ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) can be harnessed by libraries to support rather than replace librarians, a data scientist and librarian emphasized during a lecture organized by the College of Education on Oct. 16 at the Albertus Magnus Building.
In the 4th Candida C. Agcaoili Honorary Lecture, UST library science alumna Sonia Gementiza said embracing AI could transform libraries into “hubs of innovation and learning.”
“With the rise of artificial intelligence, the profession of our librarians is at the cusp of another major transformation. We need to embrace AI as a tool for librarianship,” said Gementiza, vice president for linkages and external affairs at De La Salle University Dasmariñas.
Gementiza pointed out that AI could enhance routine library tasks such as cataloging, information retrieval, digital preservation, and plagiarism detection.
“AI can help librarians streamline routine tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic roles like information literacy, research support, and community outreach,” she said.
While AI is an innovation that can reshape the field of library science, librarians will remain at its core, according to Asst. Prof. Arturo Patungan Jr. of the UST Department of Mathematics and Physics.
“AI is a partner, not a replacement,” Patungan stressed. “AI will reshape library science but cannot replace librarians.”
“The librarian will continue to be the store of knowledge, ensuring that in an AI-driven world, human values remain central to information and management,” he added.
While exploring AI’s potential, Gementiza urged librarians to advocate for its ethical use.
“Filipino librarians need also to advocate for the responsible use of AI in the libraries and community, ensuring that AI enhances library services without replacing humans,” she said.
The lecture titled “Filipino Librarians in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” was part of the week-long celebration of the 99th founding anniversary of the College of Education, which houses UST’s library science program.
Established in 2019, the honorary lecture recognizes Candida Agcaoili, a former professor and chief librarian of UST from 1950 to 1966. Amador Denzel M. Teston with reports from Divine Delos Reyes