David L. Rice Library Joins National AI in Action Cohort

Context The University of Southern Indiana’s David L. Rice Library will join AI in Action, a program run by research nonprofit Ithaka S+R. The initiative gathers academic libraries to explore how artificial intelligence can improve services while upholding ethical standards. The cohort launches in May and runs for one year.

Key Facts - The cohort will include 15 to 20 libraries from across the United States, each tasked with identifying high‑impact AI use cases such as metadata creation, discovery services, workflow automation, research support, and patron assistance. - Participants will attend workshops on AI tools, prompt engineering (the practice of crafting inputs to get desired AI outputs), governance, and ethical deployment. - Rice Library staff will collaborate with peer institutions, pilot new tools in real settings, and contribute to a shared repository of case studies that will guide future AI adoption in higher‑education libraries. - Dean Marna Hostetler said the selection underscores USI’s commitment to innovation, student success, and continuous improvement.

What It Means For students and faculty, the project promises faster access to resources, more accurate search results, and streamlined support services—all delivered with safeguards to protect privacy and maintain the library’s trusted role. Internally, the library will build expertise in AI governance, positioning USI as a leader in responsible technology use within academia. The collective findings will help shape national best practices, influencing how libraries balance efficiency gains with core values.

Watch for the cohort’s first pilot results later this year, which will reveal which AI applications deliver measurable benefits without compromising ethical standards.