Efficacy and barriers in using Artificial Intelligence in Libraries: A survey of university librarians

Abstract

AI has emerged as a groundbreaking technology in the contemporary online era and is changing academic libraries, where it makes them more efficient and effective to acquire information and deliver customer-oriented services. The current study focuses on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Pakistani university libraries with particular focus on the perceptions of university librarians about the efficacy of AI and the challenges associated with its application. A quantitative research methodology is adopted in the study, where a structured questionnaire was adopted. The data from 160 librarians in both the public and the private sector libraries in the universities were collected through convenient sampling. The descriptive (frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviation)) and inferential statistics (correlation and t-test) were used for data analysis. The findings indicate that the librarians strongly agreed about the effectiveness of AI in libraries and hence they favor the use of AI in libraries. Respondents also faced certain significant barriers which include the lack of training, financial issues, bad infrastructure, and weak institutional support. Correlation analysis reveals that perceptions of AI effectiveness have positive correlation with each other. Demographic factors have also affected the opinion of respondents about the challenges of AI. In conclusion of this paper, it is recommended that AI in Pakistan should be incorporated under a strategic plan, infrastructure investments, and training of the staff professionally.