Envisioning AI’s Role in Libraries: Perspectives from an LIS Student, a Library Director, and a University Librarian

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is no longer a distant horizon for libraries—
it is already reshaping how we teach, preserve, and connect communities with
knowledge. The question is not whether AI belongs in libraries but rather how we integrate
it in ways that are ethical, equitable, and aligned with our missions. This article is
framed as a dialogue among colleagues at three different career stages, offering distinct
but complementary perspectives. As a current LIS student, Ava Wallace brings the urgency
of an emerging professional grounded in social justice and cultural preservation.
At the mid-career stage, Russell Michalak contributes the perspective of a library director,
emphasizing ethical integration and scalable strategies that position libraries as leaders in
AI literacy and institutional change. Trevor A. Dawes, a senior leader in the profession,
offers national insights on how library organizations can shape responsible adoption. Together,
our perspectives—emerging, mid-career, and