Taking a Stand Against Excessive AI Use in Libraries

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The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into library services presents a watershed moment for librarianship. While technological innovation has always been part of library evolution, the current AI revolution demands a critical response from information professionals. Librarians must take a principled stand against excessive AI implementation to protect the core values and unique human contributions that define their profession.

Preserving Human Judgment and Expertise

Despite their impressive capabilities, AI systems fundamentally lack the human judgment and contextual understanding that professional librarians bring to their work. An analysis of reference services demonstrated that human librarians outperform AI systems in understanding subtle information needs and providing contextualized advice [1]. This human element represents the heart of librarianship that algorithms cannot imitate.

Librarians’ critical thinking skills in collection development, reference services, and information literacy instruction remain irreplaceable. A recent study published by the Harvard Business Review found that reference questions required human judgment that AI systems could not provide [2]. By resisting over-reliance on AI, librarians protect these essential human contributions.

Combating Misinformation and Algorithm Bias

Libraries have long served as trusted institutions providing reliable information. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly prevalent, librarians must be critical gatekeepers against misinformation. Research by the Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence shows that AI systems have a higher rate of generating plausible but incorrect information than human experts [3].

Algorithmic bias represents another serious concern. Multiple studies have documented how AI systems reflect and amplify existing societal biases. Analyzing large language models in library contexts revealed significant biases in content recommendations and search results, particularly affecting marginalized communities [4]. By limiting AI implementation, librarians can help prevent these biases from influencing library services.

Protecting Privacy and Intellectual Freedom

The data collection practices essential to many AI systems fundamentally conflict with libraries’ commitment to user privacy. AI library systems collect significantly more user data than traditional library services [5]. This surveillance threatens the intellectual freedom that libraries have historically protected.

As Ibrahim argues, “The library’s role as a sanctuary for intellectual exploration is undermined when AI systems track, predict, and potentially influence user behavior” [6]. Librarians must resist compromising these core values, even when pressured to adopt “cutting-edge” technologies.

Maintaining Library Autonomy

The financial models underlying many AI systems threaten library autonomy and long-term sustainability. According to the Public Library Technology Survey, libraries implementing commercial AI systems saw increased technology costs, often leading to budget cuts in other essential services [7].

This financial relationship creates problematic dependencies on commercial entities whose values may not align with libraries’ values. Tanzi notes, “…It’s important we acknowledge the growing omnipresence of artificial intelligence without using it as an excuse to discard the values that make us critical components of social infrastructure.” [8].

The Path Forward

Resistance to excessive AI does not mean rejecting all technological innovation. Instead, it calls for a measured approach that preserves libraries’ core values while selectively adopting technologies that enhance rather than replace human expertise. There are many guides to this balanced approach, emphasizing human oversight, transparency, and alignment with library values [9].

The primary challenge facing librarians today is not whether to adopt AI technologies but how to maintain control over their implementation and preserve the essential human elements of librarianship. By taking a principled stand against excessive AI, librarians protect their profession and the unique value libraries provide to society. As trusted guardians of information access and intellectual freedom, librarians have the responsibility and the expertise to ensure that technology serves human needs rather than diminishing human capabilities.

 

Sources

  1. Tella, A. (2023). Application of Artificial Intelligence for Reference Services in Academic Libraries: A Global Overview through a Systematic Review of Literature. Journal of Library Resource Sharing, 32(1–5), 11–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/26915979.2023.2281668 
  2. Reeves, M., Moldoveanu, M., & Job, A. (2024, December 11). The irreplaceable value of human Decision-Making in the age of AI. https://hbr.org/2024/12/the-irreplaceable-value-of-human-decision-making-in-the-age-of-ai 
  3. Korteling, J. E. H., van de Boer-Visschedijk, G. C., Blankendaal, R. A. M., Boonekamp, R. C., & Eikelboom, A. R. (2021). Human- versus Artificial Intelligence. Frontiers in artificial intelligence, 4, 622364. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2021.622364 
  4. Alejandro BellogÍn, Ludovico Boratto, Styliani Kleanthous, Elisabeth Lex, Francesca Maridina Malloci, and Mirko Marras. 2024. International Workshop on Algorithmic Bias in Search and Recommendation (BIAS). In Proceedings of the 47th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval (SIGIR ’24). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 3033–3035. https://doi.org/10.1145/3626772.3657990 
  5. Meesad, P., Mingkhwan, A. (2024). Data-Driven Library Management: From Data to Insights. In: Libraries in Transformation. Studies in Big Data, vol 157. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69216-1_6 
  6. Ibrahim, S. E. A. (2025). Lost in the algorithm: navigating the ethical maze of AI in libraries. sajlis.journals.ac.za. https://doi.org/10.7553/91-1-2477 
  7. American Library Association. (n.d.). Technology in Public Libraries: Results from PLA’s 2023 Annual Survey. https://www.ala.org/pla/education/onlinelearning/webinars/ondemand/2023techresults 
  8. Tanzi, N. (2025, March 4). The Library’s Value is Increased in the Age of AI. The Digital Librarian. https://the-digital-librarian.com/2024/11/07/the-librarys-value-is-increased-in-the-age-of-ai/
  9. Panda, S., Sharma, V., Sati, P. P., & Kaur, N. (2024). Ensuring Ethical Intelligence: Guiding the Integration of AI in Modern Libraries. In Transforming Libraries and Education 5.0 with AI and Metaverse (pp. 87–106). Integrity Education India. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13903781