Will AI replace Library Technicians?

Some of your tasks will be automated. People who use AI will have the edge.

Task exposure to today's AI

44/100

Moderate exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Library Technicians?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 44% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed. The parts that stay human include: Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials.; Catalogue and sort books and other print and non-print materials according to procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.; Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed. 55%

Catalogue and sort books and other print and non-print materials according to procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas. 53%

Answer routine telephone or in-person reference inquiries, referring patrons to librarians for further assistance, when necessary. 53%

Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials. 42%

Process print and non-print library materials to prepare them for inclusion in library collections. 35%

Deliver and retrieve items throughout the library by hand or using pushcart. 10%

+ 25 more tasks (47% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials.
Catalogue and sort books and other print and non-print materials according to procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for lesson materialsAI quiz and feedback toolsPresentation and image generators

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

Materials and preparation

Lesson plans, tasks and differentiated materials with AI.
Quizzes and answer keys.
Check facts and age-appropriateness yourself.

Project

Use AI to draft a 1-page guide and 5-question quiz teaching patrons to search the catalogue, then verify every fact yourself before printing.

Phase 2

Feedback and assessment

Rubrics and feedback drafts with AI.
Spotting common mistakes across student work.
Rules for student AI use and academic honesty.

Project

Have AI draft a feedback rubric for shelving/cataloguing accuracy, then audit 50 recently shelved items and log the error rate found.

Phase 3

Teaching with AI

Teach students to use AI critically.
Assignments that work with AI, not against it.
Share materials and practice with colleagues.

Project

Design a 30-minute AI-literacy session teaching 10 patrons to fact-check AI search answers, then share your lesson plan with 2 colleagues.

Take the free 11-question test