Beyond bookshelves: holographic–robotic synergy in Caribbean libraries

Purpose The purpose of this study is to show how holographic librarians can deliver personalized, multilingual service for Caribbean libraries as well as to explore the role of robotic technology in bridging physical access gaps for Caribbean libraries. Finally, this study highlights how holography and robotic technologies enhance equity and resilience for Caribbean Libraries and to highlight futuristic models of service delivery where holography and robotics operate synergistically in Caribbean Libraries Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative document-based content analysis to examine how Caribbean libraries represent, plan for and justify the adoption of holographic and robotic technologies. To situate the documentary findings within the broader scholarly conversation, an integrated systematic literature analysis of peer-reviewed and gray literature on library robotics, holography, artificial intelligence in libraries and technology equity will be conducted. Findings Findings from the content analysis was compared with the literature synthesis to identify alignment or divergence between practice and scholarship, surface gaps in regional research or policy and propose context-sensitive implementation pathways for holographic–robotic systems in Caribbean libraries. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in this region and builds on previous discourse about the inclusion of AI, robotics and holographic technology in Caribbean libraries. This pushes the conversation a bit further by identifying practical approaches for this inclusion.