Library 2.0 just announced a free AI workshop today at Noon, plus one new one for Friday.

What You Need to Know about AI: The Library 2.0 2026 "AI and Libraries" Overview: Where We Are Now [Library 2.0 with Crystal Trice] TODAY, Tuesday, February 17 from 12-1 | Register

Artificial intelligence is changing faster than most of us can keep up with. If you work in libraries, you've probably wondered what's real and what's hype, or what any of this means for the work you care about.

This free one-hour webinar offers a calm, non-technical look at where AI stands right now, including emerging trends in how it’s being used, how work is beginning to shift, and the real questions showing up in libraries.

We'll also bring your colleagues' voices into the conversation. When you register, you'll have a chance to respond to a short survey, and we'll share what people are curious about, concerned about, and hoping to understand better.

In this free webinar, you will:

Understand how AI has moved from experimental to practical, in plain language
See current trends in how libraries and other organizations are using AI
Hear what your peers are thinking, based on anonymous survey responses
Identify practical questions worth discussing with your team or organization
Leave with a clearer sense of what to pay attention to next, without overwhelm

This session is open to library staff, leaders, trustees, partners, and anyone curious about how AI is shaping library work and services. No technical background needed.

This is a live, online 1-hour event. Attendance is not required. The recording and the slide deck will be released immediately to registrants for unlimited post-event viewing.

How to Think About AI: Preserving Library Values in the Age of AI [Library 2.0 with Crystal Trice] Friday, February 20 from 12-2 | Contact Gail.Hurley@ct.gov for registration information.

How to Think About AI" offers library professionals a grounding framework for navigating artificial intelligence in an era of rapid technological change. Rather than chasing every new AI development, this session helps you build lasting conceptual foundations—understanding what AI actually is (and isn't), recognizing the tradeoffs between automation and human connection, and developing critical evaluation skills that will serve you regardless of how the technology evolves. Through relatable examples ranging from robot baristas to library self-checkout machines, you'll explore how libraries have always balanced efficiency with human interaction, and why slowing down to think is a core professional skill.

This two-hour foundation session equips you with practical mental models for thinking clearly about AI's role in library work. You'll learn to distinguish between generative and predictive AI, apply frameworks like SIFT for evaluating AI-generated content, and consider principles for responsible use and disclosure. More importantly, you'll develop the confidence to approach AI not as something that replaces human judgment, but as a tool that requires it. Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or looking to establish clearer boundaries around its use, this session provides the conceptual toolkit you need to move forward thoughtfully.

For any questions, please contact Gail Hurley at Gail.Hurley@ct.gov or

860-704-2223

CT State Library is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.