ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF PLATEAU STATE POLYTECHNIC BARKIN LADI LIBRARY

Abstract

practices in Plateau State Polytechnic Barkin Ladi Library. The study investigated the extent 
of AI utilization in the library, identified AI tools used for knowledge management practices, 
examined the impact of AI on knowledge acquisition, storage, retrieval, and dissemination, 
identified challenges affecting AI implementation, and suggested strategies for improving AI 
adoption in the library. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The 
population of the study consisted of 165 respondents made up of 30 librarians, 20 ICT 
personnel, 25 library officers, and 90 registered library users of Plateau State Polytechnic 
Barkin Ladi Library. A sample size of 120 respondents was selected using purposive and 
simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire 
titled “Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Management Questionnaire (AIKMQ)” and 
analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores. 
The findings revealed that AI technologies are moderately utilized in the library and have 
positively improved cataloguing, information retrieval, digital preservation, and user services. 
The major AI tools identified include Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC), institutional repositories, automated cataloguing systems, digital databases, plagiarism detection software, 
and chatbots. The study also identified inadequate funding, poor ICT infrastructure, unstable 
power supply, poor internet connectivity, and shortage of skilled personnel as major 
challenges affecting AI implementation. The study concluded that Artificial Intelligence is an 
important tool for enhancing knowledge management practices in academic libraries. The 
study recommended increased funding for ICT infrastructure, regular staff training, policy 
support for digital transformation, and collaboration between libraries and technology 
organizations