From AI Shakespeare to Family Trees: 10 Unique Program Ideas to Teach Digital Literacy

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To help library workers teach adults about digital literacy and topics like AI that are swiftly becoming part of daily life, the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office offers a free webinar series, “Media Literacy Education for Adult Audiences: Architecture of the Internet,” which focuses on topics in the recently published Media Literacy for Adults: Architecture of the Internet Programming Guide.

Topics of the five webinars are “Demystifying AI,” “Navigating Data Security and Privacy,” “Decoding Algorithms,” “Navigating the Attention Economy,” and “Exploring ChatGPT and Conversational AI.”

Both the web series and the guide offer suggestions for library programs that make education about media literacy and the architecture of the internet engaging and informative. 

Here are 10 ideas from the webinar series, suggested by library workers who’ve found success implementing these programs.

1. Host an AI book talk or club.

Books centered on artificial intelligence or algorithms can lead to lively discussions. Possible books to feature at a book talk, or as part of a book club about technology, include “Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines” by Joy Buolamwini or “Brave New Worlds: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing)” by Salman Khan. Consider also a list of recommended books from the Toronto Public Library.

2. Pass out security bookmarks.

To remind patrons about data security and privacy, pass out easy-to-create bookmarks with reminders about online security. Erin Kennedy, digital innovation manager at the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri, said her library created a bookmark series called “Is It Legit?” featuring different  online traps and scams.

One bookmark in the series addresses AI search result scams, in which schemers use AI to manipulate search engine results, making them appear to come from legitimate companies. Another bookmark in the series covers fake social media accounts. 

3. Demonstrate AI differences.

If a library staff member is an expert in or at least very familiar with AI platforms, ask them to create videos of, or show in real time on a computer screen, the differences between various AI platforms that have a similar purpose. For example, to demonstrate different chatbot programs, show patrons how to use Perplexity vs. ChatGPT. To demonstrate AI image generators, show DALL-E vs. Adobe Firefly or Canva. You can objectively share the pros and cons of each without needing to endorse a particular program or company.

4. Plan a digital expo.

Fiona O'Connor, senior services specialist in digital literacy initiatives at the Toronto Public Library, described her library’s successful two Digital Expo events tied in to Digital Inclusion Week, which promotes digital literacy and inclusion. The events featured local agencies and industry leaders in AI, data privacy, and online misinformation, with keynote talks, panel discussions and exhibitors that focused on digital safety and “championing truth in the digital era”.

5. Explore the intersection of AI and the arts.

O'Connor said the Toronto Public Library partnered with a local festival to showcase creativity and AI. One event featured a concert by jazz musicians and a software artist who combined live performance with computer-generated imagery. As the band played, AI-powered software created images on a screen behind them. An interactive portion of the concert featured a polling app that gave audience members the option to choose different music genres and instruments, and the band had to quickly adjust. An expert in music theory and technology posed questions in between songs.

Another event during the festival featured a panel of artists from different disciplines (visual arts, music and writing).  The conversation focused on“pushing the boundaries of creativity” by integrating AI into their work. 

6. Teach AI by creating a Shakespeare play. 

All the world’s a stage, and AI, with apologies to Shakespeare, can be one of the players. Kristen Calvert, central library and events administrator for the Dallas Public Library, said her library’s annual summer Shakespeare Renaissance Fair included a session to help people understand how chatbots work (as well as what the platforms’ limitations are) by asking ChatGPT to write a play in Shakespeare’s style. “Much Ado About AI”? “A Comedy of AI Errors”?  

7. Or teach Shakespeare by creating a ‘Bridgerton’-style article using AI.

Calvert said the Dallas Public Library also hosted a Bridgerton-themed ball based on Netflix’s hit Regency-era streaming drama, and because they used a grant to fund the event, needed to give it an educational bent. “We had to find a way to tie it to Shakespeare,” she said.  “Some Bridgerton plot lines are inspired by Shakespearean plays, so employees used AI to create a gossipy news tabloid about Shakespearean characters — an elaborate task that would have taken staff too long to come up with on their own." The paper, similar to the scandalous one Lady Whistledown writes in the series, wasn’t simply a prop, however: People actually read and enjoyed it, Calvert said.

8. Devise an AI-generated menu.

A surefire draw to any library event is snacks, so consider a food program that’s also educational. Serve a variety of foods and drinks, then ask ChatGPT or another chatbot how to pair them. Encourage people to try the pairings, then evaluate how successful the pairings are. Orange juice and Oreos? Milk and potato chips?

9. Design an AI newspaper.

Partner with a local news affiliate to brainstorm story ideas for a library newspaper as part of a public program. Ask ChatGPT to generate possible headlines, story summaries, photo captions or publication titles. Local news experts can also lead discussions on disinformation and misinformation, and discuss the ethics of using AI to create news stories or images.   

10. Branch out with bots to create a family tree.

Artificial intelligence can make genealogy research easier for people interested in discovering more about their family trees. If a genealogy researcher familiar with AI is available on staff or in the community, host a class or develop guidelines on how to use AI for such tasks as finding, transcribing or translating records; analyzing or organizing images; or matching data about people in different databases. “Using AI in Family History Research” from the New Jersey State Library can help you get started.