AI Reskilling in Libraries: When the Dean’s Assistant Gets an AI Assistant

Abstract

The rapid advancement of generative AI represents a pivotal moment for libraries. With powerful systems like ChatGPT gaining widespread adoption, libraries face both opportunities and an urgent need to reskill staff. Recent analyses by the Boston Consulting Group predict that within two decades more than 30% of activities across most jobs could be handled by machines, while more than 15% of jobs could be fully automated. According to the World Economic Forum’s “The Future of Job Report 2023,” training workers to use AI tools is considered one of the top priorities for many companies. A 2023 survey of academic library employees revealed enthusiasm for professional development around generative AI, yet fewer than 7% of respondents currently use premium versions of leading systems. This discrepancy risks leaving library workers unprepared for AI-assisted workflows and roles forecast to be pervasive within the next decade. As libraries undergo their digital transformation, developing AI literacy among staff at all levels is becoming a matter of competitive survival rather than just innovation.