Building the Path for the Last Mile:

Developing Critical AI Literacy for Library Workers

Abstract

This article examines the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and libraries by looking at the evolving research process through the framework of critical librarianship. Through a review of relevant literature and case studies, we discuss how AI tools are reshaping higher education amid a backdrop of budgetary cuts and an increasingly siloed academy. In this environment, library workers are increasingly anxious to defend their role in the research process and illuminate harms perpetuated by algorithmic tools. By engaging with the concept of the “last mile,” an analogy for AI in the research space, we consider the intersections of labor, pedagogy, and professional practice. We argue that librarians enhance and facilitate deeper learning as researchers and students strive to reach milestones in their research journey. Further, we emphasize the importance of being proactive with advocacy in our academic communities by highlighting this unique role. Through exploring these critical perspectives, we advocate that librarians actively challenge algorithmic biases, advocate for users to engage with AI ethically, and increase focus on relational labor in the research process. This article contributes to the ongoing dialogue of AI use in libraries, but offers a critical lens and a path forward for actionable insights for librarians and library workers.