Journal Article: “Understanding Generative AI-Mediated User Engagement with Academic Library Resources”

The article linked below is a preprint (accepted manuscript) of a paper that will be published in the May 2027 issue of College & Research Libraries. 

Title

Understanding Generative AI-Mediated User Engagement with Academic Library Resources

Authors 

Hae Min Kim
Drexel University

Stacy Stanislaw
Drexel University

Source
via arXiv
Forthcoming: College & Research Libraries

DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2607.20328
To Be Published in College & Research Libraries

Abstract

This study empirically analyzed generative AI as an emerging discovery pathway to academic library resources. Utilizing web analytics from August 2023 to October 2025, the research identifies a significant increase in AI-mediated traffic, particularly following the integration of linked citation features. Referral analysis identified ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini as the primary platforms driving this traffic. A substantial portion of users reached the institutional repository, primarily accessing electronic theses and dissertations. This pattern suggests that AI retrieval mechanisms effectively surface resources with structured metadata and stable permalinks that are Open Access and freely available. The results illustrate how AI ecosystems currently expose library resources and underscore the need for continued analysis and a strategic response to the evolving AI landscape.

Direct to Abstract and Full Text

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