Smart Libraries in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: A State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) changes the paradigm of library services by introducing new ways of how libraries are run, delivered to users and handle information resources. This is a review article that includes a state-of the art analysis of intelligent libraries in the era of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the technological basis of intelligent libraries, the existing applications, issues related to implementation, and future directions of intelligent library systems. The systematic review of the recent literature demonstrates that there are three main areas of AI integration, namely, user services, resource management, and enhancement of accessibility, and critically evaluates the ethical, infrastructural, and professional issues that go hand in hand with the introduction of AI. The results indicate that the use of AI in academic and public libraries all over the world is on the rise, with conversational artificial intelligence, recommendation system, and predictive analytics being the most commonly discussed. Nevertheless, there are still vast differences between the developed and developing territories, and ethical issues of information privacy, algorithm bias, and job loss are not properly discussed. This review concludes with a proposal of a framework of responsible AI adoption in libraries and suggests areas of priority to focus in future research.