AI is a major topic across higher education, but what does it look like in everyday library work? That question was at the center of the webinar “AI in practice: how academic libraries are transforming core workflows,” hosted by Library Journal.
Drawing on real-world examples and findings from the Academic AI Impact Study, the session looked at how libraries are applying AI to improve workflows, extend services and support students and faculty, with concrete use cases, advice and lessons from librarians.
Watch the webinar on demand to explore the full discussion.
Where AI is delivering value
Library workflows are often structured, repeatable and clearly defined. That makes them well suited to targeted use of AI, particularly where the aim is to reduce manual effort while retaining professional oversight.
In these cases, many libraries are using AI to produce a first draft, with librarians focusing on review, decision-making and quality assurance. This division of work allows staff to spend more time on tasks that require subject expertise and judgment.
What the study reveals
The Academic AI Impact Study, based on interviews with librarians, offers concrete examples of how AI is being applied and its results.
Some of the findings include:
- Major time savings: Reading lists that once took 15–45 minutes can now be created in 2–5 minutes
- Improved scalability: Libraries can expand services, for example by supporting course reading lists more consistently across departments
- Increased throughput: Metadata teams are processing hundreds of records per day rather than only a small number
- High-quality output: 70–90% of AI-generated content can be used with minor editing
Together, these examples show how AI can scale library work while keeping librarians closely involved in oversight and final decisions.
Library use cases
For many libraries, AI is becoming a way to advance important work that once felt out of reach. The following case studies highlight how two libraries are applying AI to scale strategic projects, support staff expertise and create new value for their communities.
Scaling course materials at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently won an award for its innovative AI-enabled workflow that generates reading lists from syllabi and identifies lower-cost or library-owned materials.
Using the Leganto AI Syllabus Assistant, the library can:
- Automatically generate reading lists from syllabi
- Extract structured data (ISBNs, course materials) at scale
- Identify library-owned or lower-cost options for students
This approach directly supports a core institutional goal: increasing access to affordable or no-cost course materials. In early testing, the library found that 89% of courses were not using the lowest-cost materials, pointing to a significant opportunity to improve affordability.
AI makes it possible to review and support course materials at a scale that was previously out of reach.
Enhancing metadata workflows at Younes & Soraya Nazarian Library
The Younes & Soraya Nazarian Library applies AI to enrich catalog records, generate metadata and add subject headings.
With the Alma AI Metadata Assistant they can:
- Generate and enrich catalog records more easily
- Extract metadata from images or documents
- Add subject headings and summaries
The result is not only faster processing but also reduced manual effort and fewer errors. Importantly, librarians continue to review records to ensure accuracy, maintain authority control and align with institutional standards.
A leadership opportunity for libraries
As higher education institutions consider how to adopt AI, libraries are offering practical examples of implementation in day-to-day work. Their focus on clearly defined workflows, human review and transparency provides a model for responsible use.
Rather than approaching AI as a standalone initiative, these efforts show how it can be integrated into existing processes in ways that support both staff and users.
Continue the conversation
Want to explore these examples in more detail?
👉 Watch the webinar on demand to hear directly from librarians applying AI to scale up strategic projects that were otherwise unattainable. For additional context, explore the research behind the discussion:
👉 Academic AI Impact Study
