Artificial Intelligence Adoption in the National Library of Nigeria: Librarians’ Perceptions, Challenges, and Readiness in the Plateau State Branch
TL;DR
It is indicated that while librarians demonstrate moderate personal readiness to adopt AI technologies, institutional readiness remains limited, and the study recommends increased investment in technological infrastructure, policy development, and continuous professional training to support the effective adoption of Artificial Intelligence in library services.
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming information management and service delivery across various sectors, including libraries. The integration of AI technologies in library operations has the potential to enhance efficiency, improve information retrieval, and support innovative user services. However, the successful adoption of these technologies largely depends on librarians’ perceptions, institutional readiness, and the ability to address existing implementation challenges. This study examined Artificial Intelligence adoption in the National Library of Nigeria with particular focus on librarians’ perceptions, challenges, and readiness for adoption in the Plateau State Branch. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design using a structured questionnaire for data collection. The population of the study consisted of sixteen librarians working in the Plateau State Branch of the National Library of Nigeria, and all were included in the study through total population sampling. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that librarians generally possess positive perceptions toward the potential benefits of Artificial Intelligence technologies in library services. However, the study also identified several challenges affecting AI adoption, including inadequate funding, unreliable internet connectivity, epileptic power supply, insufficient training opportunities, and lack of institutional policies. The findings further indicated that while librarians demonstrate moderate personal readiness to adopt AI technologies, institutional readiness remains limited. The study therefore recommends increased investment in technological infrastructure, policy development, and continuous professional training to support the effective adoption of Artificial Intelligence in library services.