Leaders, practitioners and scientists' awareness of artificial intelligence in libraries: a pilot study

Abstract

PurposeThis study investigates the level of artificial intelligence (AI) awareness among library leaders, practitioners and scientists of Indonesian academic libraries to elucidate the benefits of AI implementation and its necessary infrastructure and challenges.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a purposive sampling technique to select the 38 participants and thematic analysis to analyze the data, identifying eight themes: understanding of AI, AI adoption, benefits of AI, competencies needed to support AI, facilities to support AI, factors supporting AI adoption, AI-inhibiting factors and expectations of AI.FindingsDifferent viewpoints provided full awareness among library stakeholders and sufficient information to begin AI initiatives in Indonesian libraries as leaders, practitioners and scientists had a favorable, open and encouraging outlook on AI.Research limitations/implicationsThe study does not investigate variations in perspectives between the participants, but it examines their understanding of AI and elaborates the results into the concept of an intelligent library. Moreover, this study only uses samples from academic libraries.Practical implicationsLibraries can take these results into consideration before implementing AI, especially in technology and facilities, librarian competency with regard to AI and leadership roles in AI projects.Social implicationsLibrary boards and library associations can use this research as a source to create guidelines about AI implementation in academic libraries.Originality/valueThe study addresses the gap in the research on university libraries' readiness and awareness to implement AI, especially in developing countries.

Editorial: 40th anniversary: contemporary library research

“…One important trend is artificial intelligence (AI) (Asemi et al , 2021; Okunlaya et al , 2022; Huang, 2022; Harisanty et al , 2022; Borgohain et al , 2022). Yoon et al (2022) surveyed public and academic librarians in North America and noted that academic librarians were aware of and used AI more often than public librarians.…”

Artificial intelligence adoption among human resource professionals: Does market turbulence play a role?

“…(2022), Harisanty et al. (2022), and Henao Ramírez and López‐Zapata (2022). Thus, our findings support the argument in current literature that organizations aiming to adopt new technologies must ensure their employees are technologically competent.…”

“…Harisanty et al. (2022) also reported that technology competency is required for AI adoption in organizations. Other previous studies, including those by Cruz‐Jesus et al.…”

“…According to Ghobakhloo and Ching ( 2019), knowledge and competency in technology among employees of organizations are keys to adopting AI technology. Harisanty et al (2022) also reported that technology competency is required for AI adoption in organizations. Other previous studies, including those by Cruz-Jesus et al (2019), Wang et al (2021), Zhu et al (2006), andHenao Ramírez andLópez-Zapata (2022), have also reported that the technological competency of organizations facilitates technological transformation and contributes to the easy adoption of technologies, such as AI technologies.…”

Guest editorial: Social robots, services and applications

“…Next, Agarwal et al (2022) reviewed the literature on chatbots and virtual assistants, which showed that this area has been increasing in the last few years. Finally, readers may be interested in reading Harisanty et al (2022), exploring leaders, practitioners and scientists' awareness of AI in libraries and another review of AI in libraries (Cox et al , 2019). Please also watch out for our call for paper on the journal website for “AI and Blockchain for Information and Library Sciences – Challenges and Possibilities.”…”