VIVA AI Webinar Series #4: Applied AI for Academic Libraries Online
Join us on August 18th, 2026, from 10am - 12pm (EST) to explore the work of integrating AI into library workflows, ethically and purposefully. The session begins with a broader framing of how libraries can shape institutional AI literacy and approach AI adoption thoughtfully, and follows with demonstrations of AI applied to specific areas of library work, ranging from metadata and collections to instruction. The webinar closes with a framework for assessing the AI tools libraries are working with, giving participants both concrete examples to draw on and a structured way to think about their own implementation choices.
Speakers
Dr. Leo Lo
Dr. Leo Lo is the Dean of Libraries and Advisor to the Provost for Artificial Intelligence Literacy at the University of Virginia. A nationally recognized leader in higher education, he specializes in AI literacy, workforce literacy, workforce development, and preparing organizations to thrive in an AI embedded future.
Corey Halaychick
Corey Halaychick is Head of Content Management at the University of Texas at Austin Libraries, where he leads operational strategy, automation initiatives, and cross-functional teams focused on modernizing technical services. His work centers on rethinking how libraries operate at scale by integrating emerging technologies, streamlining workflows, and building collaborative, future-focused teams.
He is the co-recipient of the 2018 ACRL ULS Outstanding Professional Development Award and the 2017 ProQuest Coutts Award for Innovation. He is also the founder of The Library Collective, a nonprofit community reimagining professional development for library workers through creative, accessible, and unconventional programming.
Toni Pilcher
Toni Pilcher is an educator, library researcher, and supervisor specializing in academic writing programs and instructional design. She currently serves as the Writing Programs Supervisor within the Research & Writing Center at Brigham Young University’s Harold B. Lee Library, where she leads operations, teaches library research methodologies, and trains student instructors. Additionally, she supports library instructors with instructional design and serves as an adjunct faculty member in the BYU College of Humanities English Department.
Matt Armstrong
Matt Armstrong is an Academic Advisor at Brigham Young University, currently advising undergraduate students in the BYU Liberal Arts Advisement & Careers Center. He brings a strong background in instructional design to his advisement role, holding a Master's degree in Instructional Psychology and Technology. Previously, he served as the Experiential Studio and Online Learning Supervisor for the BYU Library, where he managed student teams creating digital library instruction resources. Matt also holds an MLIS from San Jose State.
Dr. Leticia Antunes Nogueira
Dr. Leticia Antunes Nogueira is the Head of Section for Resources and Digital Services at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). An expert in the socio-economic dynamics of technological change, she previously led NTNU's Project Laibro, an initiative exploring the intersections of artificial intelligence and contemporary library services. She holds a PhD in Innovation Economics from Aalborg University (Denmark) and is engaged in exploring how AI impacts students, librarians, and academics.
AI Webinar Series
The VIVA AI Webinar Series explores the evolving role of artificial intelligence in academic libraries and higher education. Developed by the VIVA AI Task Force, the series brings together experts and library professionals to examine emerging technologies, ethical considerations, legal and scholarly implications, and practical applications of AI. Through presentations and discussion, participants gain insights, share experiences, and explore thoughtful approaches to AI that support teaching, learning, research, and library services.