AWARENESS OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGE NCE (AI) FOR ENHANCING INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOKOTO, NIGERIA

Purpose: The paper aimed to examine the level of awareness, preparedness, challenges, and strategies for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Information Retrieval (IR) systems in university libraries in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Design/Methodology/Approach: A mixed-method approach was adopted, employing a descriptive survey design and thematic analysis. The population comprised 20 members of the library management committees from four purposively selected universities (federal, state, and private). Stratified sampling was used to select five ICT-inclined professionals from each university's library management committee. Findings: Findings revealed that library management committees are fully aware of AI’s contributions to enhancing IR systems. However, several challenges hinder effective AI adoption, including algorithm bias, lack of expertise, and insufficient funding. The study also showed that the level of preparedness for AI integration remains at an early stage due to infrastructural gaps and a shortage of AI-trained library personnel. Originality/Value: The paper emphasizes the importance of AI adoption in university libraries to improve information retrieval efficiency and service delivery. It recommends the implementation of specialized AI training for library personnel, acquisition of AI-driven tools (e.g., Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, and Chatbots), and enforcement of the NUC directive mandating 10% of recurrent expenditure be allocated to libraries. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Information Retrieval, University Libraries, Sokoto, AI Integration, Library Management Paper type: Empirical research