The Perceived Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Library and Information Science in Tertiary Educational Institutions of Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into library operations has become increasingly important, yet its perceived role in academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria, remains underexplored. This study examined the perceived role of AI in cataloguing, its influence on book indexing, and its contribution to abstracting processes in tertiary educational institutions. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised library staff and library students from eight public tertiary institutions (excluding the monotechnic), from which 200 respondents (25 staff and 175 students) were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire whose validity and reliability were established prior to administration. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages) were used to address the research objectives, while the chi-square test was employed to test the corresponding hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that a majority of respondents perceived AI as enhancing cataloguing efficiency, improving indexing accuracy, and facilitating abstracting processes. Inferential analysis indicated statistically significant relationships between AI utilization and cataloguing (χ² = 12.96, p < .05), indexing (χ² = 19.36, p < .05), and abstracting (χ² = 10.24, p < .05). The study concludes that AI has a significant positive influence on library functions and recommends increased funding and strategic adoption of AI technologies in academic libraries.