Evaluating AI Features in Library Subscription Databases: A Practical Guide for Decision-Makers
A Library 2.0 / Learning Revolution Masterclass with Nicole Hennig
OVERVIEW:
Library subscription e-resources are beginning to include AI-powered features. These features can take many different forms – like natural language searching, AI-powered summaries, or mind maps of concepts in individual articles.
Sometimes these features show up in platform updates with little advance notice. Other times we’re faced with decisions on whether to activate the features or not, and sometimes we need to decide whether to pay extra for them.
In this session you’ll get a tour of different types of AI-powered features in products like Primo Research Assistant, ProQuest databases, Google Scholar Labs, and others.
We'll cover key ideas that librarians need to understand in order to evaluate these features and make informed decisions about enabling them.
You'll get a glossary of useful terms — semantic searching, RAG (retrieval-augmented generation), and MCP (model context protocol), an emerging standard for how AI tools connect to external data sources. We'll compare semantic searching with keyword searching and discuss the advantages and limitations of both.
The session also includes a checklist of considerations for evaluating these products, covering privacy, transparent linking to sources, clearly labeled AI features, and more.
This online webinar is part of our AI Series. Recording and slides will be shared with all registrants.
DATE: Monday, March 23, 2026, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm US - Eastern Time
COST:
- $99/person - includes live attendance and any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate. To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
TO REGISTER:
Use the payment box above to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to email admin@library20.com with the attendee's name and email address.- Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
- The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
- Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Learning Revolution or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
ALL-ACCESS PASSES: This webinar is part of the AI All-Access program but not a part of the Safe Library or Wellness All-Access programs.
NICOLE HENNIG
Nicole Hennig is an expert in instructional design, user experience, and emerging technologies. She is currently an e-learning developer and AI education specialist at the University of Arizona Libraries.
Previously, she worked for the MIT Libraries as head of the user experience department. In her 14 years of experience at MIT, she won awards for innovation and worked to keep academics up to date with the best new technologies.
She is the author of several books, including Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies, Apps for Librarians, and Privacy & Security Online.
Librarians who take her courses are applying what they’ve learned in their communities. See their testimonials.
To stay current with the latest developments in AI, sign up for her email newsletter, Generative AI News, and follow her on Bluesky or Mastodon, where she posts daily about libraries, artificial intelligence, and other technologies.
