ACRL Artificial Intelligence (AI) Interest Group

Hi not sure if this sort of post is allowed, please remove it not.

Last call, for a 1.5 hr "Master Class" on May 29.  Conducted by myself (Aaron Tay) , you will learn about the fundamentals of AI in academic search engine. Join 50 other researchers and librarians who have registered so far. Recordings will also be made available. Register here

Want to go deeper? Register for FORCE11 Scholarly Communication Institute (FSCI) 2025 for the week of July 21, 2025 for online courses.

Among the courses conducted, my colleague - Bella Ratmelia and I will be presenting a course on the same topic, but it will be a more in-depth look over 3 days (3 hours each).

L15  Title: AI-Powered Search in Libraries: A Crash Course on understanding the fundamentals for Library Professionals

Course chair: Aaron Tay, Singapore Management University, Head, Data Services, SMU Libraries

Course abstract

As Generative AI technology becomes increasingly integrated into academic search, it is crucial for librarians to understand the fundamental technical aspects of information retrieval and large language models (LLMs). This course offers an in-depth exploration of key concepts such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), semantic search techniques (e.g. Dense embedding bi-encoder, ColBERT) versus lexical search (e.g. TF-IDF, BM25), and LLM fundamentals. Designed specifically for information professional or researcher who are interested in learning the basics, this course equips participants with the knowledge needed to understand at a conceptual level how these new tools work, the implications of using such tools with the aim to evaluate and provide guidance to users. No coding knowledge is required.

Note: The use of AI assistance for evidence synthesis (e.g. Systematic review) is not the main focus.

Contributor

Bella Ratmelia (bellar@smu.edu.sg), Research & Data Services, Senior Librarian – (co-instructor).

Register here