ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ADOPTION AND ELECTRONIC RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INTEGRATION IN POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES IN NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA: A DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS PERSPECTIVE

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to enhance and strengthen Electronic Records Management Systems (ERMS), yet empirical evidence from Nigerian polytechnic libraries is limited. This study investigated AI awareness, adoption, and utilization for improving ERMS in polytechnic libraries in North-Western Nigeria. Guided by Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory, a mixed-methods descriptive survey design was adopted. Eleven NBTE-accredited polytechnics were purposively selected. From a population of 205 librarians and library officers, a stratified sample of 166 respondents was drawn using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination approach. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, and analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and thematic analysis. The findings revealed moderate AI awareness but low levels of advanced adoption, with utilization largely limited to basic service delivery functions such as virtual reference and automated search. AI integration with ERMS was minimal, resulting in continued reliance on manual or semi-digital records management practices. Major challenges included inadequate infrastructure, limited AI-related skills, weak policy frameworks, and institutional resistance. However, strong prospects were identified for AI-driven ERMS in areas such as automated metadata management, improved retrieval efficiency, and compliance monitoring. The study concludes that strategic policy support, capacity building, and phased implementation are essential for effective AI-enabled ERMS in Nigerian polytechnic libraries.