Jean Harripersaud

I'm the Gen AI Librarian with 32 years of experience working in libraries — the last 20+ years at the New York Public Library, where I served in a variety of roles including Managing Librarian and Adult/Reference Librarian. I hold an MLS from Queens College and an MPA from Baruch College. Now retired from the library system, I've turned my attention to the intersection of two things I care deeply about: the enduring mission of libraries and the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. My work focuses on helping libraries thoughtfully integrate AI into how they serve their communities. That means thinking through the hard questions most institutions are just starting to ask: How do staff build comfort and confidence with new tools, without feeling overwhelmed or replaced? How do we protect patron privacy and uphold equity of access while still embracing genuine innovation? How do we teach AI literacy to patrons of every age and background, without leaving anyone behind? I've written a four-part series, Integrating AI into Libraries, including: Generative AI for Librarians: An Introductory Guide, A Librarian's Guide to AI-Enhanced Reader's Advisory: Your First Steps, A Librarian's Guide to AI-Enhanced Reference Service: Your First Steps, and A Librarian's Guide to AI-Enhanced Collection Development: Your First Steps. At the core of everything I do is a simple belief: AI is a genuinely powerful assistive tool in the library's toolkit — it is not a replacement for librarians, and it needs to be integrated thoughtfully and effectively to enhance and further the library's mission. Whether you're a librarian looking for practical guidance, a library leader navigating a major decision, or simply someone curious about what AI means for the future of libraries, I'm here to help you think it through.