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AI and Machine Learning Program

Collaborative, responsible innovation through experimentation.

At its core, the OCUL Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML) Program aims to promote responsible, ethical AIML use in the academic library environment while building related knowledge and skills across the OCUL membership and beyond. 

The program launched in 2024 and enables OCUL and its digital service arm, Scholars Portal, to grow collective expertise around specific technologies and processes through hands-on, collaborative experience.

Program Projects

In its initial two years (2024-2026), the OCUL AIML Program focuses on five projects that meet the following key criteria:

  • There is an expressed need for each project.
  • The projects provide consortial solutions.
  • The projects range from simpler to more complex, allowing for learning and experience.
  • Each project creates reusable tools and techniques for future use.

The five key projects are:

ACE Remediation and Summaries

The Accessible Content E-Portal – known as ACE – is a Scholars Portal service that provides access to university and college library books in digitized, accessible formats. To increase the usability of ACE, this project assesses the variety of AIML tools available to assist with remediation and explores using open-source tools to create book/chapter summaries and add them to the item’s metadata.

Government Documents

Through a large-scale digitization project at the University of Toronto, a collection of government documents is available on the Internet Archive, but searchable metadata is often unavailable or limited in quality. This project uses AIML tools to provide enhanced metadata and new discovery tools to increase the accessibility and usability of the collection.

Audio to Text

Transcriptions of audio files are an essential element of digital accessibility. This project involves using the Whisper open-access automatic speech recognition system to transcribe audio files, setting up a pipeline through Scholars Portal and providing access and technical documentation to OCUL member libraries. This will allow members to quickly begin using the system on their locally hosted servers.

Enhancing Virtual Reference

Ask a Librarian is the Scholars Portal bilingual virtual reference service that connects students, faculty and researchers with real-time library and research assistance through online chat. LibraryH3lp, the software that powers the service, is developing a chatbot; this project involves analyzing and testing the tool, plus exploring the impact of chatbot service on virtual reference, with a recommendation for whether to proceed with chatbot implementation for Ask a Librarian.

Capacity Building

This project takes an evidence-based approach to understanding: current awareness, competency, knowledge and skill levels among library staff (including but not limited to library assistants, librarians, archivists, and library information technology professionals); staff perceptions about the potential implications of AIML technologies for higher education, research and scholarly publication as related to academic library service; and the education, training and professional development needed to evolve the library’s academic and research services, workflows, and professional practice for the generative AI era.

Program Team

A black and white head shot of Catherine Steeves. standing outside and smiling at the camera

Catherine Steeves
Program Director

A black and white head shot of Pieter Botha, sitting in an office space
Pieter Botha
Technical Manager

To be announced - Program Manager

To be announced - Data Analyst

In addition, the AIML Program is supported by OCUL and Scholars Portal staff members.

A black and white head shot of Amy Greenberg, standing inside an office space. She wears glasses and is smiling at the camera
Amy Greenberg
OCUL Executive Director

A black and white head shot of Kate Davis, standing in an office space
Kate Davis
Scholars Portal Director

A black and white head shot of Anika Ervin-Ward. She wears glasses and is standing in an office space
Anika Ervin-Ward
OCUL Assistant Director, Collaborative Initiatives

A black and white photo of Jacqueline Whyte Appleby, standing in an office space and smiling at the camera
Jacqueline Whyte Appleby
Scholars Portal Associate Director

A black and white head shot of Harpinder Singh, standing in an office space and next to him is a row of network servers
Harpinder Singh
Scholars Portal Associate Director, Systems and Technical Operations

A black and white head shot of Sabina Pagotto, standing inside in front of a row of windows
Sabina Pagotto
Scholars Portal Assessment and Member Engagement Librarian

Program Background

The AIML Program grew from the final report and recommended projects of the OCUL Task Force on Machine Learning and AI. Between October 2023 and May 2024, the task force consulted with a wide range of experts and reviewed current AIML developments and best practices to create an interim report and eventually its final report. 

Read more about the interim report
Read more about the final report

In addition, the task force led two events over its term:

  • A national online summit to interrogate the interim report and gather AIML ideas and challenges to inform the final report and recommended projects.
  • A hackfest at McMaster University to offer a learning and development environment for library staff of all backgrounds and skill levels to test and use the Whisper open-access automatic speech recognition system.

For More Information

For additional information or questions about the OCUL AIML Program, please email Program Director Catherine Steeves (csteeves@uwo.ca) or aimlprogram@scholarsportal.info.