How One Small Library is Innovating with AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform daily life, libraries are becoming AI information and innovation hubs. Libraries for specialized programs like veterinary technology (vet tech) are especially well-suited to benefit from AI tools. These programs combine intensive, firsthand learning with complex research needs, creating an ideal environment to explore how AI can support both student success and library operations.

In this article, I’ll examine how AI is changing the nature of work in the vet tech school library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I serve as the librarian, with an emphasis on real-world use in areas such as reference support, collection development, and student instruction in information literacy. These changes are reshaping how we assist students and connect them with information.

What Makes a Vet Tech School Library Different?

Students enrolled in veterinary technology programs have specialized coursework that bridges traditional study and practical application, often covering subjects like anatomy, pharmacology, animal nursing, and imaging. To prepare for hands-on roles in clinical settings, they rely on both foundational texts and the most current procedural guidelines and treatment protocols.

A vet tech library must be able to meet these diverse needs by offering:

• Tools for clinical reasoning, such as the Merck Veterinary Manual, the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), and guides tailored to varied species.
• Access to specialized databases, including veterinary and medical journals, detailed case reports, and continuing education resources.
• Training videos, interactive modules, and visual aids that demonstrate clinical procedures.

Librarians and faculty play a critical role by helping students adapt to evolving technology.

How We’re Using AI at Our Library

The fast-changing and multifaceted nature of veterinary education presents a compelling case for integrating AI-driven tools. These technologies can improve how users find and use information, streamlining reference work and offering personalized learning support. In our small vet tech library, where staff time and resources are often limited, AI is particularly useful for reference services. Here are several ways we’re currently using AI:

Reference Services

At our library, artificial intelligence (AI) enhances access to information.

Traditional search tools rely on keywords, subjects, or titles; an AI search with retrieval-augmented generation, on the other hand, allows users to ask natural language questions and receive streamlined, relevant results.

Among other applications, we’ve made a chatbot available 24/7 to answer common queries, like:

• “Where can I find textbooks on geriatric cat surgery?”
• “How do I access the veterinary medical databases?”
• “What are the library hours?”

AI tools such as Elicit and ResearchRabbit can scan and summarize large volumes of veterinary research literature, allowing students to quickly identify key findings and synthesize current evidence. For example, students in our Veterinary Clinical Practices course use Elicit to generate evidence summaries for case-based assignments. This not only helps them stay up to date with rapidly evolving research but also supports evidence-based clinical decision-making.

On our campus, faculty have noted that since we’ve implemented these tools, student work demonstrates more precise use of research citations and stronger critical analysis compared to previous semesters. In course evaluations and informal feedback, students report that AI-assisted literature reviews reduce frustration and save them significant time, particularly when they are sorting through dense or unfamiliar material. One student shared that using these tools helped them identify relevant studies they would have otherwise missed, leading to a more robust treatment plan proposal in a clinical scenario project.

As a result, assignments and projects are not only more thoroughly researched but also better structured and more aligned with current clinical best practices.

In implementing these AI tools in our library, we took care to ensure that they complied with institutional data policies. We also tailored the tools we were using to veterinary terminology and established policies, such as requiring librarian review of AI-generated research summaries and integrating citation verification protocols, to reinforce that AI enhances, rather than replaces, librarian expertise.

Collection Development

By integrating AI into collection analysis, I have been able to make more data-driven, responsive decisions on acquisitions. For example, I’ve used ChatGPT to analyze usage statistics and identify the top circulating materials and formats, gaps in subject coverage or underrepresented topics, and resource trends. I’ve also had it recommend resources that fill content gaps or anticipate future needs, making it possible for me to prioritize purchases or subscriptions aligned with demand. I’ve also used ChatGPT to suggest new titles based on existing holdings, curriculum changes, and student interest, supporting acquisition decisions better rooted in student needs.

I have also used AI tools, including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, to streamline the weeding process. Unlike specialized library systems, Microsoft Copilot cannot assist with the weeding process autonomously, but it serves as a powerful assistant to help analyze data, summarize insights, and automate parts of the workflow in the Microsoft 365 environment. I have used both tools to scan digital records and flag titles that contain outdated or superseded medical/veterinary terminology—especially helpful in fast-evolving fields like animal pharmacology, diagnostics, or zoonotic diseases. ChatGPT can evaluate library holdings and check for updated editions, ensuring the collection remains current and relevant.

Information Literacy Instruction

At our institution, AI tools have transformed the design and delivery of information literacy instruction. In our traditional library sessions, we often struggled to meet the needs of students whose learning is driven by clinical relevance and direct practice. But AI tools like ChatGPT have enabled us to create interactive tutorials and simulations that help students learn how to evaluate sources and navigate databases. For example, students completing an assignment on diseases can be guided through a personalized learning module that teaches them how to evaluate the credibility of sources, differentiate between primary and secondary research, and apply findings to real-world scenarios. These tools have had a measurable impact on student learning: faculty have reported noticeable improvements in the quality and depth of student assignments, particularly in their ability to cite credible evidence and make real-world connections. Several students noted in post-session evaluations that they felt more confident navigating research databases and filtering out misinformation, which speaks to the growing research literacy fostered by these tools.

We’ve also integrated AI tools into classroom instructions to enhance professional preparedness among students. During orientation or class visits, library staff introduce students to AI tools that support veterinary studies, including anatomy applications, while emphasizing responsible and ethical use. One widely used AI-powered anatomy application is Complete Anatomy by 3D4Medical. The key features include AI-assisted tools for labeling and adaptive learning, intricate 3D models of human and animal anatomy, real-time dissection simulations, integration with quizzes, and lectures. Exposure to these tools helps students build the information and technology skills they will use in veterinary practice, where traditional knowledge must be complemented by the ability to navigate digital resources, interpret data, and utilize emerging technologies for diagnostics, treatment planning, and client communication.

Our librarians and instructors have integrated AI-generated quiz tools, citation assistance bots, and plagiarism detection systems into their instruction. These tools not only reinforce learning but also empower students to work independently with a higher degree of confidence and accuracy.

Much of the national discourse around AI tools in education centers concerns academic integrity and the erosion of critical thinking. These are valid and pressing issues that institutions must grapple with. But while concerns about AI-fueled cheating and diminished writing skills are valid in many educational settings, the reality in applied fields like veterinary technology is quite different. At our vet tech school, AI is not a shortcut; it is a tool that empowers students to deepen their learning.

Students are not using AI to replace core competencies; they’re using it to enhance them. Our faculty have designed assessments that require students to explain, justify, and apply knowledge in practical, hands-on scenarios, which is not something AI cannot do for them.

The result is learners who are more informed, critically engaged, and ready for the demands of the veterinary field. Rather than “destroying” education, AI, when guided by ethical use policies and thoughtful instruction, is helping us prepare more competent professionals.

This is not to say that the risks around AI do not exist. But our experience suggests that with structure and intentionality, AI tools can foster independence and support critical thinking.

Impact on Student Learning and Library Efficiency

The introduction of AI in our vet tech school library has had a measurable impact on both student outcomes and library operations. Thanks to AI-powered tools such as intelligent search engines, automated reference assistance, and personalized study recommendations, students are now able to access relevant information more efficiently and receive targeted academic support.

Conclusion

In the specialized setting of the vet tech school library where I work, library staff are evolving architects of artificial intelligence systems that enhance human potential.

As AI continues to advance, the question is not whether we should adopt it, but how to adopt it ethically, equitably, and in ways that honor the mission of education. In the context of a vet tech library, the answer lies in ensuring that every technological advance serves to deepen understanding, support success, and prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow’s workplace.

To that end, libraries should take these steps:

• Transparent AI Integration: Students are introduced to AI tools with clear guidance on their appropriate use, including understanding limitations, biases, and the importance of critical thinking when using generated content.
• Equity of Access: All students are provided with free access to vetted AI-powered platforms through the library’s resource portal, ensuring that no one is left behind due to financial or technological barriers.
• Faculty and Librarian Collaboration: Instructional librarians work closely with faculty to embed AI tools into assignments in ways that enhance—rather than replace—student learning. This includes creating scaffolded research tasks in which students must compare AI-generated summaries with peer-reviewed sources.
• Data-Informed Teaching: Usage patterns and student performance data are reviewed regularly to assess the effectiveness of AI tools. For example, students using AI-supported study guides have shown a 15–20 percent improvement in assessment scores related to clinical terminology and case analysis.
• Ethics Education: Dedicated workshops and in-course modules help students understand the ethical use of AI in veterinary practice, including issues around data privacy, consent, and decision-making support tools in clinical settings.

Together, these measures ensure that AI is not simply a shortcut to answers, but a catalyst for deeper engagement, digital literacy, and professional readiness.