Adoption and Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Research Support and Knowledge Management in Academic Libraries: Evidence from the Mubi Zone, Nigeria.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a significant driver of change in research support services and knowledge management practices within academic libraries globally transformative despite increasing interest and awareness, the institutional adoption of AI in Nigerian academic libraries remains limited. This study examined the extent of awareness, readiness, adoption, and impact of AI tools on research support and knowledge management in academic libraries in the Mubi Zone, Nigeria. investigated  A descriptive survey research design was employed, involving 118 librarians and library staff drawn from Adamawa State University, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, and Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi comprising  Data were collected using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze levels of awareness, usage patterns, and infrastructural readiness, while one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to test differences across institutions. The findings revealed that although librarians demonstrated a high level of awareness of AI technologies, actual adoption remained low and largely experimental. AI applications were mainly utilized for basic services such as metadata generation, virtual reference, and repository support, with limited application in advanced research analytics and predictive knowledge management. Predominantly Major challenges identified included inadequate ICT infrastructure, limited technical expertise, absence of institutional AI policies, and insufficient funding. The study concludes that AI adoption in Mubi Zone academic libraries is still at an early stage and recommends strategic investment in infrastructure, staff capacity development, and policy frameworks to enable sustainable AI integration.