AI and Information Literacy for Librarians
Help library users question AI answers, find real sources and use AI tools wisely
A taste of a lesson
A user is upset because we can't find three articles ChatGPT recommended. How do I explain?
Try something like: 'These tools write references that look real by predicting what a citation usually looks like, but they don't always check that the article exists. It happens a lot, and it's not your fault.' Then turn to their actual need: 'Let's search for articles on this topic together.' Show them a database search and how to confirm a source exists. They leave with real sources and a new habit. What topic were the articles supposed to be about?
Written by the teacher as an example. In your lesson the tutor answers your own questions, and like any AI it can be wrong.
What you will be able to do
- Explain to users, in plain words, why AI tools fabricate citations
- Handle reference interactions involving non existent sources kindly
- Teach SIFT and lateral reading for evaluating AI outputs
- Design a short AI literacy session and use AI for library tasks safely
Lesson plan
- 1 How AI tools produce answers Understand generation, AI search and why citations go wrong. Start
- 2 The reference desk in the AI era Respond kindly and usefully when users bring AI generated references or claims. Start
- 3 Evaluating AI outputs Teach SIFT and lateral reading as practical habits. Start
- 4 A short AI literacy session Design a 45 minute session for your users with a hands on activity. Start
- 5 AI for library work Use AI for reading lists, descriptions and promotion with proper checks. Start
Try asking
About this tutor
For public, school, academic and special librarians, and library staff who answer enquiries. We cover how AI chat and AI search tools work in plain terms, why they fabricate citations, how to respond when users arrive with references that do not exist, and how to teach lateral reading and source evaluation in an AI world. You also design a short AI literacy session for your users, think through privacy and equity issues in offering AI tools, and use AI to support your own work (reading lists to verify, catalogue description drafts, event promotion).
Reviews
4.7
3 ratingsSample
- Abdul R.Sample
Clear and practical for a public library. The licence warning about databases was something our team hadn't considered.
- Ruth G.Sample
The script for phantom citations is perfect. Users leave feeling helped instead of embarrassed. We now run the 'find the sources' session monthly.
- Sinead O.Sample
SIFT applied to AI answers worked brilliantly with our first year students. Good balance of user facing and staff uses.
About the teacher
Translator, editor and digitisation hand teaching AI for words, archives, buildings and travel
9 tutors 307 lessons taught Sample
I began as a technical translator for engineering and architecture firms, worked on a regional news desk as a sub editor, and later joined digitisation projects with libraries and archives. Translating for tourism businesses brought me into hospitality too. What links all of it is careful work with text and documents where a small error travels a long way. I...
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