The Hirons Library at Goldey-Beacom College has been recognized nationally for something we take seriously every day: helping students use artificial intelligence thoughtfully and responsibly.
This spring, the library received the American Library Association’s Innovation in Instruction Award for our work teaching ethical AI use. The award, which includes a $1,000 prize, will be officially presented at the ALA Annual Conference in June.
Why This Matters
Artificial intelligence is everywhere—on your phone, in your email, in the tools you use for writing and research. But at Goldey-Beacom, we believe AI isn’t just about convenience. It’s about thinking critically, asking questions, and making informed choices.
That’s why our AI program goes beyond teaching how to use tools. We emphasize:
Ethical engagement – making sure students understand bias, privacy, and responsible use.
Critical thinking – encouraging students to verify information and not just accept outputs at face value.
Workforce readiness – preparing graduates to navigate the AI-connected professional world with confidence.
As Library Director Russell “Rusty” Michalak puts it:
“It’s not, go into the tool and take whatever the output is. It’s, here’s this tool, it gives you information—and now go verify it.”
Tools That Teach Beyond the Basics
One standout example is Litmaps, an AI tool that helps students visualize how research papers connect through citations. Instead of seeing research as a stack of isolated articles, students begin to understand scholarship as a conversation—a web of voices interacting, debating, and building knowledge together.
Provost Joel Worden explains:
“Litmaps is a really useful way of helping students see what we mean by scholarship being a conversation of different scholars interacting with each other’s works.”
Other tools in our AI suite, like Grammarly EDU, Scholarcy, and ImageFX, give students practical ways to build skills in writing, summarizing, and creative expression—all framed through the lens of ethics and information literacy.
Years in the Making
Although AI may feel like a brand-new phenomenon, Goldey-Beacom has been teaching AI literacy for years. Our first AI tool was adopted before the pandemic, and what started with just a few classes quickly grew into an institution-wide initiative.
That steady growth—and the library’s leadership in making AI equitable and accessible for all students—caught national attention.
A Win for Students
This award isn’t just recognition for the library. It’s recognition for our students, who are learning to use AI not as a shortcut, but as a skillset. By practicing ethical AI use now, they are better prepared to thrive in classrooms, in careers, and in civic life.
Listen to the Full Story
Want to hear more about how Hirons Library is leading in ethical AI education? 🎙️ Listen to the full interview with Delaware Public Media’s Martin Matheny, featuring Russell Michalak and Joel Worden, here:
👉 Goldey-Beacom College’s Hirons Library earns national recognition for teaching ethical AI use
