Abstract:

Academic libraries continue to experience high demand for guest lectures on topics such as navigating library resources, integrating AI tools into the article search process, and understanding evidence synthesis and systematic review methods. As requests grow across departments, it has become increasingly difficult for librarians to meet instructional needs solely through live sessions. To explore scalable approaches, we developed a series of short instructional videos using an AI-assisted workflow that included automated script generation, curated stock footage, AI-produced videos, and synthesized narration. These videos were published on Purdue Libraries’ Research Toolkit Library Guide to provide open, reusable instructional support for both faculty and students.

To evaluate the videos’ perceived usefulness and potential teaching applications, we collected feedback through surveys distributed to library faculty and external instructors who regularly request guest lectures on these topics. The surveys examined perceptions of clarity, accuracy, and instructional relevance, as well as instructors’ intended approaches for incorporating the videos into their courses.

Findings from the faculty surveys indicate substantial interest in adopting the videos within a range of instructional contexts. Respondents noted that the videos could replace a guest lecture when schedules are constrained, serve as preparatory material for students before an in-person session, reinforce concepts during live instruction, or function as reusable learning objects within learning management systems. Participants emphasized the value of having concise, consistent, and accessible content aligned with commonly requested research instruction topics.

This study highlights the potential of AI-assisted video creation to expand library instructional capacity and support sustainable, flexible integration of research skills across diverse teaching environments.

Keywords:

Library Instruction, AI, Education Technology, Instructional Videos, Academic Libraries.