University libraries in transition: Understanding challenges and dilemmas of service transformation in the AI era
Hanyu Miao, Zengmin Wang, Lihong Zhou · Information Research · 2026
Introduction. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), university libraries are caught in a dilemma between transformation and maintaining the status quo. While the latter is reasonable, the transformation is considered imperative but multidimensionally challenging. Method. By employing a meta-analysis qualitative approach, interview data of 16 librarians and 24 researchers from 2 case studies were analysed to identify the challenges of the transformation in university library services. Analysis. Adopting the actor network theory (ANT) as a basic framework, the thematic analysis reveals the challenges from 5 nonhuman actors and 4 human actors (including policies, finance, infrastructure and software, AI algorithms, ethics, administration, library, database agents, and users). Results. The inductive coding analysis identified 28 challenges of university library services transformation. Based on the findings, this study proposed a model of conflict among actors. Conclusion(s). The identified challenges provide useful theoretical and practical evidence for optimising AI-driven transformation of university libraries. Moreover, the case setting is based in China, but the findings offer useful insights and indications that can be shared across international borders.