LIBER Launches a Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence

The Hague, July 9 – LIBER is launching a dedicated taskforce to investigate Artificial Intelligence (AI) developments across the research library field, strengthen its strategic approach to AI-related matters, and provide hands-on guidance for librarians to take on the leading role in AI literacy.  

AI is seen as a disruptive force for research and higher education. Addressing the rising challenges, the newly established LIBER AI Taskforce was created out of the pressing need and ambition to explore and implement an agenda on AI within the current LIBER Strategy 2023-2027.  The Taskforce was formally launched during the LIBER Strategy Update Session at the LIBER Annual Conference 2025 in Lausanne, Switzerland, with an address delivered by LIBER Vice-President Dr Giannis Tsakonas. It was subsequently presented in the LIBER Spotlight Session by Sara Kjellberg, Director at Malmö University Library and Chair of the LIBER AI Taskforce.

An important contribution of libraries lies in supporting informed and reflective use rather than uncritical adoption, while upholding core values such as transparency and reliability. Notably, AI occurrences are already investigated, and addressed across LIBER – whether it is from the perspective of copyright, publishing, research data management, or other – each Working Group provides new insights to AI matters from their domain and field of expertise. For example, the LIBER Copyright and Legal Matters Working Group hosted a webinar on the EU AI Act earlier this year, dissecting the legal terminology and exploring real-case library examples for AI guidelines. The critical step that the AI Taskforce takes is to bridge all these investigations while formulating a strategic layer.

Sara Kjellberg

The characteristics of this Taskforce are: 

• To speak on AI and research libraries’ matters at the European and global levels. 

• To collaborate with LIBER members and partnering organisations on AI and research libraries’ matters. 

• To operate as an umbrella to connect existing activities on AI in LIBER Working Groups and implement additional tactical and operational activities. 

The initiative will operate alongside LIBER Steering Committees, with the vision of embedding AI in the next LIBER Strategy after 2027. Enabling a concerted approach, the Taskforce will collaborate with LIBER Working Groups and the LIBER Quarterly with the aim of developing a work plan for the coming 2 years. This next phase will be led by Karin Rydving, Assistant Director at Oslo University Library and a member of the LIBER AI Taskforce. 

We look forward to sharing further updates and engaging the broader LIBER community in the AI investigation and activities that follow.