Registration is free but mandatory for attendance
The Library at Northwestern Qatar, in collaboration with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Information Technology (IT) section, and the IFLA Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group (SIG), is inviting librarians, researchers, and educators to participate in its upcoming Symposium at Northwestern Qatar.
The IFLA IT section promotes the sharing of knowledge and best practices in implementing IT solutions across various library environments. Each year, the IFLA IT section conducts symposiums in different locations to enhance global outreach. IFLA AI-SIG focuses specifically on integrating AI technologies in the field of library and information science (LIS). The collaboration between the NU-Q Library, IFLA IT section, and IFLA AI SIG will empower and advance Library and AI research in the Gulf region and the Global South.
By collaborating with the IFLA IT section and AI SIG, this Symposium will examine different uses of AI in libraries focusing on the Gulf region, libraries’ best practices in using generative AI and other AI models, and ethical guidelines for utilizing AI in libraries and information studies.
NU-Q Library
10:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Registration
Atrium/Main Dining Hall
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration and Coffee
Projection Theater
9:00 - 9:35 a.m. Opening Keynote
Marwan M. Kraidy
Dean and CEO, Northwestern University in Qatar
Tan Huism
Executive Director, Qatar National Library
9:40 - 10:55 a.m.
Implementation of AI Technologies in MENA Academic Libraries. This presentation will explore how AI automates library services, enhance cataloging and indexing, and provide personalized research recommendations. The speakers will discuss the growing role of chatbots, AI-driven data analytics, and predictive modeling in optimizing resource allocation and improving user experience. The discussion will also highlight key challenges, such as funding constraints, data privacy concerns, and the need for multilingual AI solutions in the MENA region.
Saif Aljabri
Sultan Qaboos University
Waleed Albadi
Majlis Oman Library
Goodhart’s Curse: How Universities Are Manipulating Research Metrics to Climb Rankings. The study by Dr. Lokman I. Meho and Elie A. Akl investigates “questionable authorship and affiliation practices” in “14 universities” using “bibliometric analysis” from 2019 to 2023. It highlights a 234% increase in total research output a 23 percentage point drop in first authorship rates, and a sharp rise in hyper-prolific authors from 23 to 177. The study also notes a surge in international collaborations and multiple institutional affiliations, raising concerns about manipulated university rankings. Compared to top-ranked universities (MIT, Princeton, UC Berkeley, Caltech), the examined institutions show abnormal publication trends that deviate from global norms. The findings call for reforms in ranking systems, publishing policies, and research integrity standards to ensure credibility in global research metrics.
Lokman MehoAI & Machine Learning for Arabic Resource Classification. Arabic language materials present unique challenges for classification and indexing. This presentation will focus on Qatar National Library’s (QNL) controlled vocabulary project, which aims to enhance AI-powered classification and subject analysis of Arabic resources. The discussion will cover the use of bilingual controlled vocabularies (Arabic-English), deep indexing techniques, and linked data solutions to improve resource discoverability on the Semantic Web. Additionally, it will explore how AI can refine prompts for more accurate classification and how these technologies compare to large language models (LLMs).
Iman Khairy WehebaChatGPT in Library Services: Hype or Useful? As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly popular, academic libraries must assess their real-world applications and limitations. This presentation will share firsthand experiences from UDST’s reference and library services team, exploring how ChatGPT has been integrated into daily workflows. Case studies will include refining emails, translating materials, automating procedural documentation, recommending books, and optimizing space utilization. The discussion will also address concerns regarding AI literacy among library staff, misinformation risks, and the potential of OpenAI’s APIs for further automation.
Rafaa AlAlwani Khadija Mahsud10:55 - 11:00 a.m. Break / Introduction to the next panel
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the role of libraries, from enhancing information access to redefining digital preservation strategies. This panel will bring together leading experts and practitioners to explore AI’s transformative potential in academic and research libraries. Panelists will discuss AI-driven natural language processing (NLP), machine learning applications, policy development, and library-led AI literacy initiatives. Tatiana Usova (Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar) - Moderator
Libraries Leading the Way: AI Partnerships and Learning Opportunities on Campuses. How are academic libraries shaping AI policies and programs at their institutions? This session will explore how university libraries are collaborating with faculty and administrators to develop AI toolkits, guidelines, and best practices for responsible AI use. Attendees will learn how libraries are offering workshops, AI literacy initiatives, and faculty training to support AI integration into research and teaching. The presentation will also highlight case studies from institutions in the U.S. and Egypt, showcasing libraries as key stakeholders in AI education and governance.
Meredith K. SabaTowards a Taxonomy of Generative AI Use in University Learning. With generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Google Bard becoming integral to student workflows, universities are struggling to define policies on their usage. This session examines how libraries can support AI literacy and help instructors integrate AI into coursework. By surveying students and faculty, the study aims to develop a structured framework—similar to Bloom’s Taxonomy—to classify AI usage in education. The goal is to guide students toward responsible AI use that enhances learning without undermining academic integrity.
Maurice HinesUsing Generative AI for NLP Tasks: Evaluating Capabilities with a Multilingual Corpus. With the increasing adoption of generative AI models, librarians must assess their effectiveness in processing and analyzing multilingual datasets. This presentation examines the use of AI tools in performing NLP tasks such as sentiment analysis, summarization, and keyword extraction on a corpus of tweets from European leaders during the early months of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The discussion will highlight the strengths and limitations of AI models in handling multilingual data, the role of translation in AI processing, and comparisons with traditional NLP software.
Elisavet ChantavaridouMain Dining Hall
12:00 -1:00 p.m. Lunch & Networking/Poster Session (Liya Louis)
1:00 - 1:55 p.m.
Libraries at branch campuses face unique challenges in balancing institutional alignment with local needs while also navigating the rapid advancements of artificial intelligence (AI) in library operations. This panel brings together distinguished library leaders from Carnegie Mellon University Qatar, Weill-Cornell University Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar, Georgetown University Qatar, and Qatar National Library to discuss the critical issues shaping the future of academic libraries in the MENA region.
Panelists will explore three core themes:
Tatiana Usova
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
Jamie Gray
Weill-Cornell University Qatar
Jacqulyn Williams
VCUarts Qatar
Jamillah Scott-Branch
Georgetown University Qatar
Tan Huism
Qatar National Library
1:55 - 2:00 p.m. Break / Introduction to the next panel
2:00 - 2:45 p.m.
Panel 4: IFLA IT Section Updates
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the library and information science field, the intersection of AI and information technology (IT) presents both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. This panel brings together experts from the IFLA IT Section—Cory Lampert, May Chang, and Dr. Hasna Askhita—to explore how AI and IT are converging to enhance library operations, improve user experiences, and redefine digital access and preservation strategies.
3:00 - 3:50 p.m.
This panel brings together AI-focused librarians from New York University’s global network, representing its three degree-granting campuses—New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai. Amani Magid (NYU Abu Dhabi), Grace Adeneye (NYU Abu Dhabi), Yun Dai (NYU Shanghai), Hebah Emara (NYU Tandon School of Engineering), and Carol Choi (NYU Bobst Library, New York) will discuss how AI programming has evolved within their respective libraries over the past two years, reflecting on successes, challenges, and lessons learned.
Each campus has developed AI programming tailored to its local community, faculty expectations, and regulatory landscape. While there are shared goals, differences in infrastructure, availability of AI tools, and educational needs have shaped unique approaches to AI integration.
Amani Magid
NYU Abudhabi
Grace Adeneye
NYU Abu Dhabi
Yun Dai
NYU Shanghai
Hebah Emara (via Zoom)
NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York
Carol Choi (via Zoom)
NYU Bobst Library, Manhattan
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. QNL Tour (Registration required)
Atrium / Main Dining Hall
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration and Coffee
Projection Theater
9:00 - 9:45 a.m.
Discussion on AI's transformative role in library services and academic research.
Andrew Cox
University of Sheffield
Elisavet Chantavaridou
NUniversity of Macedonia
Iman Khamis
Director of the Library, Northwestern University in Qatar
Xuemao Wang (via recording)
Northwestern University
Steve Witt (via recording)
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
9:45 - 10:00 a.m. Break / Introduction to the next panel
10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
An in-depth presentation of Qatar National Library’s ongoing AI projects and initiatives.
Christopher Alario
Northwestern University in Qatar
Hany Abdellatif
QNL, Information Technology
Arif Shaon
QNL, Digital Collections
Marcin Werla
QNL, Director of Digital Collections
10:50 - 11:00 a.m. Break / Introduction to the next panel
11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
This panel brings together leading experts in AI, libraries, and digital preservation to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming libraries, research workflows, and knowledge management. The discussion will highlight the role of AI in automating metadata management, enhancing researcher profiles, supporting digital preservation, and fostering AI literacy.
Application of machine learning for the digital preservation of historical records in India.
Sanghamitra DalbeheraAI education initiatives at the Museum of Islamic Art Library.
Susan Parker-LeavyHow AI can streamline faculty committee service and research visibility
Jason GlennInnovative use of AI to enhance makerspace functionalities in libraries.
Sayed Mahmoud (via Zoom)Main Dining Hall
12:20 - 1:20 p.m. Lunch & Networking
1:20 - 2:30 p.m.
This panel brings together leading experts in artificial intelligence, digital libraries, and information science to explore the transformative impact of AI on library systems, archival preservation, and knowledge dissemination. The discussion will focus on how AI-powered tools are reshaping research workflows, Open Educational Resources (OER), digital classification, and library automation while addressing the ethical and operational challenges in adopting AI technologies.
This presentation examines how ChatGPT, Copilot, and other AI models are revolutionizing OER adaptation in academic libraries by enhancing accessibility, language translation, and content customization.
Dhanya Lijo (in-person)
University of Doha for Science & Technology
Rebecca Herwatic Leonhard (via Zoom)
Colgate University, NY
This talk highlights how Machine Learning (ML) and AI-driven tools have modernized library membership, book circulation, reference services, and collection management in digital libraries, particularly at SLIIT.
D.G.K. Katugampala (via Zoom)
Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
Syamili’s research evaluates ChatGPT’s effectiveness in generating MARC records, Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), Universal Decimal Classification (UDC), and Colon Classification (CC) schemes, discussing AI’s role in cataloging accuracy and hybrid human-AI workflows.
Syamili C. (via Zoom)
University of Calicut
This talk explores Intelligent Library Processes and their role in transforming libraries.
Abderrahmene Kalem (via Zoom)2:30 - 2:35 p.m. Break/Introduction to the next panel
2:35 - 3:30 p.m.
This panel brings together experts in artificial intelligence, library science, digital archiving, and equity in information access to explore the transformative role of AI in libraries across different global regions. The discussion will address how AI is reshaping library services, digital preservation, and knowledge accessibility while tackling ethical and structural challenges in the field
Discussion about AI literacy programs, AI-driven exhibitions, and AI-enhanced library services, sharing insights from Chapman University’s initiatives, including AI in art, predictive analytics, and research assistance.
Esraa Nawar (via Zoom)This presentation will examine the digital divide in African libraries, highlighting barriers to AI adoption, structural inequalities, and the role of AI in fostering sustainable and inclusive development
Iaguba Djalo (via Zoom)Explore how AI automates metadata extraction and improves archival accessibility using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), with a case study from Mohamed VI Library Archives.
Khawla El Akkili (via Zoom)3:30 - 3:35 p.m. Break / Introduction to the next panel
3:35 - 4:15 p.m.
A hands-on workshop guiding participants through the creation of a Book Recommender System using Python.
Iman Khamis4:15 - 4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks
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