Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Libraries: A Review of Prospects and Challenges for University Libraries in Nigeria

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a software or hardware that can perform the tasks by stimulating human intelligence and then iteratively improve itself using the data it collects. AI is used in different spheres of human endeavor including libraries for ease and effectiveness. Different types of AI abound for use in academic libraries in Nigeria such as robots, RFID, chatbots, face recognition technologies, humanoid robots, expert system, natural processing language, AI classification tools, pattern recognition machine among others. These AI can increase the effectiveness of library operations in general, help libraries organize, store, retrieve information to better manage their digital holdings and can be used in the field of library security. This paper is aimed at exposing university libraries to various types of AI for library services, examine the benefits of applying these technologies in information service delivery, identify the challenges that university libraries may likely encounter in applying AI as well as proffer recommendation for university libraries in Nigeria.