AI “delivers efficiency gains and reshapes academic library workflows”
A study from Clarivate highlights how artificial intelligence is driving significant efficiency gains, expanding operational capacity, and prompting a redesign of core workflows in academic libraries.
The Academic AI Impact study examines how AI is transforming key library processes while delivering measurable operational benefits. AI tools are increasingly embedded in research and learning environments, yet quantifiable evidence of their impact has been limited. The study aims to address this gap, drawing on in-depth interviews with library professionals across a range of institutions to assess how AI is being applied in practice.
Focusing on two central workflows – course reading list preparation using Leganto Syllabus Assistant, and metadata creation and enrichment via Alma AI Metadata Assistant – the research documents both efficiency improvements and broader shifts in how library work is structured and prioritised.
Key findings from the study include:
- A 30–60% reduction in time spent on repetitive, manual tasks, allowing staff to focus on higher-value activities
- A two- to four-fold increase in workflow capacity without additional staffing, enabling greater throughput within existing teams
- 50–60% of reading lists immediately available to students following AI processing
- 70–90% of AI-generated metadata accepted with only minor edits, indicating both efficiency and reliability
Oren Beit-Arie, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Innovation, Academia & Government at Clarivate, said: “Our paper provides evidence-based insights into how AI is supporting academic libraries and improving library impact by complementing, rather than replacing, roles. It outlines considerations for library leaders on the next phase of AI adoption, keeping human judgment at the center.
“The examples in this study highlight the potential of Academic AI, from libraries working through cataloguing backlogs to surfacing hidden collections, to recovering course readiness during peak academic periods and redesigning workflows to support readiness at scale.”
Melissa Gomis, Associate Professor of Practice, Chair, Collections Strategy & Open Scholarship, University Libraries at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, added: “I see AI as a tool that invites libraries to be intentional about how we spend our time and where we add the most value.
“If it can accurately and efficiently take on some of the repetitive or data-intensive work, it allows us to focus more fully on the relational, instructional, and strategic aspects of our roles. When used thoughtfully, AI isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about creating the space and resources to deepen our impact and better serve our communities.”
The study, conducted by Emerging Strategy on behalf of Clarivate, is based on qualitative interviews with 11 library professionals across eight academic institutions in North and Latin America and the Middle East. Participants included R1 research universities, mid-sized comprehensive institutions, and international universities with multilingual collections.
The findings are based on self-reported time comparisons, volume metrics, and workflow analysis, and are presented as directional evidence reflecting institutional experiences.