Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) has been awarded the 2026 Library of the Future Award by the American Library Association (ALA) and Information Today Inc. in recognition of its innovative programme aimed at guiding the university community through the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education.

The award, sponsored annually by the ALA and Information Today Inc., acknowledges creativity and forward-thinking in the application or development of information technology within library settings. CMU-Q’s winning initiative, known as AI2@CMU-Q, was designed to address student uncertainty over the ethical use of AI technologies in academic work. The programme combines an institutional policy framework with an immersive education approach tailored to students’ needs.

Led by Reya Saliba, instruction and outreach librarian at CMU-Q, the project was developed through collaboration among the university’s library, faculty members in arts and sciences, the Student Affairs team, and the Student Majlis. Central to the initiative is a three-tiered, traffic-light system used to communicate AI usage guidelines across various assignments: green signals permitted AI tools, yellow advises caution and use within defined parameters, and red prohibits AI assistance altogether. This visual framework has helped clarify expectations for students navigating AI use in their coursework.

Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, emphasised the library’s ongoing commitment to embracing digital tools and emerging technologies to support learning. He highlighted the library’s role in the university’s comprehensive approach to AI, extending congratulations to the AI2@CMU-Q team and the broader campus community for their joint efforts in advancing education in an AI-driven environment.

The initiative was introduced through a campus-wide campaign, including a five-day interactive event that fostered broad engagement. This campaign covered multiple facets of AI literacy, offering a platform for critical discussions on academic integrity, the functioning of AI systems, faculty expectations, and hands-on evaluations of AI tools.

Saliba noted that the issues surrounding AI extend beyond technical considerations to include ethics, information literacy, and human judgment. She underscored the unique position of libraries in facilitating these conversations, bringing together diverse viewpoints and creating spaces for thoughtful inquiry and exploration.