Instructor: Cathryn Copper
Date and Time: Thursday, October 23rd and Friday, October 24th, 2025 / 1:00pm - 3:30pm ET
ONLINE
Workshop fee : $50 VRA members/ $65 non-VRA members
Registration capped at 40
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
This workshop introduces visual resource professionals to the evolving world of text-to-
image generative AI—technologies that are reshaping art, design, and digital collections.
These tools offer exciting possibilities for inspiration and representation, but
they also raise complex questions about authorship, ethics, and the role of human
creativity.
Through hands-on exploration, discussions, and case studies, we will examine:
• How generative AI tools work, their capabilities, and their limitations
• The ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated imagery
• The intersection of traditional artistic methods and AI-assisted creation
• The responsibilities of visual resource professionals in collecting, curating, and
critically evaluating AI-generated images
We will work through concepts outlined in the AI for Image Research Guide, using them
as a foundation for deeper conversations about the future impact of generative AI on
visual resources. The workshop includes practical exercises with generative AI tools, as
well as collaborative discussions on how these technologies might integrate into our
workflows.
Whether you’re excited about AI or skeptical of its impact, this workshop is an
opportunity to explore its potential, engage in critical dialogue, and consider how visual
resource professionals can help shape its responsible use.
Bring a laptop and an open mind.
Instructor
As the Head of the Eberhard Zeidler Library at the University of Toronto, Cathryn Copper works at the intersection of libraries and technology and art, architecture, design. She has spoken on the topics of artificial intelligence and experimentation at several national conferences including the American Library Association, Association of College & Research Libraries, and South by Southwest EDU. Her talk on the use of artificial intelligence and augmented reality in libraries at South by Southwest EDU was featured as one of the “biggest and most pressing ideas.” She is the author of The Experimental Library: A Guide to Taking Risks, Failing Forward, and Creating Change, a book inspired by technology companies and startups, on how libraries can thrive through experimentation. When she is not in the library or doing research, she is busy raising two boys to be the next generation of thinkers and creators.