International Journal of Librarianship (ISSN: 2474-3542), a publication by the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), calls for papers for a special issue on "AI and Libraries."
Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: October 1, 2026
Publication Date: December 2026
Overview
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) transitions from a theoretical concept to a cornerstone of digital infrastructure, libraries find themselves at a critical crossroads. The integration of Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Large Language Models (LLMs) offers unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize metadata creation, personalized discovery, and administrative efficiency. However, these advancements bring significant implications for privacy, algorithmic bias, and the traditional role of the information professional.
We invite researchers, librarians, technologists, and practitioners to submit original research, case studies, and conceptual papers that explore the practical applications of AI in library settings and the broader implications for the community.
Key Topics of Interest
We welcome submissions on topics including, but not limited to:
- Practical Applications of AI in the area of:
- Technical Services: Automated cataloging, metadata enrichment, and subject indexing.
- Discovery & Reference: AI-powered chatbots, voice agents, and natural language processing (NLP) for enhanced search.
- Acquisition and Collection Management: Language around AI use in license terms, predictive analytics for strategic collection management and evidence-based decision-making.
- Accessibility: Using AI to generate alt-text, transcripts, and accessible formats for diverse learners.
- Information Literacy & Education: The role of librarians in teaching AI literacy, prompt engineering, and critical evaluation of AI-generated content.
- Strategic & Ethical Implications
- AI Literacy: Frameworks for teaching students and faculty how to use AI responsibly and critically.
- Ethics & Governance: Addressing algorithmic bias, data privacy, and intellectual property in AI training sets.
- The Evolving Librarian: New roles, skillsets, and organizational structures in the "AI-first" library.
- Sustainability: The environmental and financial costs of maintaining high-compute AI infrastructure.
Submission Guidelines
All papers must include:
- Title: Concise and descriptive.
- Abstract: 100 - 250 words.
- Keywords: 4 - 6 terms for indexing.
- Format: Follow APA style in general, and Author Guideline from the journal website in particular.
- Note: When submitting your paper, please leave a note in the comment area specifying that the submission is for the AI special issue.
Generative AI Policy: Authors must disclose if and how generative AI tools were used in the preparation of the manuscript (e.g., for editing or data synthesis). AI cannot be listed as a co-author.
Submit your paper to: https://journal.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/about/submissions
Inquiries: Editor-in-Chief, Yongming Wang: wangyo@tcnj.edu; Editor, Wenli Gao: wgao5@central.uh.edu