Beyond the click: validation fatigue and cognitive challenges in AI-enabled electronic resource management By Valfredo Lima da Silva, Graduate Program in Business Administration (PPGA), Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB)
Valfredo Lima da Silva · Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship · 2026
This conceptual article examines cognitive challenges associated with AI-enabled electronic resource management in libraries. As generative artificial intelligence increasingly supports discovery, cataloging, and information retrieval, librarians must continuously evaluate machine-generated outputs. Drawing on bounded rationality, working memory theory, cognitive load theory, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the article proposes the concept of validation fatigue, defined as the progressive depletion of cognitive resources caused by ongoing verification of AI-generated content. A conceptual framework links AI integration, cognitive load, validation fatigue, technology acceptance, and system effectiveness, offering implications for librarianship and future research.