Academic librarians’ awareness, use, and ethical perspectives on generative AI in information research within Nigerian higher education

Abstract

This study examined awareness, adoption, ethical concerns, and institutional policy adequacy regarding generative AI (GenAI) tools among academic librarians in Nigeria (N = 314). The study was guided by 6 research question and 6 research objectives. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering awareness, adoption, ethical perceptions, and policy frameworks. Results indicated high awareness of GenAI tools (M = 3.80, SD = 0.68), with familiarity and understanding of potential risks scoring highest (M = 3.99–3.95). Adoption was moderate (M = 3.33, SD = 0.72), with the highest uptake in recommending GenAI tools to users (M = 3.64) and the lowest integration into workshops (M = 2.99). Librarians expressed very high ethical concerns (M = 3.96, SD = 0.70), particularly regarding plagiarism (M = 4.10) and hallucinated content (M = 3.98). Institutional policies were perceived as inadequate (M = 2.90, SD = 1.28). Correlation analysis revealed that awareness strongly predicted adoption (r = .56, p < .001), while policy adequacy moderately reduced ethical concerns (r = –.34, p < .001). Group analyses indicated federal librarians had higher awareness (M = 3.92 vs. 3.61, p = .005) and adoption (M = 3.48 vs. 3.27, p = .036) than state librarians. The findings highlight the need for structured training, robust ethical guidelines, and comprehensive institutional AI policies to support responsible GenAI integration in academic libraries.