Librarians in the Age of AI: Human Expertise Matters More Than Ever

It’s tempting, isn’t it? To imagine AI as a panacea.

Lawyers type their questions into an AI tool and confidently finalize a factum before getting home in time for dinner.

Self-represented litigants, overwhelmed by process and precedents, find solid answers from an AI app and breathe a sigh of relief.

Access to justice, served up on a platter of bits and bytes.

But we’re not there yet. And it’s risky to assume we are. (Ko v. Li, 2025 ONSC 2766 anyone?)

AI tools are powerful allies in advancing access to justice when used wisely. They streamline research and save time.

Heck, I used AI to create a first draft of this article and probably saved myself a good 2 hours!

But AI is not infallible. I wish I had a dime for every em-dash and “rule of three” sentence I edited out on my second draft!

More concerningly, though, AI can hallucinate, misinterpret nuance, and reinforce bias. (There’s a rule of three sentence that survived the re-write).

That’s why human oversight is not optional, it’s essential.

When technology falls short, it’s human expertise that fills the gap. As Ray Parker Jr might put it:

When there’s something strange

In your search results

Who you gonna call?

Librarians!

If there’s something weird

And the cite’s no good

Who you gonna call?

Librarians!

Law librarians serve as critical intermediaries, connecting people to trustworthy information.

They help patrons navigate resources wisely. They can formulate better prompts and interpret results with discernment, providing solid judgment and a deep understanding of legal information systems that no algorithm can replicate.

And yes, they check citations to ensure the cases actually exist.

Behind every search result and each well-curated collection is a skilled professional who understands not just how to find information, but how to evaluate it and guide others in using it effectively. In a time of rapid technological change, this human expertise is irreplaceable.

Access to justice depends on reliable information and on the people who help us find it. In the age of AI, librarians are more than guides. They are guardians of quality, integrity, and trust.

Libraries are, at heart, people-powered places.

After all, AI can find information—but librarians ensure it’s the right information.