(17 Oct 2025) “AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers,” approved by ACRL in October 2025, is a comprehensive framework to help academic library workers navigate the integration and ethical use of AI technology in higher education libraries. It emphasizes the critical role of academic libraries in understanding and responding to AI’s impact on research, pedagogy, and information workflows.
Key points from the document include:
- AI literacy is defined as the ability to understand, use, and critically evaluate AI technologies and their societal, ethical, and environmental impacts.
- The framework is divided into guiding mindsets (such as curiosity, skepticism, judgment, responsibility, and collaboration) and four main competency categories: Ethical Considerations, Knowledge & Understanding, Analysis & Evaluation, and Use & Application.
- Ethical competencies focus on equitable access, fairness, protecting privacy and intellectual property, accountability, and considering AI’s broader social and environmental impacts.
- Knowledge competencies address understanding AI technologies and terminology, attribution and detection of AI use, keeping current with AI developments, critically evaluating AI-related information sources, and understanding relevant policies.
- Analysis competencies involve explaining AI impacts on library services, evaluating AI benefits and risks, and critically analyzing AI tools’ technical and ethical aspects.
- Use & Application competencies guide how to apply AI effectively in library workflows, communication, innovation, and ensure accessibility and usability of AI tools aligned with library values.
The document is designed to be adaptable to diverse roles and evolving AI technologies, promoting responsible and informed engagement with AI in academic librarianship.
Overall, it serves as a foundational guide for academic library workers to responsibly integrate AI technologies while upholding ethical standards and advancing library missions in the era of AI.
The document can be read here.
*The content is written with the assist of AI.
