Guiding principles
Our goal at the University of Arizona Libraries is to deploy the right AI tools and resources across our departments and operations to meet user needs, improve our services, enhance our capacity and efficiency, and advance campus-level AI objectives.
We strategically select and responsibly implement the AI tools and resources we use based on their potential benefits, financial costs, and factors such as data security and user privacy.
Examples of our current AI implementations
Creating metadata
- Collaborating with TRAIL (Technical Report Archive and Image Library) and JSTOR using AI tools to create descriptions and transcriptions for Atomic Energy Commission records to improve discovery and searchability.
- Using AI tools to create transcriptions of audio/video materials in Special Collections to expand discovery and searchability.
Improving content accessibility
- Using AI tools to improve the accessibility of PDF documents on a large scale for visually impaired users.
- Using AI tools to create alt text descriptions for visual elements in books published by UA Press to enhance accessibility of backlist titles for visually impaired users.
Facilitating student learning and instruction
- Maintaining a suite of online generative AI training modules for students and faculty that provide baseline knowledge and skill-building to inform effective and responsible use of generative AI platforms.
- Establishing an AI studio to provide students and other members of the campus community with a dedicated space to learn about AI tools, experiment with them, and receive instruction on their effective and responsible use.
Supporting faculty research
- Integrating the use of AI features in digital scholarship tools and related instruction to facilitate their use in faculty and student research.
Improving internal workflows and efficiencies
- Evaluating AI tools for their use in analyzing collections data to inform collection management strategies and decision making.
- Employing a range of AI tools to improve internal workflows and create efficiencies across departments, from budget management to library use assessment.
Increasing campus-wide AI competencies
- Developing campus-wide trainings for students, faculty, and staff on the responsible, ethical, and innovative use of AI by partnering with the University Center for Assessment, Teaching, and Technology to implement the University’s Academic Success Goal to “increase emerging technological competencies.”
Related library resources and policies
Generative AI: Guides
The library's guide for students, instructors, and researchers on using generative AI.
FAQs about generative AI
Browse frequently-asked questions about generative AI curated by library staff.
Use library resources for TDM, LLMs, and AI
Guide on using library resources for text & data mining (TDM) elements of your research, training large language models (LLMs), or using generative AI with library content.
Campus AI resources
Artificial Intelligence at the University of Arizona
Hub for AI tools (including U of A GenAI), training and support, research platforms, and best practices for adopting AI in teaching and research.