are 1) the challenges and opportunities for information literacy in light of student AI usage and 2) library and institutional policies that will guide students to be information literate in an ethical and responsible fashion.

Learning Outcome

The audience will reflect on the theological library's responsibility to be the harbinger of information literacy as students enter into the age of Artificial Intelligence. Key questions to be discussed include 1) the challenges posed to information literacy as a result of student AI use, 2) the reconceptualization of information literacy as libraries align themselves with innovative AI usage among students, and 3) the policies needed to guide libraries as they face an uncharted future with AI.

Audience Engagement

After a brief overview of AI principles and terms, the audience will be divided into groups and provided with a series of open discussion questions focusing on the role, implementation, and policies pertaining to information literacy as students use AI for their academic pursuits. Attendees will be given the opportunity to debrief with the goal of generating key conclusions about the ramifications for information literacy in an AI-infused academic world. Participants can subsequently join a monitored listserv or blog for ongoing discussion, comments, and questions about issues raised during the conversation group.