Investigating factors affecting the acceptance and use of artificial intelligence tools by librarians in academic libraries

Objective: Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that aims to design systems that are capable of performing human-like behaviors such as learning, reasoning, problem solving, language understanding, and decision-making. Accordingly, artificial intelligence tools, relying on these capabilities, can play an effective role in providing intelligent library services. Despite these capabilities, in many libraries there is a large gap between the availability of technology and the acceptance and effective use of these tools. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the status of acceptance and use of artificial intelligence tools among librarians in Iranian academic libraries based on UTAUT Model.
Methodology: The present study is quantitative and applied; it was conducted using a survey method. The collection tool was the standard questionnaire of Venkatesh et al., which examines the level of users' acceptance and use of technology in the form of 21 items and 6 components (performance expectation, effort expectation, social influence, facilitation of conditions, purposeful behavior, and end use). The version of this tool used was developed with respect to the context of Iranian academic libraries and the subject of artificial intelligence under the supervision of experts and professors in the field of information science and knowledge, and its validity and reliability were evaluated. The statistical population was all librarians working in academic libraries affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and the Ministry of Health (450 person); based on the Morgan table, the research tool in the form of an electronic questionnaire was randomly provided to 210 librarians, and finally 136 people participated in this study.
Findings: The results obtained from the one-sample t-test showed that the average of all components is higher than the criterion number (3) (Sig<0.001). However, comparing the average of librarians' opinions in the 4 main components shows that the performance expectation component with an average of (3.67) is at the highest level and the facilitation component with an average of (3.42) is at the lowest level. These findings indicate that despite the fact that librarians are aware of improving the productivity and efficiency of library services by using artificial intelligence tools; however, the infrastructure and support resources for using these tools require more attention from upstream managers and policymakers. On the other hand, independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that none of the demographic variables created a significant difference in the level of acceptance and use of artificial intelligence tools among librarians in academic libraries.
Conclusion: Iranian academic librarians have a positive attitude towards artificial intelligence tools, and the path to acceptance of this technology in Iranian academic libraries has been opened, and there is a potential capacity for its expansion and development. The purposeful behavior and actual use of Iranian academic librarians are at a high level, which indicates that not only do librarians have the intention and motivation to use artificial intelligence tools; but they also use these tools in practice to improve and advance their careers. However, the technical infrastructure and facilities required for the optimal use of these tools are not at an appropriate level. It is suggested that in order for librarians to benefit more from these tools, the parent organization's policymakers should formulate documented strategies, hold systematic training courses for librarians, and invest in creating the necessary infrastructure for using artificial intelligence tools in libraries. The results also show that librarians in Iranian academic libraries believe in improving the quality of library services by using artificial intelligence tools and consider it a factor in transformation and innovation in providing services and changing their role from traditional librarian to modern librarian. Based on this, it can be concluded that the future path for Iranian academic libraries is clear and librarians in these libraries will be receptive to new artificial intelligence tools.