AI skills for tomorrow’s university librarians

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how universities conduct research and interact with information, library professionals will need the skills to engage effectively within this new landscape.

Here, I explore how generative AI (GenAI) technologies can be used to improve library services, support researchers adapting to new methodologies, and shape the future of information literacy instruction. 

Understanding the dual role of AI in research

AI is transforming research in two major ways: as a subject of study and as a tool integrated into research workflows. On one side, AI continues to evolve as an academic field, with researchers in computer and data science and related disciplines advancing machine learning and natural language processing. Meanwhile, faculty and students in all fields are beginning to rely on AI-powered tools – such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot – for tasks that have traditionally been time- and labour-intensive.

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These AI tools are already streamlining literature reviews by summarising articles and identifying key themes, assisting with data cleaning and analysis, generating code and even supporting early stages of writing and ideation. As these tools become embedded in research processes, librarians must develop the skills to evaluate, teach and guide their use responsibly.

This shift has practical implications for library roles that blend research support and instruction. Librarians are increasingly called on to co-develop workshops on AI literacy, offer one-on-one consultations on tool selection and ethical use, and contribute to curriculum development that incorporates critical AI awareness. Subject specialists and digital scholarship librarians, in particular, are becoming facilitators of AI integration – helping users understand capabilities, limitations and biases of AI tools while promoting academic integrity.

By taking on these new responsibilities, librarians ensure that their institutions engage with AI not just as a novelty but as a powerful, complex component of scholarly practice.

Building AI literacy among librarians and researchers      

Strengthening AI literacy isn’t just about staying current; it’s about empowering library staff and community to use these tools thoughtfully and effectively. While many librarians already bring a strong foundation in digital tools and critical thinking, adapting to AI means learning a new language – one that blends technology, ethics and service.

To support this growth, our library AI strategies team curates educational resources, evaluates emerging tools and leads hands-on workshops designed to build both technical and conceptual fluency. This goes beyond prompt engineering, although learning how to craft clear, strategic questions for tools such as ChatGPT is an essential skill. It also involves understanding how AI models work, recognising their limitations, navigating issues of bias and authorship, and knowing when not to use AI.

By gaining this knowledge, librarians are better positioned to guide students and faculty who turn to the library with questions about using AI in their own work. It’s about meeting people where they are, whether that means demystifying the technology, addressing ethical concerns or helping refine a research prompt.

We’re also exploring how AI can support library operations, such as digitising and describing archival collections. AI can speed up processes such as metadata generation but it doesn’t replace human judgement. Our librarians are developing the expertise to critically assess AI-generated outputs to ensure accuracy and preserve the integrity of digital collections.

As with all innovation, our approach is guided by the values that define librarianship: access, inclusion and a deep commitment to informed use.

The role of libraries in ethical AI use

As AI-generated content becomes more widespread, so do concerns around misinformation, bias and data privacy. Libraries, as longstanding champions of information literacy, are extending that mission into the realm of AI.

At Virginia Tech, librarians are incorporating AI literacy into workshops, consultations and classroom instruction. They help students and faculty critically evaluate AI-generated outputs, trace sources and identify when content may be incomplete, biased or inaccurate. For example, during research consultations, librarians may walk patrons through how a GenAI tool constructs its responses, highlighting that these outputs are not drawn from a curated database but generated based on patterns in large data sets. 

AI as a collaborative research partner

AI is not replacing human researchers; rather, it is becoming a powerful collaborator. To facilitate this transition, libraries can guide students and faculty on how to integrate AI into their research workflows. This includes:

• Harnessing AI for literature reviews: AI can scan vast databases to identify relevant papers, saving researchers significant time
• Leveraging AI for data analysis and visualisation: AI tools can process large data sets, identify patterns and generate insights that might take humans much longer to uncover.
• Using AI to create and summarise content: AI can help draft reports, summarise findings and even generate hypotheses for further exploration.

By providing training on these applications, libraries ensure that AI serves as an asset rather than a hindrance to rigorous academic research.

Preparing libraries for the future of AI

We believe that libraries need to evolve alongside AI advancements. This requires harnessing professional development, investing in AI-driven library systems, strategically integrating AI into services and creating AI-enabled offerings in collaboration with computer scientists, educators and policymakers.

Through these efforts, we are laying the groundwork for a future where librarians are not only information experts but essential AI facilitators and navigators. By furthering AI literacy, advocating for ethical AI use and equipping researchers with essential AI skills and selection strategies, libraries can remain at the forefront of knowledge dissemination in the digital age.

Yinlin Chen is assistant professor for University Libraries and assistant director of the Center for Digital Research and Scholarship at Virginia Tech. 

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