Leveraging generative AI in academic libraries: a case study of the AI Story Idea Generator at the University of Lethbridge

Abstract

This paper explores the design, implementation, and initial outcomes of the AI Story Idea Generator, an interdisciplinary project developed collaboratively by the Dhillon School of Business and the University of Lethbridge Library. Created to enhance digital literacy and promote creative storytelling through artificial intelligence, this open-access initiative generates dynamic, randomized story prompts by combining predefined narrative elements stored locally in structured JSON format, enabling over 126 trillion unique story combinations. Employing a sustainable, open-source architecture free from ongoing external costs, the project exemplifies key principles of open scholarship, affordability, and ease of maintenance. This case study highlights the strategic technical decisions made to balance complexity and user accessibility, details the collaborative process involving expertise from business analytics, library science, and AI, and reports preliminary user engagement observations indicating successful promotion of AI literacy and creative exploration. The AI Story Idea Generator serves as a replicable framework for academic libraries seeking scalable and cost-effective methods of integrating generative AI technologies into educational services.