Factors Driving Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adoption in Italy, Mexico, Bulgaria, and Bangladesh: A Comparative Qualitative Study of Library Professionals
Jesús Lau, Anna Maria Tammaro, Plamen Miltenoff, Dilara Begum, Francesco Zanichelli, Damiano Orrù, Daniel Jorge Sanabria Barrios, Edgar Santiago · The International Information & Library Review · 2025
This qualitative comparative study builds on an earlier survey of AI perceptions among librarians in Italy, Mexico, Bulgaria, and Bangladesh. Through 39 in-depth interviews, researchers explored challenges, impacts, and recommendations for AI adoption in libraries. Transcripts were anonymized, translated, and analyzed using a hybrid methodology combining manual coding with six generative AI tools. Gemini 2.5 Pro, selected for its accuracy and nuanced output, supported the final analysis. Three key recommendations emerged: transforming librarians’ mindsets toward AI, promoting institutional and cross-border collaboration, and addressing the urgent need for comprehensive training to develop AI literacy, ethical awareness, and proactive leadership.