Academic Libraries Giving Faculty Enough AI Support?

Faculty interest in artificial intelligence is broad, but many academic libraries have not yet made specialized AI support visible or widely available. A Primary Research Group survey of 660 higher-education faculty found that only 8% said a dedicated AI librarian was available to them. Among tenured professors, 15.7% reported that their libraries provided help developing especially effective AI prompts.

Those numbers do not necessarily mean libraries are inactive. Many provide webinars, LibGuides, web pages, listserv posts and informal consultation. The more important issue may be discoverability: faculty cannot use a service they do not know exists, or one described in language that does not match the problem they are trying to solve.

The survey also found meaningful differences among faculty groups. Older faculty were the most supportive of library efforts to help with AI, while younger and mid-career faculty were more critical. Engagement with library listserv posts about AI was highest among fine-arts and communications faculty. This suggests that one generic AI program will not fit every campus. Experienced researchers may value hands-on help and reassurance; younger faculty may expect more advanced, discipline-specific assistance.

The opportunity for academic libraries is substantial. They already occupy the intersection of discovery, source evaluation, copyright, data stewardship and research practice. To turn that position into visible value, libraries should name an identifiable contact, organize services around faculty tasks and measure which forms of outreach lead to actual consultations and repeat use.