The purpose of this series is to learn and explore the tangible applications and implementations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across all types of libraries in the Minitex region. AI is fast developing and it is difficult to keep up with all the latest developments, let alone explore them all yourself! These are 20-30 minute bite-sized presentations with Q&A or demonstrations on a variety of topics.
2025/2026 Recordings
February 19, 2026: AI for Transcription in Digital Collections
Join Ninh Tran and Greta Bahnemann as they share their experiences using AI transcription for digital collection items. TranscribeAI is a new tool developed at Minitex that uses Google Gemini to transcribe typed, handwritten, and mixed-text documents. By automatically downloading items from digital repositories (e.g., Minnesota Digital Library) and using metadata to provide context, TranscribeAI produces highly accurate transcripts while reducing staff time and costs. This session highlighted the challenges of traditional OCR and manual transcription, demonstrated how TranscribeAI addresses them, and shared best practices for integrating AI-generated transcripts into library workflows. Attendees learned how AI-driven transcription enhances accessibility, improves discovery through keyword-searchable text, and preserves the cultural integrity of historical documents. Presenters also discussed lessons learned from recent pilot projects, including the importance of human review and quality assurance.
January 22, 2026: AI + Accessibility: Why Keeping Humans in the Loop Matters
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping communication, access, and our daily lives, it’s crucial that we don’t lose sight of the people at the center. This talk by Valerie Lockhart explored the intersection of AI and accessibility, and why human judgment, empathy, and oversight are more important than ever.
December 11, 2025: Harnessing AI for OER: Bridging Content Gaps with Microsoft Copilot
This presentation by Fran Kennedy explored the use of Microsoft Copilot to create engaging activities and assessments for Open Educational Resources (OER). By leveraging Copilot's AI capabilities, content gaps can be identified and bridged, ensuring a comprehensive and cohesive learning experience for students. The session provided practical insights and strategies for educators looking to enhance their OER with AI-driven solutions.
November 20, 2025: AI and Research Tools - Using REACT Framework to Evaluate AI Features in Library Databases
Artificial intelligence features are increasingly appearing in library databases—sometimes as opt-in options, sometimes by default. How can library professionals engage proactively to ensure these tools align with our values? Presenters Matt Lee and Greg Argo introduced the REACT Framework developed at Loyola Marymount University, a model we’ve explored at Minitex, and invites discussion on evaluating AI features in library databases.
November 6, 2025: AI and Alt Text for Archival Image Collections
Theresa Berger (she/her) is Digital Library Services Librarian at the University of Minnesota, where she oversees digitization and digital collections development for Archives and Special Collections. This presentation discussed ways in which a closed ChatGPT model can be used to generate alt text (alternative text) in archival image collections, using a "human-in-the-loop" approach. Theresa highlighted both strengths and weaknesses of the tool, as well as suggestions for overall workflows, showing ways in which AI can be used to shift (not replace) resources in an effort to better serve our users, stakeholders, and our communities.
October 23, 2025: AI-Assisted Review: Creative Solutions for Outdated E-Resource Data
Maintaining up-to-date and accurate information on electronic resources is a constant challenge, as resources merge or change hands, vendors acquire one another, marketing brings name changes, and schools negotiate bespoke packages. Greg Argo, Open Education & Affordable Content Librarian at Minitex, and practicum student Simon Deutsch shared a project addressing outdated records in Minitex’s Cooperative Purchasing and Electronic Resources Services (CPERS) database and workflows. Simon created an automated process—using JSON prompting, OpenRefine, Python scripting, and the Claude API—that reviewed more than 1,400 e-resource records, all without advanced coding skills. This session highlighted both the technical methods for wrangling AI tools and the implications for improving data quality and front-end services, offering takeaways for librarians interested in applying similar AI-driven approaches to their own data management challenges.
2024 Recordings
December 10, 2024: AI Literacy with Undergraduate Students
Kate Peterson is an Undergraduate Services Librarian at the University of Minnesota. Her teaching practice focuses on early undergraduates and active learning in person and online. She shared her work with students in first-year experience courses during the rise of generative artificial intelligence. Kate is interested in exploring the value AI brings to academia and how we help students make decisions on if and when these tools are useful and effective.
- View recording of AI Literacy with Undergraduate Students
- AI Literacy with Undergraduate Students Presentation Slides
November 12, 2024: Cataloging with ChatGPT
Conrrado Saldivar is the Tech Services Manager at Natrona County Library. His presentation will highlighted some of his experiments using ChatGPT in cataloging, including: English-Spanish translation, subject heading ideation, and Dewey Decimal training. While there is great promise with this technology for catalogers, Conrrado will also point out some of the limitations he sees with ChatGPT as a cataloging assistant.
October 8, 2024: Data Analysis with Pinpoint and Considerations for your Audience
Cynthia Tu is a data reporter and AI specialist at Sahan Journal. She analyzes public datasets, uncovers hidden patterns and trends in numbers, and tells stories with compelling data visualizations. In this presentation, she demonstrated how she uses the AI tool Pinpoint to analyze data, find patterns, and tell stories. Cynthia also discussed the importance of data transparency and her effort to make data-driven reporting more accessible to readers of Sahan Journal.
September 10, 2024: Event Planning and Marketing with ChatGPT
Megan Peddycord Bratton is the PR & Marketing Manager at Natrona County Library. With over 15 years of experience, she has honed her expertise in brand development, web optimization, graphic design, social media, and public relations. She has a deep passion for integrating technology in creative ways, especially within the library setting. Megan’s proficiency in artificial intelligence has been pivotal in enhancing digital content and marketing strategies. Megan demonstrated how ChatGPT can revolutionize content creation and creative tasks in the library environment. Her presentation highlighted some of her experiments using ChatGPT in event planning, copywriting, and marketing at the library.
August 20, 2024: AI Research Tools Petting Zoo
Mozhdeh Khodarahmi (Associate Library Director of Access, Instruction, and Research Services) and Brigid McCreery (Research and Instruction Librarian) from Macalester College presented. Mozhdeh has been immersing herself in the study of artificial intelligence since early 2023 and undertook a project recently to test AI tools designed to help academic researchers with literature reviews and hypothesis generation. In this session, attendees learned how to leverage two powerful AI academic search tools: Elicit and Semantic Scholar, as well as two AI visual representation and literature mapping Tools: ResearchRabbit and Open Knowledge Maps.
- View recording of AI Research Tools Petting Zoo
- AI Research Tools for Library Handout
- AI Research Tools Petting Zoo Presentation Slides
August 6, 2024: The Promise and Perils of Generative AI: What You Need to Know
Laura Allen (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She conducts research on how people learn with text and discourse, using AI and data science to model student learning and provide personalized feedback based on students' language in educational technologies. Allen kicked off the AI Knowledge Bytes series with an introduction to generative AI in various domains, highlighting innovative applications and the significant advancements it has enabled. Additionally, she addresed the complex set of challenges posed by this rapidly evolving technology, considering ethical, societal, and technical perspectives.
More About the Series
This event is organized by the Minitex Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community of Interest. We are a group of Minitex staff from across different units who are all interested and enthusiastic about the intersection of AI and libraries. We create learning opportunities such as webinars, discussion forums, and articles, with an emphasis on tangible applications of AI at the local level.