AI for Public Libraries: Circulation, Patron Engagement, and Collection Development

According to the Clarivate Pulse of the Library 2025 report, 67% of libraries worldwide are now exploring or implementing artificial intelligence tools—up from 63% the previous year. This growing adoption reflects both the practical benefits AI offers for streamlining library operations and the recognition that libraries must understand these technologies to serve their communities effectively. Yet most libraries remain in the early evaluation stages, with only a small fraction having moved to full implementation across their operations.

For library directors and staff, AI presents a unique opportunity to address persistent challenges: limited staff handling growing patron needs, the difficulty of keeping collections relevant and discoverable, and the constant pressure to demonstrate value to funders and community stakeholders. AI-powered tools can automate repetitive tasks like cataloging and circulation management, provide 24/7 patron assistance through intelligent chatbots, and generate insights from usage data that inform better decision-making about collections and services.

Yet libraries also face distinct considerations when adopting AI. Privacy concerns run deep in library culture, where protecting patron reading habits has long been a core professional value. Budget constraints are typically more severe than in corporate settings, making expensive enterprise AI solutions impractical. And libraries serve remarkably diverse populations—from children to seniors, from tech-savvy professionals to people using computers for the first time—requiring AI implementations that work across this spectrum of digital literacy.

This article explores how public libraries are using AI across four critical areas: circulation and operations management, patron engagement and reference services, collection development and curation, and community AI literacy education. You'll discover practical applications that libraries of various sizes are implementing, along with strategies for addressing the privacy, budget, and equity considerations that shape responsible AI adoption in library contexts.

Research on library chatbot implementation highlights several best practices. Establishing a clear "human handover" protocol is essential—as soon as a chatbot encounters ambiguous or complex questions, patrons should be connected with librarian expertise for accurate, context-rich assistance. Libraries should roll out chatbots in phases, periodically evaluating user feedback and staff experiences to balance efficiency gains with patron satisfaction.

The concern that chatbots might replace librarians misses how these tools work in practice. Chatbots handle routine, repetitive questions—hours, locations, account status—while freeing librarians for the complex reference work, reader's advisory, and community programming that requires professional expertise. Organizations interested in building their own AI-powered service tools might explore how to build an AI-powered FAQ system for guidance applicable to library contexts.

Staff development is essential for libraries to fulfill this educational role. Librarians can't teach AI literacy if they don't understand the technology themselves. Professional development programs, peer learning networks, and experimentation time should be part of any library's AI strategy. The good news is that learning alongside patrons can be powerful—librarians don't need to be AI experts to facilitate exploration and discovery together.

For nonprofit organizations including library foundations looking to build internal AI capabilities, our guide on building AI literacy for nonprofit teams provides frameworks applicable to library staff development.

Conclusion

Public libraries stand at a pivotal moment in their centuries-long history of connecting communities with information. Artificial intelligence offers powerful tools to enhance every aspect of library operations—from streamlining circulation and extending reference services around the clock, to making smarter collection decisions and helping patrons navigate an increasingly AI-influenced information landscape. The 67% of libraries already exploring or implementing AI tools recognize both the practical benefits and the imperative to understand technologies that are reshaping how people find and evaluate information.

Yet libraries bring unique considerations to AI adoption that distinguish them from other organizations. The deep commitment to patron privacy requires careful evaluation of how AI tools collect, use, and store data. Limited budgets demand creative approaches to implementation that maximize value without enterprise-level investments. And libraries' mission to serve all community members—regardless of income, education, language, or digital literacy—requires that AI implementations enhance rather than create barriers to access.

Perhaps most importantly, libraries have an opportunity to help their communities develop the AI literacy skills essential for navigating the modern information environment. This extends the library's traditional information literacy mission into new territory, helping patrons understand how AI works, evaluate AI-generated content critically, and use AI tools effectively in their own lives and work. No other institution is better positioned to democratize AI knowledge and ensure that these powerful technologies benefit everyone, not just the technologically privileged.

Libraries that embrace AI thoughtfully—maintaining their core values while leveraging new capabilities—will better serve their communities, demonstrate their continued relevance, and fulfill their historic role as equalizers of access to knowledge and opportunity. The technology is ready. The question is how your library will use it to strengthen your mission and serve your community.