Information Access in an Era of Artificial Intelligence: Awareness and Use Among Academic Librarians in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

AI-powered tools and technologies have revolutionalized the ways that library users get information and yet, information providers are not adequately utilizing it.  A mixed methods research design was adopted for the study. Population comprised 303 information providers in Lagos State.  Self-structured questionnaire in Google form/hard copy was the instrument for the study. A total of 252 (83%) responded to the questionnaire.  Descriptive statistics was used for analysis. Findings indicated that respondents certified extent of awareness of information access with AI   as low; extent of use of AI tools by information providers in Lagos as low; level of accessibility of AI tools by information providers as low. Result revealed that AI technologies fasten library services and support users. It revealed that AI is not taking job of information providers in the library.  Study concluded that Lagos State academic libraries should create awareness scheme, provide user-friendly AI-access and training to information providers to improve their ICT-AI skills for good service delivery.