Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept for academic libraries. It’s here, reshaping workflows, enhancing discovery and empowering librarians to deliver greater value to their communities. In our recent Library Journal webinar, Academic AI in Action: Enhancing Library Services with Alma, experts from Ex Libris shared practical examples and future-forward strategies for integrating Academic AI into everyday academic library operations.
Why AI Matters for Libraries Today
Libraries have always been leaders in turning information into knowledge. Now, with the explosion of scholarly content and growing demands on library staff, Academic AI offers a powerful way to streamline repetitive tasks and free librarians to focus on what matters most: supporting research, teaching and learning.
As Tamar Ganor, Senior Alma Product Manager noted, “AI can manage vast amounts of scholarly content quickly, helping libraries adapt to changing standards and user expectations.”
From Metadata to Discovery: Smarter Workflows
One of the most compelling discussions centered on metadata enrichment. Cataloging thousands of records manually is no longer feasible. Alma’s AI-driven tools, such as the Metadata Assistant, allow catalogers to enrich records efficiently while maintaining control and transparency. By automating subject headings, abstracts and language identification, libraries can dramatically improve discoverability without sacrificing quality.
“AI is a great tool for ongoing tasks because many library workflows are repetitive. If AI can handle half of them, librarians can focus on what really matters and take their library to the next level.” Tamar Fuches, Manager, Product Management, Academia & Government
The panel emphasized that AI doesn’t replace human expertise. It complements it. Librarians remain in the loop, reviewing and refining AI-generated suggestions to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness. This balance between automation and oversight is critical for maintaining academic integrity.
“AI can analyze full text and extract metadata elements, but it needs the human eye to phrase the prompts, evaluate the results and add depth and accuracy. We keep the human in the loop because quality and trust really matter.” Tamar Ganor, Senior Alma Product Manager
Data-Driven Decisions with Alma Insights
Another highlight was Alma Insights, a new feature that transforms complex analytics into actionable intelligence. Instead of filtering through endless reports, librarians can now access clear, text-based insights directly in their workflow whether it’s identifying top-used collections or spotting circulation trends. For smaller institutions or teams with limited analytics expertise, this capability is a game-changer, enabling smarter decisions about resource allocation and user engagement.
“Using AI is not just a choice. It’s a necessity. Libraries are dealing with rapidly growing amounts of data and AI helps analyze that data, prioritize better and turn it into actionable insights.” Liza Voloshin, Product Owner Alma, Academia & Government
Looking Ahead: The Future of Academic AI in Libraries
The conversation closed with a look at what’s next. Expect AI to further personalize the user experience through natural language search and predictive analytics, lowering technical barriers and making discovery more intuitive. As Tamar Fuches, put it, “We’ve only scratched the surface. AI will continue to evolve, helping libraries manage growing content while maintaining transparency and trust.”
Why You Should Watch the Full Webinar
This session is packed with real-world examples, demos, and candid insights from Alma product and content leaders. If you’re curious about how Academic AI can reduce repetitive tasks, improve metadata quality and unlock data-driven strategies for your library, this is a must-watch. Watch the on-demand webinar now, or save the link for later!
