"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime": The evolving role of the reference librarian in AI literacy

Abstract

The goal of reference services has always been to foster understanding rather than simply provide answers. The rise of AI has made information retrieval as easy as a single click, but it has also weakened the development of foundational research skills. Since fall 2025, librarians at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) have been conducting a federally funded study examining the evolving role of reference librarians in this era of transformation.

One key question emerging from our project is: What is the role of reference librarians in AI literacy? We have identified a consistent pattern of uncertainty and limited knowledge about AI among both students and instructors. Users routinely turn to the library to provide guidance about AI use in research and education.

To address a growing number of AI-related questions, the JIBC Library introduced a three-part AI workshop focused on teaching the fundamentals of how AI works. We argue that, in the era of AI, reference services need to move beyond teaching the research process toward helping users understand and navigate the broader information landscape.

This report shares the stories behind development of our AI workshops, post-workshop feedback, and broader discussions on digital and AI literacy in Canada.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI literacy, digital literacy, reference services, library instruction, academic library, human-centred support