An initiative of Leddy Library’s Research and Publishing Services Unit
The Bamboo AI Interest Group is a collaborative initiative at the University of Windsor focused on understanding the impact and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in library research, scholarly communication, and publishing. The group provides a space for shared learning, critical discussion, and experimentation around emerging AI‑enabled practices that affect library work.
Like bamboo, the group aims to grow knowledge that is resilient, adaptable, and rooted in community. Activities are exploratory and inclusive, welcoming participants with a wide range of interests and experience levels.
The group is open to all librarians, staff, and others who are interested in this area.
Activities typically take the form of:
- Discussion sessions focused on a specific theme, framework, or practice
- Webinars or facilitated conversations led by colleagues or invited guests
Recent Session
Improving OCR for Digitized Collections Using VLMs
September 11, 2026, 10-11am
Presenter: Art Rhyno
Exploring the use of Vision-Language Models (VLM) for improving Optical Character Recognition (OCR), including accuracy rates, environmental factors, and the prospect of hybrid models to reduce overhead.
Participants interested in OCR, document understanding, and AI applications in cultural heritage collections may also wish to attend the Bamboo AI Interest Group's special viewing sessions for the Fantastic Futures 2026 conference (September 15–17).
Upcoming Topics (Details Forthcoming)
Ethical Considerations for AI Integration in Academic Libraries
Friday, October 16, 2026, 10-11am
Presenter: Isabella Elias and Caitlin Gowdy
Libraries are trusted information institutions. Patrons rely on the libraries for credible information, and therefore, libraries must actively assume the responsibility of protecting patron rights and wellbeing. Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), is a contentious topic in higher education. This presentation critically examines the ethical considerations of potential AI integration in the library, and the alignment of this integration with the American Library Association’s (ALA) Core Values of Librarianship. We will discuss the main pitfalls of GenAI-use that need to be thoroughly investigated and addressed before an academic library embarks on integrating AI into library work or supporting student use of AI.
Introducing agentic AI into academic library workflows
Friday, November 6, 2026, 10-11am
Presenter: Roger Reka
Most of us have tried AI as a conversational chatbot. Agentic AI goes further: it can work through multi-step tasks inside our own files and systems. But what separates useful work from "AI slop"? In this show and tell, Roger shares how he has been using Claude Cowork (an agentic AI tool) to aid in his work. The key is staying in charge: breaking work into small, checkable steps, verifying results, and keeping accountability where it belongs, with us. Join us for real-world case examples, lessons learned, and discussion.
Does Your Data Management Plan Know You’re Using AI?
Friday, November 20, 2026, 10-11amPresenter: Berenica Vejvoda
This session is an informal conversation about where AI is starting to show up in the research data lifecycle and what that might mean for data management planning. Using the University of Windsor DMP template, and possibly the Alliance DMP evaluation rubric, we’ll walk through some of the questions researchers may want to consider when using AI for tasks such as transcription, data processing, coding, analysis, or metadata creation. We’ll talk about issues like transparency, reproducibility, privacy and confidentiality, data security, intellectual property, and human oversight, and consider whether our existing DMP questions are enough to capture how AI is actually being used in research. The goal is less about prescribing answers and more about starting a conversation about what good, transparent data management looks like as AI becomes part of everyday research practice.
Past Sessions
AI Chatbots and Reference Services in Academic Libraries
July 24, 2026, 10-11am
Presenter: Grace Liu
Examining current and emerging uses of AI chatbots in reference and research support, including benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations.
“Vibe Coding” with Gemini: Quick Results for Meaningful Work to Help You
June 11, 2026, 11:15am-noon
Presenter: Pascal Calarco
In this session, Pascal demonstrated examples of quick AI mini-projects you can do in about 30 minutes. Some examples:
- Assess University of Windsor’s research performance against its Canadian peers at the disciplinary level, over time
- With a Zotero database of books, query Alma to see which ones we have locally, look up the local LC classification and update the Zotero database
- What books are we missing in the local Omni collection to support preeminent Arts & Humanities faculty here at Windsor?
How Researchers Are Using and Questioning AI: A Discussion on Wiley’s ExplanAItions 2025
Date: March 31, 2026
Format: Discussion session
Facilitator: Grace Liu
The Bamboo AI Interest Group invites you to a discussion grounded in Wiley’s ExplanAItions 2025. This session examines how researchers are using and increasingly questioning AI across the research lifecycle, with attention to disclosure practices, trust, and emerging support needs for libraries and research and publishing services.
AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers
Format: Discussion session
Facilitator: Roger Reka
This session explored ACRL’s AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers, with a focus on shared interpretation and reflection rather than formal presentation. Participants discussed how the framework connects to professional roles, practice, and ongoing skills development in academic libraries.
Past Webinars & Special Events
Special Event: Fantastic Futures 2026 Conference Viewing Series
AI for Libraries, Archives, and Museums (AI4LAM)
September 15-17, 2026
Location: Leddy Library 4111 (former CDigS space)
Format: Hybrid conference group viewing and discussion
Organizer: Pascal Calarco
The Bamboo AI Interest Group invites University of Windsor librarians, staff, faculty, and students to participate in a special three-day viewing series featuring selected sessions from Fantastic Futures 2026: AI for Libraries, Archives, and Museums (AI4LAM).
Hosted by the Library of Congress and co-sponsored by Stanford University Libraries and the National Library of Norway, Fantastic Futures is a biennial conference and the leading international forum dedicated to artificial intelligence in libraries, archives, and museums.
Participants are welcome to attend individual sessions or join us throughout the event. Space is limited to approximately 10 participants in Room 4111.
Conference website: https://ai4lam.org/fantastic-futures/
Full conference program: https://www.conftool.org/fantastic-futures-2026/sessions.php
Featured Topics
Selected sessions will explore:
- Trustworthy AI and document understanding
- Public AI and building trust in knowledge institutions
- Secure Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for archives and custom collections
- AI literacy and competency development for librarians
- AI metadata standards and knowledge graphs
- Responsible AI for transcription and digital collections
- AI-assisted archival description and cataloguing
- Accessibility and AI-generated alt text
- AI readiness frameworks for libraries
- Public and community-governed AI infrastructure
- Ethical AI design in cultural heritage contexts
This viewing series offers a unique opportunity to engage with leading international practitioners and researchers working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, scholarly communication, libraries, archives, museums, and digital scholarship.
We hope you will join us for this special Bamboo AI Interest Group learning opportunity.
NISO Webinar Series: AI & the Research Cycle
- Phase I: Environmental Scan & Discovery - February 19, 2024
- Phase II: Data Collection & Analysis - June 11, 2025
- Phase III: Writing, Peer Review & Publishing - September 10, 2025
- ACRL AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers (2025)
- Leddy Library AI‑related workshops, guides, and events
Get Involved
Librarians or anyone else interested in participating, suggesting topics, or guest‑hosting a future session are encouraged to join the conversation and contribute ideas.