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.

5 hrs
Saved per week on catalog and outreach
2 min
To draft a program description
18+
Library-specific prompt templates

What You'll Learn

Draft and refine catalog records and metadata in a fraction of the usual time
Generate curated reading lists and readers' advisory suggestions on demand
Write program descriptions, flyers, and promotional copy with one prompt
Answer reference questions faster with AI-assisted research and drafting
Design AI literacy lessons you can teach to patrons and students
Build chatbot scripts for common patron questions at your branch

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Every course is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don't see results, full refund. No questions asked.

Course Curriculum

4 units · ~25 hours · Certificate included

Foundation

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
Core Skill

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
Productivity

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
Advanced

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
What you walk away with

Earn Your Certificate

After the final unit, you take a short online exam, around 15 to 20 questions, drawn straight from the course material. Pass it and you receive a Certificate of Completion in AI for Librarians & Information Professionals 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
Verify any certificate at workplaceaiinstitute.com/verify

What Students Say

Yvonne H.
Flex
★★★★★
"I enjoyed the course, it was clear and practical. Overall, the course was very informative and valuable."
Shannon B.
Fresenius Medical Care
★★★★★
"I wanted to stay up-to-date and gain AI knowledge and know-how. This class was great! It was very thorough, walked me through everything as a beginner, and progressed as I learned more in each section. It gave real-life examples of how to use AI on a daily basis."
David L.
Chubb
★★★★★
"I valued learning how to create effective prompts with clear constraints. Overall, it was an excellent course and has significantly increased my confidence in applying AI in my day‑to‑day work."
David L.
Chubb
★★★★★
"I wanted to share my appreciation for the recent AI course. I found the training extremely informative and it gave me a much deeper understanding of how AI works and how it can support our claims processes."
"Most librarians spend more time on administrative tasks than on the patron interactions that define their role."
Over the next few years, most library systems are expected to adopt AI tools for cataloging, collection management, and patron-facing services, according to recent IFLA and ALA projections.

What Changes When Librarians Start Using AI

Before 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
After This Course
  • 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?

ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, on a free tier, runs every example in the course. The techniques transfer across tools, so librarians & information professionals can pick whichever the workplace already permits.

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?

The 30-day money-back guarantee covers every enrollment. Librarians & Information Professionals who decide the course isn't worth it email us inside that window and we refund within one business day. We don't ask why.

Will I get a certificate?

Yes. A short online exam at the end of the course earns librarians & information professionals a Certificate of Completion in AI for Librarians & Information Professionals from the Workplace AI Institute, ready to share on LinkedIn or attach to a job application.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for public librarians, academic librarians, catalogers, reference specialists, and information managers who want to add AI skills to their professional toolkit. No programming experience is needed. Whether you've never touched an AI tool or you've tried a few prompts and want more structured training, this course gives you practical, library-focused instruction you can apply right away.

How Long Does It Take?

Expect approximately 25 hours of reading in AI for Librarians & Information Professionals, along with interactive quizzes and hands-on exercises tied to real library tasks. Most students finish in two to four weeks, but you can move through the material at whatever pace fits your schedule.

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