Artificial Intelligence and Libraries

Abstract

Innovations and changes in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) affect almost every sector, accelerate the fields and increase the quality of products and services. Especially the constantly developing software and web technologies provide the emergence of innovative ideas and inventions and open new horizons. Artificial Intelligence (AI), one of the technologies that has developed since the middle of the 20th century and is the focal point in today’s world, has a structure that can realize the dream of intelligent beings with thinking and reasoning functions, which human beings have dreamed of since the beginning of history. This technology, which is thought to bring about great transformations in almost every field, has the potential to fundamentally change libraries, which are information centers, in terms of both service understanding and institutional structure. In this study, AI implementations in the field of AI and libraries were examined based on the literature; the perceptions, awareness and expectations of university librarians about AI technology and implementations was tried to be determined. For this purpose, a questionnaire consisting of 18 questions was applied to all librarians (160 people) working in university libraries in Ankara, and the research data were obtained from 110 librarians who volunteered to participate in the study. These data were analyzed through SPSS program. In this study, where the descriptive method was used, it was found that the level of knowledge and skills of librarians about artificial intelligence technologies and applications was low; and it was determined that there are training needs to develop them. It is supposed that this study will provide opportunities by giving information about new technologies that can be used in libraries; raise awareness about AI and give ideas and contribute to librarians and administrators while planning the training to be held in libraries.