LIBRA.I. Libraries for AI Literacy: Guiding Citizens in the Digital World

LIBRA.I. Libraries for AI Literacy: Guiding Citizens in the Digital World

1. LIBRA.I . Libraries for AI Literacy Guiding Citizens in the Digital World Iva Junakovic Prazen, LIBRA.I. Project Lead, Goethe- Institut Brussels Informatie aan ZOO 2025 , October 9th

2. What is the first word or impression that comes to mind when you think of AI in libraries?

3. Why talk about AI in l ibraries ? Growing impact of AI on information access Risks: misinformation, bias, lack of literacy Opportunities: tools for discovery, learning, and inclusion Libraries are trusted, accessible spaces where citizens can critically learn to navigate AI’s opportunities while being protected from its risks (bias, misinformation, privacy concerns, etc.)

4. E U trustworthy AI principles On 8 April 2019, the High-Level Expert Group on AI presented Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence P ublication of the guidelines’ first draft in December 2018 , on which more than 500 comments were received through an open consultation According to the Guidelines, trustworthy AI should be: (1) lawful - respecting all applicable laws and regulations (2) ethical - respecting ethical principles and values (3) robust - both from a technical perspective , while taking into account its social environment https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/d3988569-0434-11ea-8c1f-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

5. The OECD AI Principles are the first intergovernmental standard on AI They promote innovative, trustworthy AI that respects human rights and democratic values Adopted in 2019 and updated in 2024, they are composed of five value-based principles and five recommendations that provide practical and flexible guidance for policymakers and AI actors. https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/ai-principles.html

6. What is AI Literacy? A set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes people need to understand, critically engage with, and make informed decisions about AI in their personal, professional, and civic lives The ability to use AI responsibly, question it critically, and understand its social and ethical implications Davy Tsz Kit Ng, Jac Ka Lok Leung, Samuel Kai Wah Chu, Maggie Shen Qiao, Conceptualizing AI literacy: An exploratory review, Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, Volume 2, 2021,100041, ISSN 2666-920X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2021.100041

7. Key A spects of AI L iteracy Understanding AI concepts Practical skills Critical awareness Civic engagement Lifelong learning mindset

8. AI Literacy Pillars Jane Southworth, Kati Migliaccio, Joe Glover, Ja’Net Glover, David Reed, Christopher McCarty, Joel Brendemuhl , Aaron Thomas, Developing a model for AI Across the curriculum: Transforming the higher education landscape via innovation in AI literacy, Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, Volume 4, 2023, 100127, ISSN 2666-920X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2023.100127.

9. Policies National AI Strategies EU Coordinated Plan on AI

10. EU AI Policy Timeline (2018–2024) EU AI Policy Timeline (2018–2024 )

11. AI Act, Article 4: AI Literacy The EU AI Act was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 12 July 2024 It entered into force on August 1, 2024 (i.e., the effective date ). However, not all obligations applied immediately — different provisions phase in over time The AI literacy requirement (Article 4) and the ban on certain AI practices became applicable as of 2 February 2025 The full applicability of most obligations (including enforcement mechanisms) is scheduled for August 2, 2026

12. What is Article 4: AI Literacy? Core duty: ensure “sufficient AI literacy” Article 4 mandates that providers and deployers of AI systems must take measures, to their best extent, to guarantee a sufficient level of AI literacy among their staff and any persons operating or using AI systems on their behalf The obligation covers all AI systems, not only “high-risk” ones

13. What is Article 4: AI Literacy? Definition of “AI literacy” The Act (via Article 3(56)) defines it as the “skills, knowledge and understanding” allowing providers, deployers, and affected persons to make informed deployment decisions, and to understand opportunities, risks, and possible harm associated with AI systems It emphasises adapting the literacy efforts to the technical background, education, experience, training, and context in which the AI system is used

14. Implementation and compliance notes The Commission has issued a Q&A guidance clarifying expectations: training should go beyond just reading user instruction s Organisations should document their AI literacy measures (training records, content, evaluation) to demonstrate they have “taken measures.” The Q&A states that enforcement of Article 4 will start from 3 August 2026 (i.e., market surveillance authorities will be empowered then) No uniform, rigid standard of “sufficient” is mandated — it’s context-dependent (based on risk, roles, usage). The absence of compliance with Article 4 may be taken into account when assessing breaches of other provisions under the AI Act.

15. Library-Based Artificial Intelligence for Media Literac y

16. The Goethe-Institut is the globally active cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany. We promote cultural exchange, education and social discourse in an international context and support the teaching and learning of the German language. Goethe-Institut LANGUAGE CULTURE GERMANY Communicating with the world . For diversity , understanding and trust .

17. 12 Goethe-Institutes in Germany 490 Examination partners 121 Reading Rooms, partnering libraries and dialogue points 150 Goethe-Institutes and liaison offices worldwide 121 Foreign -German Learning Centres and Goethe- Centres ABOUT 1,100 POINTS OF CONTACT IN 100 COUNTRIES LOCATIONS

18. LIBRARIES Goethe- Institut Dublin Photo: © Goethe- Institut /Donal Murphy

19. AI and Digital Innovation Projects KIKUK – Artificial Intelligence Creative and Critical : Encourages students to explore the creative use of AI through participatory and critical engagement, fostering 21st-century skills. AI4Good (AI2Amplify) : Promotes open AI tools to enhance access to public health information, particularly supporting communities in the Global South. Art Meets Tech : A biweekly workshop series blending art, music, narratives, and new media with emerging technologies such as AI, Web3, Blockchain, and Machine Learning. Communities of Practice (with UCLouvain ) : Builds networks of educators and specialists to jointly develop innovative AI-based teaching approaches for German as a foreign language. DATAS – The Data and the Sovereign : Explores how computation, automation, and digital infrastructures affect personal and state sovereignty, fostering artistic and critical inquiry. EthicAI -Labs : A cross-regional collaboration on the ethics of AI and machine learning in Southeast Europe, addressing issues of privacy, propaganda, and misinformation. Goethe- institut

20. Goethe-Institut B russels Did you visit us ?

21. Biblioteka Miejska w Lodz i (Municipal Library in Lodz) is the largest cultural institution in Lodz and the most extensive library network in Poland BWwL organises cultural events, popularises reading culture, educates and uses new media Create space for readers' activities and support grassroots initiatives, as the library aims to integrate the local community

22. Independent, not-for-profit initiative on Artificial Intelligence Led by VUB and ULB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Université libre de Bruxelles ) Mission: develop, understand, and apply state-of-the-art AI technologies Focus: ethical, human-centred , and sustainable use of AI Bridging academia, public institutions, and society

23. Flemish Community Library of Brussels – central hub for information, culture, and learning Modern library and meeting place with a wide collection in Dutch and other languages Focus on lifelong learning, media literacy, and community engagement Hosts events, workshops, and cultural activities for diverse audiences Partnerships with schools, cultural institutions, and civic organisations

24. Preserves and provides access to Latvia’s cultural heritage Supports research and education with extensive collections and services Develops digital resources and promotes open access Organises exhibitions, events & cultural programmes Cooperates internationally ( Europeana , UNESCO, EU projects)

25. European project, 2024-2026: Erasmus+ Key Action 2 (KA220-ADU) for adult education National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) Goal: e quip public libraries to help citizens understand AI and digital literacy

26. Why libraries ? Libraries are crucial mediators in a digital world Rapid digitalisation and misinformation are a great challenge to citizens Libraries are trusted, accessible spaces for learning LIBRA.I. project enhances libraries' capacity for AI literacy Ensures inclusive access to digital knowledge

27. What LIBRA.I. Does? Trains librarians through interactive workshops and peer exchanges Pilots AI literacy trainings in Riga, Brussels, and Łódź — later refined and shared with other libraries Develops a practical AI literacy framework methodology tailored for public libraries Shares results and materials on European digital education platforms to support wider adoption

28. How does it work ? Co-creation: librarians, AI experts, and citizens collaborate 6 AI-ambassadors, 4 9 local MIL-library-experts , and AI-educators will redesign , test and evaluate training material in 3 libraries 3 public libraries further test and evaluate with library users

29. Bootcamps Intensive train-the-trainer format for librarians Pilots held in Brussels, Riga, and Łódź Hands-on sessions with AI tools + ethical discussions Focus: AI basics, critical thinking, and practical use cases in libraries

30. AI Literacy Bootcamp Overview An intensive train-the-trainer programme for librarians Combines AI knowledge, ethical reflection, and hands-on practice Helps librarians build confidence and become AI literacy ambassadors in their communities

31. Bootcamp Structure The bootcamp runs over two days with alternating theory and activities Focus areas: Understanding AI – concepts, limits, and biases Using AI – prompt engineering, generative tools, and detection Acting ethically – GDPR, privacy, and the AI Act Teaching others – adapting AI literacy for different audiences

32. Day 1: Exploring AI Introduction to AI: What is it and what can it do? Activities: AI Card Game – exploring AI’s strengths and limits Hallucination Detection – spotting AI errors Case Study : AI in the National Library of Finland Discussion: Seniors and AI literacy, misinformation, and deepfakes

33. Day 2: Applying AI Responsibly Focus on generative AI, prompt engineering, and AI ethics Activities: AI vs Human challenge Ethics scenarios and GDPR compliance game Cookie tracking simulation Ends with reflection and sharing use cases from libraries

34. Practical Work Example Each team receive s a different use case . Within your team , you should do the following:   Identify the legal/ethical issue   (GDPR or AI Act?) . Explain why?  Debate solutions   (What should the library do?).  Present their reasoning  to the rest of the group.  The 3 use cases:  Case 1:   " A library uses an AI chatbot to recommend books. It accidentally stores patrons’ chat histories with personal preferences. Is this GDPR-compliant?"   Case 2:   " A facial recognition system is proposed for security. Does the AI Act allow this? What safeguards are needed?"   Case 3:   " A student generates an essay with ChatGPT. The library is asked to share the student’s search history with the school. Can they?"  

35. Key Outcomes

36. Lessons Learned and Next Steps Challenge: different starting knowledge levels among participants Importance of follow-up and ongoing support after boot camp Next phase: expand to more EU libraries, multilingual resources Goal: build a sustainable network of AI-literate libraries across Europe

37. 'I don’t feel confident dealing with AI.' (Pre-bootcamp survey) 'Now I know how to detect AI-generated text and explain it to users .' (Post-bootcamp survey) Impact: Boosted confidence, critical awareness of bias, practical teaching tools

38. Challenges in Building AI Literacy Keeping AI approachable: b alancing technical accuracy with accessibility for all learners Bringing ethics to life: t urning complex AI ethics into relatable, real-world examples for seniors, migrants, and children Changing mindsets: a ddressing fears — from “AI will replace us” to “AI can empower us”

39. How You Can Engage

40. Let’s connect! Iva Junakovic Prazen, Project Lead [email protected] Website: www.librai.net LinkedIn: LIBRA.I. Libraries for AI Literacy

41. Libraries are the gateway for AI literacy in Europe. Let’s guide citizens together in the digital world.

42. Q&A