Will artificial intelligence replace human librarians?

views from librarians in a developing country

Abstract

This study explores whether artificial intelligence (AI) will replace human librarians, offering an analysis of the evolving role of librarianship in the AI era. The rapid advancement of AI technologies has transformed various industries, and libraries are no exception. AI-powered tools can now perform many traditional library functions such as cataloguing, reference services, and collection management more efficiently and accurately. This has sparked a debate on the potential of AI to replace human librarians. Through expert opinions from 43 librarians, the study examines the capabilities and limitations of AI in library settings, highlighting areas where AI excels and falls short. It argues that while AI can enhance the efficiency of routine tasks, it lacks the contextual understanding, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking necessary for complex information needs, personalized user interactions, and ethical decision-making that librarians provide. The study concludes that rather than replacing librarians, AI will likely serve as a collaborative tool, enabling librarians to focus on more specialized and value-added services such as information literacy education, digital scholarship, and community engagement. The study calls for reimagining the role of librarians in the AI era, emphasizing the importance of upskilling and integrating AI tools to augment, rather than replace, human expertise in libraries.