Andrew K. Pace

ARL Unbound is a new column by Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Executive Director Andrew K. Pace, in which he talks with ARL members at the forefront of leading issues in research libraries. This month, Pace sits down with Alexia Hudson-Ward, university librarian and dean of Georgetown University Library, an elected member of the American Antiquarian Society, and the incoming president of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

As artificial intelligence aspires to reshape many aspects of daily life, including research and education, the same question is being asked: Will libraries survive? The answer is not only yes, but that libraries are more important than ever. Far from becoming obsolete, libraries are essential to guiding society and its citizens through this transformation, ensuring that AI is used ethically, equitably, and in ways that advance and preserve knowledge and social well-being.