{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]],"date-time":"2025-11-26T10:51:54Z","timestamp":1764154314128,"version":"3.46.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]],"date-time":"2025-08-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754611200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licences\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,28]]},"abstract":"\n Purpose<\/jats:title>\n The purpose of this study is to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic libraries in South Africa. This study used Web content analysis focussing on university library websites and LibGuides.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title>\n The integration of AI in academic libraries is a trend globally. However, there remains a debilitating lack of studies that report the practical applications of AI in academic libraries. Triggered by this gap, this study sought to explore practical applications of AI in academic libraries in South Africa. This study used Web content analysis focussing on university library websites and LibGuides. Key thematic trends were identified such as AI guidelines and policies, AI advocacy, AI literacy training, AI scholarly engagement and AI-powered resources and services, among others.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Findings<\/jats:title>\n Key thematic trends were identified such as AI guidelines and policies, AI advocacy, AI literacy training, AI scholarly engagement and AI-powered resources and services, among others. While these libraries are shown to embrace AI through their advocacy efforts and participation in intellectual discourse, there is very little evidence of them leveraging advanced AI tools such as robotics and AI chatbots to improve library efficiencies. This study concludes by calling for the development of AI policies, heightened investment in AI infrastructure, closer cooperation and skills development to maximise AI benefits in university libraries.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title>\n The results of this study point to a need for collaborative effort to offer AI literacy to students. This will heighten ethical use of AI for research, teaching and learning. In addition, there needs to be ongoing debates and discussions on the best practices to adopt AI in academic libraries. Given that the field is new, there is a lot that practitioners and scholars can learn from each other and among each other through case studies. If properly embraced, then AI can improve efficiencies in academic libraries\u2019 processes and free staff time so that they can focus on more complex functions that require human intuition and ability.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Practical implications<\/jats:title>\n These results point to a need for collaborative effort to offer AI literacy to students. This will heighten ethical use of AI for research, teaching and learning. In addition, ongoing debates and discussions on the best practices to adopt AI in academic libraries are required. Given that the field is new, there is a lot that practitioners and scholars can learn from each other and among each other through case studies. If properly embraced, then AI can improve efficiencies in academic libraries\u2019 processes and free staff time so that they can focus on complex tasks that require human intuition and ability.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Originality\/value<\/jats:title>\n Academic library literature in AI is mostly exploratory with very little in the way of practical implementations. This study goes beyond theoretical discussions and provides compelling evidence of how AI is currently integrated in academic libraries in South Africa.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/dlp-03-2025-0042","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]],"date-time":"2025-08-08T06:57:10Z","timestamp":1754636230000},"page":"694-707","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Artificial intelligence integration in academic libraries in South Africa: a Web analysis"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"41","author":[{"given":"Siviwe","family":"Bangani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Stellenbosch University Department of Library and Information Service, , Stellenbosch,","place":["South Africa"]}]}],"member":"140","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref001","unstructured":"American Library Association\n (2019), \u201cArtificial intelligence\u201d, ALA, Chicago, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref002","first-page":"65","volume-title":"Learning Outcomes of Classroom Research","author":"Anjila","year":"2021"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025112605262139500_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"412","DOI":"10.1108\/LHT-02-2020-0038","article-title":"Intelligent libraries: a review on expert systems, artificial intelligence, and robot","volume":"39","author":"Asemi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Library Hi Tech"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025112605262139500_ref004","first-page":"1","article-title":"A proposed framework for a digital literacy course for artificial intelligence in academic libraries","volume":"90","author":"Chigwada","year":"2024","journal-title":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref005","unstructured":"Committee of Higher Education Libraries of South Africa\n (2021), \u201cState of South African academic libraries report: embracing new frontiers. [unpublished report]\u201d, CHELSA, Pretoria, available at:Link to a PDF of the cited article."},{"issue":"2","key":"2025112605262139500_ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.1177\/09610006221142029","article-title":"Defining artificial intelligence for librarians","volume":"56","author":"Cox","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Librarianship and Information Science"},{"issue":"3","key":"2025112605262139500_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"418","DOI":"10.1108\/LHT-08-2018-0105","article-title":"The intelligent library: thought leaders\u2019 views on the likely impact of artificial intelligence on academic libraries","volume":"37","author":"Cox","year":"2019","journal-title":"Library Hi Tech"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref008","first-page":"2666669241284230","article-title":"Artificial intelligence and academic integrity: the role of academic librarians","author":"Filson","year":"2024","journal-title":"Information Development"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025112605262139500_ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.53377\/lq.10934","article-title":"Understanding artificial intelligence in research libraries\u2013extensive literature review","volume":"32","author":"Gasparini","year":"2022","journal-title":"LIBER Quarterly: The Journal of the Association of European Research Libraries"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025112605262139500_ref010","first-page":"1","article-title":"The rise of artificial intelligence in libraries: the ethical and equitable methodologies, and prospects for empowering library users","volume":"5","author":"Hodonu-Wusu","year":"2024","journal-title":"AI and Ethics:"},{"issue":"6","key":"2025112605262139500_ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102772","DOI":"10.1016\/j.acalib.2023.102772","article-title":"Artificial intelligence in academic library strategy in the United Kingdom and the mainland of China","volume":"49","author":"Huang","year":"2023","journal-title":"The Journal of Academic Librarianship"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref012","unstructured":"International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions\n (2020), \u201cIFLA statement on libraries and artificial intelligence\u201d, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"issue":"5-6","key":"2025112605262139500_ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1080\/0361526X.2024.2433262","article-title":"Artificial intelligence integration in academic libraries: perspectives of LIS professionals in India","volume":"85","author":"Kalbande","year":"2024","journal-title":"The Serials Librarian"},{"issue":"4","key":"2025112605262139500_ref014","first-page":"12","article-title":"A proposal for the Dartmouth summer research project on artificial intelligence, august 31, 1955","volume":"27","author":"McCarthy","year":"2006","journal-title":"AI Magazine"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref015","first-page":"1","volume-title":"2024 IST-Africa Conference (IST-Africa)","author":"Mabona","year":"2024"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref016","unstructured":"Miao, F. and Shiohira, K. (2022), \u201cK-12 AI curricula. A mapping of government-endorsed AI curricula\u201d, UNESCO Publishing, Paris, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"issue":"68","key":"2025112605262139500_ref017","first-page":"3","article-title":"Artificial intelligence for the management of library and information services in academic libraries in the fifth industrial revolution","volume":"2024","author":"Modiba","year":"2024","journal-title":"Innovation: journal of Appropriate Librarianship and Information Work in Southern Africa"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref018","first-page":"3400352241301780","article-title":"Use of artificial intelligence innovations in public academic libraries","author":"Molaudzi","year":"2025","journal-title":"IFLA Journal"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref019","unstructured":"Mvungi, S. and Walker, A. (2024), \u201cUsing AI to enhance access to UCT libraries audiovisual archives\u201d, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref020","unstructured":"National Immunization Technical Advisory Group\n (2025), \u201cLibGuides: general introduction\u201d, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"issue":"6-7","key":"2025112605262139500_ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.1108\/LM-04-2020-0067","article-title":"Readiness of academic libraries in South Africa to research, teaching and learning support in the fourth industrial revolution","volume":"41","author":"Ocholla","year":"2020","journal-title":"Library Management"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref022","first-page":"120","article-title":"Artificial intelligence in libraries","author":"Omame","year":"2020","journal-title":"Managing and Adapting Library Information Services for Future Users IGI Global Scientific Publishing"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025112605262139500_ref023","first-page":"1","article-title":"The performance of South African and Kenyan universities on the world wide web: a web link analysis","volume":"11","author":"Onyancha","year":"2007","journal-title":"Cybermetrics: International Journal of Scientometrics, Informetrics and Bibliometrics"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref024","unstructured":"Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development\n (2024), \u201cExplanatory memorandum on the updated OECD definition of an ai system\u201d, OECD Publishing, Paris, available at:Link to a PDF of the cited article."},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref025","unstructured":"Osorio, N.L.\n (2024), \u201cA descriptive analysis of AI guides in academic libraries\u201d, Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), available at:Link to the cited article"},{"issue":"1","key":"2025112605262139500_ref026","first-page":"1","article-title":"Artificial intelligence in the library: gauging the potential application and implications for contemporary library services in Nigeria","volume":"2","author":"Oyetola","year":"2023","journal-title":"Data and Metadata"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025112605262139500_ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.7553\/90-2-2394","article-title":"Utilisation of artificial intelligence for the provision of information services at the university of Limpopo libraries","volume":"90","author":"Rabatseta","year":"2024","journal-title":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref028","unstructured":"Raghvaiah, P. and Sreekanth, K. (2023), \u201cAdopting robots in academic libraries in India: a feasibility study\u201d, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref029","unstructured":"Reynolds, B.\n (2023), \u201cDUT library host its second research colloquium to promote the culture of research\u201d, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref030","unstructured":"Schwab, K.\n (2016), \u201cThe fourth industrial revolution: what it means, how to respond\u201d, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref031","unstructured":"Schwab, K.\n (2025), \u201cThe fourth industrial revolution\u201d, available at:Link to the cited article"},{"issue":"1-5","key":"2025112605262139500_ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1080\/26915979.2023.2281668","article-title":"Application of artificial intelligence for reference services in academic libraries: a global overview through a systematic review of literature","volume":"32","author":"Tella","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Library Resource Sharing"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.4018\/979-8-3693-1573-6.ch002","volume-title":"Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Libraries","author":"Tzanova","year":"2024"},{"volume-title":"Preliminary Study on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence","year":"2019","author":"United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology","key":"2025112605262139500_ref034"},{"issue":"4","key":"2025112605262139500_ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.3233\/ISU-190065","article-title":"Artificial intelligence in academic libraries: an environmental scan","volume":"39","author":"Wheatley","year":"2019","journal-title":"Information Services and Use"},{"key":"2025112605262139500_ref036","unstructured":"Wiley\n (2025), \u201cExplanAItions: an AI study by Wiley\u201d, available at:Link to a PDF of the cited article."},{"issue":"2","key":"2025112605262139500_ref037","first-page":"1","article-title":"A review of artificial intelligence implementation in academic library services","volume":"90","author":"Zondi","year":"2024","journal-title":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science"}],"container-title":["Digital Library Perspectives"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/dlp\/article-pdf\/41\/4\/694\/10052123\/dlp-03-2025-0042en.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/dlp\/article-pdf\/41\/4\/694\/10052123\/dlp-03-2025-0042en.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]],"date-time":"2025-11-26T10:26:39Z","timestamp":1764152799000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/dlp\/article\/41\/4\/694\/1271656\/Artificial-intelligence-integration-in-academic"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,11]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,28]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/dlp-03-2025-0042","relation":{},"ISSN":["2059-5816","2059-5824"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"2059-5816"},{"type":"electronic","value":"2059-5824"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,11]]}}}