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AI for Librarians & Information Professionals
AI tools built around the work librarians actually do, from cataloging to patron services to programming.
- Four Units with Lifetime Access
- Online Exam · 99% Pass Rate
- 100% Money-Back Guarantee
- Self-Paced Online Learning
- Instant Access to Materials
- Payment Plans Available
Employees at top companies are mastering AI skills with the Workplace AI Institute
Libraries are changing fast. The librarians who learn AI now will shape what comes next.
Patron questions are getting more complex. Cataloging backlogs keep growing. Programming requests outpace your staff hours. And on top of all that, your community is starting to ask you about AI itself, expecting you to be the expert. The pressure is real, and most library science programs never covered any of this.
AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can help with the daily work that buries you: drafting metadata records, building reading lists, writing program descriptions, answering tricky reference questions, and preparing information literacy materials. This course teaches you how to use these tools in library-specific ways, with prompts and examples designed for the work you do every day. No coding required, no technical background assumed.
Across the profession, organizations like IFLA, ALA, and ACRL are calling on librarians to build AI literacy, both for themselves and their patrons. This course gives you the practical foundation to do exactly that, whether you work in a public branch, an academic library, or a special collection.
What You'll Learn
Course Curriculum
Getting Started with AI in Library Settings
- Understand what AI tools can do in a library context
- Set up and test your first AI tool with library tasks
- Write effective prompts for common library workflows
- Identify ethical considerations specific to library AI use
AI for Cataloging, Collection Development, and Metadata
- Draft and refine catalog records with AI assistance
- Generate subject headings and classification suggestions
- Build collection development reports and gap analyses
- Clean and standardize metadata across record sets
AI for Patron Services, Reference, and Programming
- Draft reference responses and readers' advisory suggestions
- Create program descriptions, flyers, and promotional copy
- Build chatbot scripts for common patron questions
- Use AI to plan and outline library events and workshops
AI for Information Literacy and Digital Resource Management
- Design AI literacy lessons for patrons and students
- Teach source evaluation in the age of AI-generated content
- Organize and assess digital resources with AI support
- Create guides and tutorials for library databases and tools
2 Add-On Units
Take your skills further with these optional add-on units, available to add during checkout.
Master the Art of Prompting
Advanced prompting techniques: chain-of-thought, role-based prompts, few-shot examples, and strategies for getting consistent, high-quality output every time.
Everyday AI in Action
Real-world workflows and case studies showing how professionals use AI daily. Includes copy-and-paste prompt templates for the 20 most common tasks.
What Students Say
What Changes When Librarians Start Using AI
- Catalog records created one by one
- Reading lists built manually each term
- Program descriptions written from scratch
- Reference emails take 15+ minutes each
- Literacy lessons reused without updates
- Batch metadata drafts in minutes
- Curated lists generated and refined fast
- Event copy drafted with one prompt
- Reference replies written in under five
- Fresh lesson plans built for each class
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any AI experience to take this course?
None at all. Unit 1 starts from scratch, walks you through setting up your AI tools, and has you writing effective prompts within the first hour. The course is designed for librarians and information professionals who have never used AI before.
Is this course relevant for public librarians, academic librarians, or both?
Both. The course covers cataloging, reference, programming, and information literacy with examples from public, academic, and special library settings. You'll find practical applications regardless of where you work.
Which AI tools will I use?
The course teaches techniques that work across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other major AI tools. A free account on any of these platforms is all you need. No paid subscriptions required.
Does this course cover teaching AI literacy to patrons?
Yes. Unit 4 focuses on designing AI literacy lessons, teaching source evaluation in the age of AI-generated content, and creating guides your patrons and students can use. You'll leave with ready-to-use lesson plans.
What if the course is not right for me?
Every course is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied for any reason, email us and we will refund your payment within one business day. No questions asked.
Will I get a certificate?
Yes. After completing the course, you take a short online exam. Pass it and you receive a Certificate of Completion from the Workplace AI Institute that you can share with employers or add to LinkedIn.
Earn Your Certificate
Next, you'll take a quick & easy online exam to earn your Certificate of Completion from the Workplace AI Institute.
- Take the exam online, at your own pace
- 99% pass rate with course preparation
- Share your certificate on LinkedIn
- Retake the exam if needed, at no cost
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🛡️ 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee · Lifetime Access · Certificate Included