Anticipating Tomorrow: How the University of Delaware is Preparing for an AI-Driven World

Abstract

In February 2025, the University of Delaware (UD) Library, Museums, and Press launched a focused exploration of how artificial intelligence (AI) could shape the future of their work across libraries, museums, and publishing. With AI technologies evolving rapidly and reshaping how knowledge is produced, accessed, and preserved, UD convened its senior leadership team for a half-day strategic planning retreat grounded in foresight, collaboration, and scenario-based thinking. Guided by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) AI-Influenced Futures Scenarios, participants explored the challenges and opportunities that AI could present over the next decade and worked together to surface robust strategies to help the Libraries, Museums, and Press navigate this complex and shifting landscape. This article shares the goals, structure, strategic insights, and outcomes from that retreat and outlines how scenario planning can be a useful tool for an organization grappling with uncertainty in the age of AI.