The "Library Managers Workshop and Ordinary General Assembly," organized by the Anatolian University Libraries Consortium (ANKOS), was held on June 16 at Marmara University. The event, themed "Academic Libraries and Artificial Intelligence," addressed the impact of artificial intelligence on library services, the role of emerging technologies in accessing information, and processes of institutional branding. The event brought together academics, library managers, and information professionals.
In his opening speech, Marmara University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt emphasized that the transformation of university libraries through artificial intelligence technologies plays a decisive role in the future of information services. Highlighting that libraries are no longer merely access points to information but also key actors in areas such as information security, open science, digital archiving, and academic transparency, Prof. Dr. Kurt stated: “Universities must not only use these technologies but also serve as institutional minds that shape their direction.”
Dr. Önder Bayır, Head of the Department of Library and Documentation at Marmara University, expressed his pleasure at hosting the workshop. Noting that the university offers active library services at all its campuses, Bayır highlighted its strong infrastructure in printed, digital, and rare collections. He emphasized the critical role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of libraries.
ANKOS President İsmail Çetinkaya also pointed out that academic libraries in Turkey closely follow AI technologies and are rapidly implementing them. Stressing that artificial intelligence is one of the most important tools for shaping the future of library services, Çetinkaya remarked: “At ANKOS, we quickly translate AI research into practice and directly implement these technologies.” At the end of the opening remarks, Rector Prof. Dr. Kurt presented a plaque of appreciation to ANKOS President Çetinkaya.
Following the opening session, the first panel titled “University Libraries and Artificial Intelligence” was held. Moderated by Dr. Sami Çukadar, Library Director at Istanbul Bilgi University, the panel featured speakers Alper Menemenlioğlu from Kadir Has University, Çiğdem Sönmez from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, and Emrullah Uğur from Istanbul Aydın University.
In the second session, Prof. Dr. Ebru Özgen from Marmara University's Faculty of Communication, Department of Public Relations and Publicity delivered her presentation titled “Branding in Libraries in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
The event concluded with the ANKOS Ordinary General Assembly and elections held after the lunch break.
