Tracy Bergstrom
Senior Program Manager, Libraries & Scholarly Communication
Ithaka S+R
Jennifer Brcka
Collections Archivist; Associate Director for Archival Collections
University of Notre Dame
Sarah Cogley
Digital Collections and Repositories Librarian
University at Buffalo
Paul Whiting
Head of User, Access and Resources Services
University at Buffalo
In May 2026, Ithaka S+R launched the AI in Action cohort, bringing together twenty academic libraries to collaboratively explore, test, and assess how artificial intelligence (AI) might improve or streamline library operations. This project briefing will pair cross-institutional evidence with practical case studies to explore how libraries are navigating the opportunities and uncertainties associated with implementing AI in library operations. Ithaka S+R will first share findings from a survey of 867 library staff members across cohort institutions to highlight how library staff are using AI, where they see operational potential, and what concerns they hold about AI adoption. Representatives from two cohort institutions will then discuss the AI projects they are implementing locally, their progress to date, and the lessons emerging from their work. Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame, is deploying an AI agent as an end-to-end pipeline to expedite archival metadata creation to explore how AI can lower the initial metadata-creation threshold by handling baseline metadata parsing and allowing archivists to focus on higher-level work. The team is assessing both ethical considerations and processing rates, recognizing that even modest efficiency gains could have significant impact. The University at Buffalo Libraries is examining whether machine learning-based transcription can improve access, discoverability, and accessibility of handwritten archival collections. Informed by the project’s survey results showing cautious attitudes toward AI adoption, the team selected a focused machine-learning workflow rather than a generative AI application, allowing staff to evaluate value, risks, and implementation requirements in a controlled institutional setting.
