As generative AI reshapes how students access and produce knowledge, academic libraries are increasingly called upon to preserve the human dimensions of teaching and learning: critical thinking, ethical reasoning, creativity, and social engagement. This session examines how humanities-based library programming, using jazz as a pedagogical framework, can support human-centered learning in the age of AI. Drawing on the Jazz Art Writers South (JAWSFest) initiative, the presentation explores how libraries can function as active sites of public humanities, translating scholarship into embodied, communal learning experiences. Participants will consider jazz improvisation as a model for ethical adaptability, collaborative intelligence, and critical listening; skills essential for navigating AI-enhanced learning environments. The session will include guided discussion and practical examples to help attendees adapt humanities-driven programming within their own instructional and library contexts.

Presenters

• Paula Webb pwebb@southalabama.edu, University of South Alabama