Level 1: Foundations
Build your AI foundation: how it works, how to talk to it, which tools to use, and how to think critically about what it produces.
Who this level is for
This level is for everyone. Whether you work at a reference desk or in a systems role, these five modules give you the mental models and skills you need before anything else.
What AI actually is
AI tools feel like magic until something goes wrong. Understanding how they actually work, at a nontechnical level, changes how you use them. This module gives you the mental model you need to work with AI effectively and critically.
Talking to AI effectively
Most people underuse AI because they talk to it like a search engine. This module teaches you how to actually communicate with AI, the skill that separates people who get useful results from those who don't.
Picking the right tool
There are dozens of AI tools and new ones appear weekly. This module gives you a framework for evaluating them, a practical comparison of the major tools you'll encounter, and clear guidance on when not to use AI at all.
Ethics, copyright & policy
Ethics are not separate from practical AI use; they are embedded in every decision about which tool to use, what to put into it, and what to do with what comes out. This module maps the ethical landscape you need to navigate in library work.
Critical evaluation of AI output
Librarians have been teaching critical evaluation of sources for decades. AI does not require a new framework; it requires applying what you already know to a new type of source. This module bridges that connection.