How Al is revolutionising libraries

LIBRARIES around the world and in South Africa are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) innovations as a complementary tool to the services provided at libraries to better serve users.

- GCWALISILE KHANYILE

Librarian tasks such as cataloguing materials to make them more accessible online, issuing and returning library books, and renewing those books are now Al-driven.

However, experts say that Al and robotics will not cause library employees to lose their jobs, but staff will be trained for more professional roles, as the field transitions to Al and robotics.

These details were revealed during the 5th IFLA Librarians Symposium, held by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, in partnership with the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Information Technology Section, and IFLA Artificial Intelligence (AI) Special Interest Group (SIG), in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, recently.

This year's theme was Artificial Intelligence and Robots Transforming Libraries: Opportunities and Challenges, with a focus on the Southern African region.

Experts from around the world in fields such as AI, robotics, and Library Information Services shared best practices in generative AI, the importance of ethical AI deployment in supporting research, teaching, and library operations, during the symposium.

The responsible use of Al in education involves using Al tools to enhance learning, support educators, and promote student well-being while respecting ethics, data privacy, and academic integrity.

Professor Anil Chaturgoon, the acting deputy vice chancellor for Research and Innovation at UKZN, reflected on the role that libraries have played throughout history and described them as a timeless hub of knowledge and innovation.

He said from the ancient scrolls of Alexandria to the digital archives of today, libraries have preserved humanity's collective wisdom and made it accessible to all.

About the new era, he said Al is now a transformative force rather than a distant dream or niche academic pursuit.