Generative AI in Action: Practical Strategies at MLA ’26 — Hands On CE Course

Submitted by: Debra Cavanaugh

Rather than chasing every new AI tool or headline, this hands‑on course helps librarians build durable, transferable skills for evaluating and using generative AI responsibly. Designed for medical and health sciences librarians, the session focuses on practical AI literacy—what these tools can do, where they fall short, and how they can support teaching, research, scholarly communication, and library workflows.

Led by Laura Hall, MFA, MBA, Division Head for Resources, Archives & Discovery at the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center, the course features demonstrations, real‑world case studies, hands‑on activities, and a collaborative mini “promptathon.” Participants will leave with clear strategies for evaluating AI tools, improving prompting, and confidently guiding students, faculty, and clinicians in ethical and effective AI use.

Participants need to bring a laptop with Wi‑Fi to fully engage in course activities.

Course Details

Course: Generative AI in Action: Practical Strategies for Medical and Health Sciences Libraries – CE101

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Where: MLA ’26 in Milwaukee, WI, Baird Center

Cost: $126 MLA Members | $168 Nonmembers

MLA CE Credits: 2

Instructor

Laura Hall, MFA, MBA, Division Head for Resources, Archives & Discovery at the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center, leads UNM’s AI Crossroads program, offering faculty, staff, and students’ practical guidance and timely conversations on AI. From 2023–2025, she co-led UNM’s work on Ithaka S+R’s national Making AI Generative for Higher Education research project and has presented widely on generative AI in higher education and health sciences settings.

Register now—space is limited.