Proposing A Critical AI Literacy Framework for Academic Librarians
This article investigates the application of Critical AI Literacy in research strategies in the field of humanities, exemplified by a case study of CNKI SMART, an AI-driven feature in one of the leading databases for Chinese Studies, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). As GenAI tran...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Chinese American Librarians Association
2025-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Librarianship (IJoL) |
| Online Access: | https://journal.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/article/view/431 |
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| _version_ | 1849246250643226624 |
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| author | Cecilia Zhang Bing Wang Shuqi Ye Khamo |
| author_facet | Cecilia Zhang Bing Wang Shuqi Ye Khamo |
| author_sort | Cecilia Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
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This article investigates the application of Critical AI Literacy in research strategies in the field of humanities, exemplified by a case study of CNKI SMART, an AI-driven feature in one of the leading databases for Chinese Studies, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). As GenAI transforms information access, libraries and librarians bear increasing responsibility for fostering AI Literacy and Critical AI Literacy among patrons to support thoughtful engagement with GenAI-generated content. Addressing this critical gap, we propose a Critical AI Literacy evaluation practice—the RACBAC Standard—combining seven Critical AI Literacy Skills to assist researchers in humanities and potentially other disciplines. The RACBAC Standard evaluates GenAI outputs based on Relevance, Accuracy, Coverage, Bias, Authority, and Currency. Through a case study evaluating CNKI SMART’s responses to a given research question, we demonstrate the application of our proposed RACBAC Standards. Findings highlight the necessity of librarians’ role in assisting researchers to cross-reference and critically examine GenAI-assisted research using the proposed six standards. This article contributes to the emerging discourse on AI Literacy and Critical AI Literacy by advancing strategies that promote responsible use of GenAI tools across academic fields.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b000eb20fee430785db8a5682ad7e91 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2474-3542 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Chinese American Librarians Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Librarianship (IJoL) |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b000eb20fee430785db8a5682ad7e912025-08-20T03:58:35ZengChinese American Librarians AssociationInternational Journal of Librarianship (IJoL)2474-35422025-07-0110210.23974/ijol.2025.vol10.2.431Proposing A Critical AI Literacy Framework for Academic LibrariansCecilia Zhang0Bing Wang1Shuqi Ye2Khamo3University of Kansas, KU LibrariesUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, International and Area Studies LibraryUniversity of Minnesota Twin Cities, University LibrariesGeorge Washington University, Libraries & Academic Innovation This article investigates the application of Critical AI Literacy in research strategies in the field of humanities, exemplified by a case study of CNKI SMART, an AI-driven feature in one of the leading databases for Chinese Studies, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). As GenAI transforms information access, libraries and librarians bear increasing responsibility for fostering AI Literacy and Critical AI Literacy among patrons to support thoughtful engagement with GenAI-generated content. Addressing this critical gap, we propose a Critical AI Literacy evaluation practice—the RACBAC Standard—combining seven Critical AI Literacy Skills to assist researchers in humanities and potentially other disciplines. The RACBAC Standard evaluates GenAI outputs based on Relevance, Accuracy, Coverage, Bias, Authority, and Currency. Through a case study evaluating CNKI SMART’s responses to a given research question, we demonstrate the application of our proposed RACBAC Standards. Findings highlight the necessity of librarians’ role in assisting researchers to cross-reference and critically examine GenAI-assisted research using the proposed six standards. This article contributes to the emerging discourse on AI Literacy and Critical AI Literacy by advancing strategies that promote responsible use of GenAI tools across academic fields. https://journal.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/article/view/431 |
| spellingShingle | Cecilia Zhang Bing Wang Shuqi Ye Khamo Proposing A Critical AI Literacy Framework for Academic Librarians International Journal of Librarianship (IJoL) |
| title | Proposing A Critical AI Literacy Framework for Academic Librarians |
| title_full | Proposing A Critical AI Literacy Framework for Academic Librarians |
| title_fullStr | Proposing A Critical AI Literacy Framework for Academic Librarians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proposing A Critical AI Literacy Framework for Academic Librarians |
| title_short | Proposing A Critical AI Literacy Framework for Academic Librarians |
| title_sort | proposing a critical ai literacy framework for academic librarians |
| url | https://journal.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/article/view/431 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ceciliazhang proposingacriticalailiteracyframeworkforacademiclibrarians AT bingwang proposingacriticalailiteracyframeworkforacademiclibrarians AT shuqiye proposingacriticalailiteracyframeworkforacademiclibrarians AT khamo proposingacriticalailiteracyframeworkforacademiclibrarians |