Awareness, adoption and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) by librarians for effective service delivery in university libraries in Benue State, Nigeria
Iortyom Gabriel Ajav, Helen Famaren Tor-Akwer · Journal of Library Services and Technologies · 2024
The speedy growth of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both unprecedented chances for the librarians. The aim of this study is to investigate the awareness, adoption and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) by librarians for effective service delivery in university libraries in Benue State Nigeria. The study raised four research objectives as well as four research questions to guide the study. A descriptive survey design was used. The population of the study was 128 librarians from 5 universities in Benue State. a census technique was adopted. A self-developed questionnaire was used to elicit responses from the respondents, and a simple percentage was adapted for data analysis. The result showed that there was little awareness, adoption and utilization of artificial intelligence in university libraries in Benue State, Nigeria. The findings revealed that AI has received minimal attention in university libraries in Benue State. The result of the study also indicate that obstacles to awareness, adoption and utilization of AI include significant disruption caused by artificial intelligence in traditional library services, lack of skills and a need for training of librarians prior to giving awareness, adoption and utilization of artificial intelligence, irregular power supply, and lack of adequate infrastructure for adoption and utilization among other problems. The study recommended the need to organize training for librarians to enhance their skills in using artificial intelligence to provide effective service delivery, and the university administration and libraries should commit and provide every necessary support for the awareness, adoption and utilization of artificial intelligence by way of providing the needed infrastructure and tools to ensure a rapid implementation and usage.