Charting a New Era of Knowledge: LIS, Its Values, and the Promise of AI

What is the true nature of library and information science (LIS)?

At first glance, it might seem like the field that manages shelves of books and archives of documents, but LIS is both broader and more profound. It stands at the intersection of people, information, and technology. As our societies generate and engage with data on a colossal scale, LIS professionals guide us through the maze, ensuring we find credible sources, preserve cultural heritage, and understand how information shapes our world.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is stepping onto the stage, transforming how we create, organize, and access information. It is time to examine the nature and value of LIS and consider how AI can enhance—rather than erode—the essential values librarians have long upheld.

Understanding the Nature of LIS

Library and information science are challenging to pin down as just one type of study. It draws from the humanities, social sciences, and even technical disciplines. At its core, LIS deals with how information flows: collected, categorized, stored, found, interpreted, and used.

Traditional views of LIS often focus on libraries—physical spaces filled with books, journals, and archival materials. In that sense, the field has long been about connecting communities to well-curated, reliable resources. However, LIS also involves designing classification systems, preserving digital data, and teaching skills so people can navigate complex information ecosystems.

Think of LIS as a hybrid discipline that thrives on the tension between old and new, print and digital, human judgment, and technological innovation. The professional behind the librarian's desk is not just a caretaker of books but a steward of knowledge who understands how people interact with all forms of information—written words, images, data streams, and more. This human-centric approach makes LIS unique: it is deeply concerned with ethics, inclusivity, and ensuring that information serves the public good.

Why LIS Matters to Society

The influence of LIS on society is profound and often quietly influential. It shapes how we access and interpret information, preserves our cultural heritage, and fosters education and innovation. The work of LIS professionals is not just about managing information but about shaping the very fabric of our society.

Information Access and Equity:

Librarians champion the idea that everyone deserves access to quality information. In a world where misinformation flows freely, reliable resources help us make informed decisions. LIS professionals work to bridge economic, technological, and cultural divides so that communities everywhere can learn, discover, and grow.

Cultural Preservation:

Libraries, archives, and museums hold the records of who we are. They store personal stories, community histories, scientific research, and cultural expression. By curating and preserving these materials, LIS ensures that future generations inherit a rich tapestry of human experience.

Support for Education and Innovation:

LIS-trained professionals teach information literacy, showing students and researchers how to find credible sources, evaluate claims, and think critically. This skill set supports academic work and drives innovation and creativity.

In other words, LIS matters because it grounds our information-driven world in ethical, human-focused principles. It reminds us that while technology can deliver content, it takes professional insight to select reliable content, organize knowledge in understandable ways, and encourage critical inquiry.

AI's Growing Influence on LIS

Enter artificial intelligence, a technology that can learn from vast amounts of data, detect patterns, and generate human-like text. AI tools are no longer science fiction—they are here, influencing how we search for information online and conduct research.

AI presents a dynamic landscape for LIS professionals with opportunities and challenges. It is shaping and enhancing the way we discover and organize information. AI is revolutionizing how we curate and preserve data and engage in ethical conversations about technology and society. The potential of AI to enhance LIS functions is both exciting and promising.

Enhanced Discovery and Organization:

AI can dramatically improve how we search for and retrieve information, enhancing information access and equity. Imagine browsing a library's catalog without sifting through countless keywords; instead, you could ask an AI-driven interface a question and receive a curated list of sources. Systems like machine-learning-enhanced search engines and automated recommendation tools help connect people to resources faster and more efficiently, leveling the playing field for information access. Supporting Data

Curation and Preservation:

With the explosion of digital content, ensuring the long-term accessibility of information is daunting. AI can assist in organizing massive data sets, detect duplicates, and flag anomalies, thereby helping preserve and curate digital content. It can even help identify metadata and classify materials more consistently, allowing librarians to focus on more nuanced tasks that require human judgment. New Ethical

Conversations:

However, the use of AI also raises pressing ethical questions. When AI systems inadvertently reproduce prejudices found in their training data, algorithmic bias can shape which materials users see first. Privacy concerns loom large. How can librarians ensure patron privacy if AI tools track user data to provide personalized recommendations? LIS professionals, long accustomed to balancing user confidentiality and equitable access, are well-positioned and responsible for leading discussions on the responsible adoption of AI. These ethical conversations are a crucial part of the future of LIS.

Evolving Roles for Professionals:

Some fear that AI could automate tasks traditionally done by librarians, from basic reference queries to cataloging. However, rather than viewing AI as a threat, LIS can embrace it as a partner. Automation can free up time for librarians to delve deeper into community engagement, specialized research support, technology instruction, and developing policies that guide the ethical use of AI in information services. This role shift emphasizes LIS professionals' distinct human qualities: judgment, empathy, intellectual freedom, and a commitment to serving the public interest. While AI may automate some tasks, it also opens up new opportunities for librarians to focus on higher-level tasks that require human judgment and empathy, ensuring the continued relevance and importance of the profession. LIS professionals are uniquely positioned to navigate the evolving landscape of information services in the age of AI, ensuring that the profession remains vital and impactful. Looking Ahead: A Collaborative Future

The future of LIS will likely feature a blend of digital and physical offerings—smaller or more specialized physical collections complemented by robust online platforms and AI-powered discovery tools. Libraries may evolve into innovation hubs, where learning labs, digital literacy workshops, and collaborative spaces enhance people's ability to find, understand, and apply knowledge.

This future invites librarians to become more than custodians of knowledge; they can be active designers of the algorithms that shape how users find and interpret information. By gaining a basic understanding of AI's principles and capabilities, LIS professionals can influence system design, advocate for ethical standards, and ensure that AI-driven services align with the values of equity, access, and intellectual freedom.

Conclusion

Library and information science stands at a crossroads. The field has always adapted—from card catalogs to digital repositories—and AI is simply the latest if most transformative, change. As AI automates some processes, it frees librarians to focus on higher-level tasks: fostering critical information literacy skills, curating inclusive collections, promoting user privacy, and guiding ethical technology use.

At its heart, LIS remains anchored by a mission to connect people and knowledge. With AI, librarians can enhance this mission, ensuring that as information grows more complex and abundant, the human values at the core of LIS still shine through. The key challenge ahead is to engage with AI thoughtfully, upholding the ideals that have always defined LIS: service, trust, intellectual freedom, and a deep respect for the human quest for understanding.