A review of artificial intelligence implementation in academic library services

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force across various sectors, including academic libraries, offering potential paradigm shifts in operations and patron services. The imperative need for AI in educational library services stems from its myriad advantages in enhancing efficiency and service quality. Despite its promise, the integration of AI within academic libraries faces hurdles such as expertise shortages, infrastructure limitations, financial constraints, and employment concerns. This paper critically seeks to assess AI implementation in academic library services. The aim is to uncover adoption drivers and challenges in AI implementation in academic libraries. This paper conducts a comprehensive literature review to explore implementation of AI in academic libraries. The findings of the study indicate that AI implementation heralds an era of enhanced service delivery, albeit accompanied by challenges, notably in developing countries like South Africa. It also indicates that success hinges on meticulous planning, collaborative teamwork, adequate funding, and proactive promotion. Furthermore, the paper’s findings offer librarians and top management insights into navigating the adoption of AI projects within academic library settings efficiently.