Meet Elaine Kong - Visiting AALL George Strait Fellow

The Lillian Goldman Law Library recently hosted Elaine Kong, American Association of Law Libraries, George Strait Fellow. We were curious as to Elaine's path in law libraries and technology and she was gracious to answer our many questions.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Elaine Kong, and I’m a second-year PhD student in Library and Information Science (LIS) at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Computing and Information. My academic and professional background is in library technology, information systems, and AI-driven solutions, with a strong focus on how emerging technologies can enhance research, information discovery, and accessibility.

Prior to Pitt, I worked as the Systems Librarian at Georgetown Law Library, where I managed integrated library systems (Alma), optimized discovery services (Primo VE), and collaborated with teams to improve user access to digital resources. My experience in library technology strategy, data analytics, and system customization has shaped my research interests, particularly in AI-human collaboration, decision-making, and information quality.

My current research explores how individuals interact with AI-driven information systems in high-stakes environments, including how cancer survivors in underserved communities seek trustworthy health information. Beyond that, I’m also interested in misinformation and information quality on social media platforms, studying their role in shaping decision-making and user trust. My work aims to design AI-enhanced information systems that are inclusive, transparent, and trustworthy. Being embedded in a law library setting through the George Strait Fellowship has allowed me to apply this lens to the legal context.

How did you develop an interest in libraries and technology?

My interest in libraries and technology began with a curiosity about how systems work behind the scenes to make information discoverable. In my early roles, I was drawn to the challenge of making complex systems more efficient and accessible for users. I enjoyed solving problems, optimizing workflows, and ensuring equitable access to information through the thoughtful use of technology.

As I moved into research, my focus expanded to understanding how people engage with information systems, particularly how trust, bias, and misinformation shape their experiences. Using natural language processing (NLP) techniques like Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) for topic modeling, I’ve worked on identifying patterns of misinformation on social media and examining the cognitive and behavioral dimensions of how users assess credibility in digital environments. This has strengthened my commitment to building systems that support informed, evidence-based decision-making.

Please describe your activities as a George Strait Fellow at the Lillian Goldman Law  Library.

As a George Strait Fellow, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to several exciting technology initiatives at the Lillian Goldman Law Library. My main projects include:

• Designing a practical AI workshop series to help patrons build critical awareness and practical skills for engaging with generative AI tools in research and writing.

• Exploring OCR tools to enhance the automation and accuracy of digitized legal texts in Open Scholarship Repository. By improving OCR performance, we aim to make collections more searchable and accessible.

• Participating in the preparatory phase of the integrated library system (ILS) implementation by attending training sessions, weekly update meetings, and familiarizing myself with the system transition timeline. I’m especially interested in contributing to the data analytics reporting efforts and look forward to becoming more actively involved as the process unfolds.

This fellowship has allowed me to apply AI research in a law library setting, where I can bring together my expertise in technology, systems design, and user education within the context of legal information services.

What has been the most interesting or rewarding part of your experience so far?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience has been seeing how technical innovation and user engagement intersect in the legal information environment. Law libraries play a critical role in supporting research and access to justice, and it’s been meaningful to contribute to initiatives that improve efficiency, transparency, and user understanding.

I’ve especially enjoyed developing a practical AI workshop series, which has opened thoughtful discussions about how AI can be responsibly used in legal research and writing. It’s also been rewarding to explore OCR automation, which is a project that directly connects technology with improving long-term access to publications and scholarships.

Other than these projects, I’ve really valued working with the library technology team during our weekly meetings. We regularly brainstorm ideas and experiment with generative AI tools to improve workflows, whether that’s addressing cybersecurity concerns, detecting misinformation, creating service desk schedules, or evaluating platforms like Microsoft Azure to explore solutions for indexing bulletins. The dynamic within the team is incredibly supportive and collaborative, and I’ve found the mix of structured projects and creative problem-solving to be both energizing and deeply rewarding.

      How about your future aspirations?

Looking ahead, I hope to continue researching and developing AI-enhanced information systems that support trustworthy and inclusive access to information. My interests lie in designing technologies that help users navigate misinformation, assess information credibility, and make well-informed decisions, particularly in high-stakes contexts.

While my current research is more aligned with health information and social media environments, I see strong parallels in the legal field, where clarity, accuracy, and trust are equally essential. I’m excited to continue working at the intersection of AI, information behavior, and system design, and to support libraries in shaping technology strategies that reflect both technical innovation and human-centered values.

Overall Reflections

My time as a Fellow has been a transformative experience that deepened my understanding of law librarianship, library technology, and the evolving role of AI in legal information services. With a background in library systems and LIS research, this fellowship allowed me to connect theory with practice in a meaningful and collaborative environment.

Something I found especially fulfilling was designing a Pop-Up AI workshop, which sparked thoughtful conversations about the responsible use of AI in daily library operations. An equally enriching experience was the opportunity to collaborate with the library technology team. Brainstorming ideas and experimenting with generative AI tools to improve workflows gave me a firsthand look at how emerging technologies can be thoughtfully integrated into practice. Although I joined the Alma Task Force, ILS transition during its preparatory phase and did not have direct system access, attending weekly meetings and training sessions gave me valuable insight into how a law library plans and coordinates major technical changes.

I leave this experience with new skills, greater confidence, and a deeper commitment to supporting innovation in academic libraries. Meeting with professional librarians across departments gave me insight into how collaboration, dedication, and cross-unit coordination drive successful projects and user-centered services.

Words can’t fully express how grateful I am. Special thanks to my mentor, Jason Eiseman,  Director, Library Technology & Planning for his generous guidance and support—and for introducing me to great places, from upscale restaurants to down-to-earth local gems. Great food, great people, great library!