Will AI replace Me? Reflections of a Subject Librarian in the age of Artificial Intelligence

 

By Ashika Pramlal

A Question Worth Asking

When ChatGPT first appeared, like many librarians, I wondered: Will AI replace me? The question is both personal and professional. As a subject librarian at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), my role has always centred on connecting people with information, guiding research, and fostering critical thinking. However, as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly capable of retrieving, summarising, and analysing scholarly content, it is natural to reflect on how this technology might redefine our profession (Cox et al., 2019).

The Evolving Landscape of Academic Librarianship

Librarianship has constantly evolved alongside technology. Each innovation has transformed how we manage and deliver information, from card catalogues to online databases to AI-driven discovery tools.

The essence of librarianship — human judgment, empathy, and contextual understanding — remains irreplaceable. AI can assist in finding data, but it cannot mentor a student struggling to frame a research question or interpret a complex dataset within a disciplinary context.

Artificial intelligence has quietly become a powerful ally in the library space. Some of the ways it is already reshaping my daily work include:

• Information Discovery: AI-powered search tools refine results by understanding natural language queries, improving the precision of research assistance.
• Research Support: Tools like Elicit, Scite, and Semantic Scholar use machine learning to summarise literature and identify trends, supporting librarians and researchers in staying current.
• Academic Integrity: AI detection tools now assist in identifying AI-generated writing, ensuring the authenticity of student work.
• Knowledge Management: AI chatbots and recommender systems offer 24/7 user assistance, extending library services beyond office hours (Abubakar, 2021).

While these tools enhance efficiency, they require librarians to develop new competencies — from AI literacy to data curation and algorithmic transparency. 

Redefining the Librarian’s Role in the Age of AI

Rather than replacing librarians, AI is prompting a redefinition of our professional identity. The emerging librarian is no longer just a custodian of information but a digital curator, data steward, and educator in information ethics (Jaguszewski & Williams, 2013).

Here is how I see the role evolving:

• From Gatekeeper to Guide: Librarians will focus more on teaching critical evaluation of AI-generated information.
• From Reference Desk to Research Partner: Subject librarians will increasingly collaborate with academics on data management, digital scholarship, and open science initiatives.
• From Collection Management to Data Stewardship: Managing research data, metadata standards, and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles will become central to our work (Abubakar, 2021).

In short, the future librarian will blend traditional expertise with digital fluency — becoming the bridge between human inquiry and machine intelligence.

Ethical and Pedagogical Implications

AI raises essential questions about bias, privacy, and intellectual property — where librarians’ ethical frameworks are crucial. We must help students and researchers navigate issues such as algorithmic transparency and responsible use of AI-generated content.

At UKZN, initiatives like information literacy training can be expanded to include AI literacy: teaching users how to critically engage with AI tools, recognise limitations, and maintain academic integrity in an AI-enhanced environment (Cox et al., 2019).

A Human Future in a Machine World

So, will AI replace me? Probably not. However, it will redefine me. My role as a subject librarian will continue to evolve, demanding adaptability, continuous learning, and reaffirming the values that have always defined librarianship — service, access, and intellectual freedom.

As we move forward, our challenge is not competing with AI, but collaborating with it — ensuring that technology enhances, rather than diminishes, the human experience of learning and discovery (Jaguszewski & Williams, 2013).

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 References

1.      Cox, A. M., et al. (2019). "The intelligent library: Thought leaders’ views on the likely impact of artificial intelligence on academic libraries." Library Hi Tech 37(3): 418–435.

 

2.      Jaguszewski, J. and K. Williams (2013). "New roles for new times: Transforming liaison roles in research libraries. Association of Research Libraries.

              

3.      Abubakar, A. (2021). Artificial intelligence and libraries: Opportunities and challenges. Information and Knowledge Management.

               

From Roots to Blossoms: Honouring Heritage in the Season of Spring

 

By Minenhle Jali & Pravina Laljeeth

September is a month of celebrating cultural diversity in South Africa. The air is filled with the scent of blossoming flowers, the promise of warmer days, and the familiar sound of laughter and togetherness as families prepare to mark Heritage Day. It is a time when nature and culture meet—spring reminds us of renewal and growth, while Heritage Day calls us back to our roots and the rich traditions that make us who we are.

Much like spring, our heritage is alive and dynamic. It is passed down through stories, language, music, food, and community. Like every flower adds colour to the season, every culture enriches South Africa’s identity. Together, they create the beautiful garden that is our shared heritage.

Libraries as Gardens of Knowledge

In many respects, the library is like a spring garden, aligning with the founding principle of Ranganathan’s fifth law, which affirms that the library is a verdant growing organism. Libraries preserve the seeds of the past—our histories, archives, cultural treasures and scientific breakthroughs—while nurturing new growth through research, technology, reading, and discovery (Kwanya et al., 2010).  Whenever we open a book, listen to an oral history, or explore a digital archive, we allow something new to bloom in our understanding of who we are.

Heritage Day invites us to reflect on our national and collective roots. Libraries play a vital role in keeping those roots alive, offering access to literature, historical documents, and knowledge that might otherwise be forgotten. At the same time, they are places of renewal, where new ideas are planted and future stories begin to grow.

Springing into Stories

Storytelling has always been at the heart of both heritage and renewal. In many cultures, oral traditions carry ancestors' wisdom, while written stories capture experiences for generations to come (Cajete et al., 2010). This September, as nature blossoms around us, we are reminded that stories—whether told around a fire, sung in a song, or found in a book—are the blossoms of our heritage.

A Season of Celebration

Spring is also a season of hope, and Heritage Day is a celebration of unity in diversity. They remind us that while our roots ground us, our growth carries us forward. By visiting the library this September, you can connect with both—exploring collections that preserve heritage while discovering fresh perspectives that inspire renewal.

As we step into this season, may we honour our roots while embracing new blossoms of teaching, learning, understanding, and connection.

The library invites you to celebrate Heritage Month by exploring our heritage collections, discovering new stories, and adding your own voice to the garden of knowledge that continues to impact our communities.

References

Cajete, G., Eder, D., & Holyan, R. (2010). Life lessons through storytelling : children's exploration of ethics. Indiana University Press. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10415914

Kwanya, T., Stilwell, C., & Underwood, P. G. (2010). Library 2.0 principles and Ranganathan's fifth law. Mousaion, 28(2), 1-16.