Only 9% of Public Library Workers Say Their Library Has an AI Policy

Do public libraries have AI policies? Mostly not. In a survey of 327 public library workers, only 9% said their library had an AI policy, even though most respondents said their library needs one. The library advocacy group Library Futures published the results on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

The survey ran in spring 2026 and was carried out by Library Futures' AI Policy Working Group, part of its 2025-26 Research Network. The group is using the results to build a model AI policy and guidelines for public libraries, covering collection development, reference, discovery and services.

The headline numbers

• 9% of respondents said their library had an AI policy.
• 53% worked at libraries with no AI policy.
• 21% said a policy was being drafted.
• 17% weren't sure whether one existed.

Library Futures notes the sample can't speak for every public library worker. Responses that failed quality filters, including bot detection, were removed.

Existing policies aren't doing much

The group looked closely at the 29 respondents whose libraries had at least one AI policy. Most rated those policies "not at all useful" for evaluating AI tools, educating patrons, training staff, and handling ethics and privacy. The only area where most found the policy useful was understanding what staff are permitted to do, and even there the typical rating was "slightly useful."

Among respondents who listed gaps, the most common were patron usage, a process for evaluating or approving new AI tools, ethical considerations and privacy protections.

Why staff want rules

Among workers at libraries without a policy, the overwhelming majority said they need one. Their reasons included protecting patron privacy, information integrity, guiding collection development and vendor relations, labelling and removing AI-generated content in subscription products, AI literacy, contract negotiations with vendors, and job security.

The survey also found deep disagreement. Many respondents described AI as antithetical to what public libraries stand for. Others saw it as a useful tool. Some reported a divide between senior administrators promoting AI and frontline staff worried about it.

AI-generated books and covers are a live worry

One tension stands out for anyone who writes or publishes books. Respondents raised concerns about "AI slop sold by library vendors" ending up in collections, and about how hard it is to spot and deal with low-quality AI-generated material. Some worried about buying a book with an AI-generated cover without knowing it.

Staff also asked whether AI-generated meeting notes could become part of the public record, and small and rural libraries asked for guidance that reflects staff "wearing multiple hats."

What Library Futures will produce next

Based on the findings, the working group plans to publish:

• General AI policy guidelines, including the pros, cons and implications of adopting AI or not
• A model AI policy that libraries can adapt locally
• Recommendations for vendor negotiations that prioritise privacy and information integrity and require opt-outs for libraries and users
• Collection development recommendations on identifying AI-generated materials, labelling and metadata for AI-generated content, and staff training
• A bibliography of resources

Why it matters for authors

Libraries are getting ready to screen for AI content. The working group is explicitly drafting guidance on identifying AI-generated materials and labelling them in metadata. If your book reaches libraries through a distributor or digital platform, expect more questions about how it was made.

AI covers carry risk. Library workers named AI-generated covers as a specific concern. An author who uses AI art may find that choice affects how a librarian views the book, separate from the writing inside.

Be transparent in your metadata. As platforms and libraries move toward disclosure, accurate descriptions of how a book was created protect your reputation. PT's guide on getting your book into libraries explains the main digital routes, and PT's coverage of the ACRL academic library survey tracks how libraries are changing.

Sources

• Library Futures: AI Policy for Public Libraries: 2026 Library Futures Survey Results (October 15, 2026)