Safe Setup & the Reference Interview
Scope the question before asking AI to answer it
About This Module
The most valuable research-support work happens before a search begins: protecting patron privacy, clarifying the decision behind the question, defining scope, and choosing appropriate sources. This module uses a graphical AI tool rather than a coding tool.
What You'll Learn
- How projects, notebooks, file uploads, instructions, and connected sources work across major AI tools
- How to check the data boundary before adding content
- How to use AI to support—not replace—the reference interview
- How to separate search concepts, controlled vocabulary, filters, and unanswered questions
- How to disclose AI assistance and preserve a human path
Before You Begin
Open ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Microsoft 365 Copilot—whichever tool your library is using for the workshop. Feature names and availability vary by plan. Download the workshop folder and locate WORKSPACE-BRIEF.md and sample-data/research-request.txt. Use only the supplied simulated data.
The June 2026 practice baseline for this course comes from the ACRL AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers and the ALA Guidance on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Libraries.