Understanding Generative AI-mediated User Engagement with Academic Library Resources
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 effectiv
