Daily Reading

 In a recent Elsevier piece titled Librarians as Guides in the Age of AI (October 2025), the narrative takes a reflective turn—acknowledging that librarians today stand at a fascinating crossroads. For decades, we have helped scholars navigate databases, catalogues, and journals. But now, with artificial intelligence entering every corner of research and learning, the librarian’s compass needs to point toward a new North: guiding users through an AI-driven information world.

The article draws from the discussions at the Library Futures Forum, held during the ACRL Conference earlier this year, where librarians openly examined what it means to remain relevant in the age of generative AI. What emerged was a shared understanding that AI is no longer a distant trend; it is an everyday reality in classrooms and research labs. About 28% of students, it notes, use AI daily or every couple of days—another 28% at least weekly. No wonder libraries now feel the pressure to redefine their purpose.

A new kind of literacy is becoming essential. The familiar skills of evaluating journal quality and reference authenticity must now expand to include evaluating AI outputs. Librarians are being called to teach students how to question machine-generated summaries, how to test for bias, and how to craft prompts that yield reliable information. The Elsevier report also points out an unsettling gap: nearly 70% of librarians admit they do not yet feel ready to adopt generative AI tools within the next year. It’s a sobering reminder that the profession must invest heavily in its own AI education.

By the way, the article makes a compelling argument that assessment in education will also need rethinking. If AI can write essays, generate summaries, and even solve problems, then universities might have to lean more on creativity, oral communication, and collaborative projects—forms of assessment that reveal human judgment beyond the reach of machines. And this is where the librarian’s role, as a facilitator of learning, becomes crucial again.

The conversation about tools is equally important. Librarians are asking for AI systems that are transparent, trustworthy, and built upon credible content sources. They want to ensure that the technology integrates smoothly with existing systems and still keeps the human in the loop. The underlying message is clear: libraries must not surrender their ethical and educational mission to black-box systems.

In the larger context, this Elsevier article captures the transformation of librarianship from custodianship to guidance. It calls for professional development, AI literacy, and proactive participation in shaping institutional AI policies. Rather than reacting to AI’s impact, librarians are encouraged to anticipate it—understand how these systems work, where they falter, and how they can be aligned with the core values of openness and equity that libraries have always stood for.

For those of us in India, the message feels timely. Our academic libraries, too, must start mapping how AI could enhance their operations—be it in discovery systems, metadata processing, or research support. Librarians here need structured programmes in AI literacy to evaluate new tools and train students effectively. And above all, institutions should begin drafting clear policies for responsible AI use within academic environments. The journey will not be easy, but it is inevitable—and deeply meaningful.

Because at its heart, this transition is not about technology; it’s about trust. In a world where machines can mimic intelligence, librarians are needed more than ever to guide inquiry, question sources, and keep the human touch alive in knowledge discovery.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Izaq4qfuRLxJeGCPS5pte4?mode=ems_copy_t

References:
[1] https://www.elsevier.com/connect/librarians-as-guides-in-the-age-of-ai