Clarivate Survey Finds Libraries Cautious on AI as Asia and China Pull Ahead
A recent report from Clarivate, the Pulse of the Library, gathered input from 1,876 library professionals worldwide between April 22 and May 18. The survey revealed that 57% of respondents work in the United States, with other participants from mainland China (5.3%), the United Kingdom (4%), India (3.5%), and Australia (2.7%). The findings indicate that artificial intelligence (AI) is primarily being leveraged to boost staff efficiency (57.7%), enhance student learning (55.8%), and facilitate content discovery (53.3%). Despite advances, a notable divide exists between U.S. libraries that utilize AI and those that remain skeptical, prompting calls for more effective AI implementation strategies.
Key facts
- Clarivate released its third annual Pulse of the Library report on AI implementation in academic, public, and national libraries.
- The survey received 1,876 responses between April 22 and May 18, with 57% from U.S.-based library workers.
- Top AI uses: staff productivity (57.7%), student learning (55.8%), content discovery (53.3%); lowest: digital preservation (21.3%) and collection management (27.5%).
- Clarivate identified a widening gap between libraries embracing AI and those taking a wait-and-see approach.
- AI confidence increased marginally in 2025 but stalled in 2026; the U.S. remains the most cautious region, while Asia and mainland China have pulled ahead.
- Oren Beit-Arie, Clarivate SVP, said the survey provides a playbook for AI integration and noted a need for practical guidelines.
- More than half of libraries actively implementing AI operate under joint library and IT governance.
- About 95% of students actively use AI tools like Gemini and Claude to locate resources, based on a Clarivate user experience survey earlier this year.
- Clarivate is integrating Nexus Connect, an MCP-based tool, and embeds AI into ProQuest, Web of Science, and Alma.
Entities
Artists
- Helen Chung-Kesl
- Oren Beit-Arie
Institutions
- Clarivate
- LibTech Insights
- ProQuest
- Web of Science
- Alma
- Gemini
- Claude
Locations
- United States
- mainland China
- China
- United Kingdom
- India
- Australia
- Asia