Last Updated on February 21, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
… Calls on Librarians to Harness the Advantages of AI
By Emeka Oluka and Joy Adeyiga
“With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nigerian libraries have the potential to significantly enhance their services through improved Information Management and User Engagement.” This was the submission of Dr. Taofik Salisu, the Pioneer University Librarian, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) during his lecture, delivered at the 3rd Eminent Personality Lecture Series of the ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library (NAL).
Dr. Salisu who featured as the Guest Lecturer, delivered a lecture titled “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Library Service Delivery in Nigeria,’’ where he asserted that Libraries worldwide have been described as a place that plays a crucial role in facilitating education, research, and societal development.
According to Dr. Salisu, Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a subfield of Computer Science focused on creating computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as speech recognition, decision-making, and visual perception.
He added that AI technologies have various applications in libraries, including automatic cataloguing and classification, automatic translation of foreign language materials, automatic indexing, and retrieval of audiovisual materials.
Dr. Salisu further stated that in European libraries, AI was being used to enhance user experiences, support scholarly research, optimise collection management and improve digital services. Drawing an example from the British Library, he said that the library employed AI-based virtual assistants to provide personalised user support, while the National Library of France used AI algorithms to curate digital collections.
He further revealed that in African libraries, AI was being deployed to enhance digital libraries, language accessibility, preservation efforts, and user analytics.
To fully leverage AI in Nigerian libraries, Dr. Salisu said that there was a need to invest in training programmes, workshops and partnerships to build AI expertise among library staff, collaborate with AI providers ensuring data quality and governance, as well as piloting iterative implementation.
Earlier in his Welcome Address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, commended Dr. Salisu for laying a solid foundation for the ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library. He stated that each time the National Universities Commission (NUC) Accreditation Team visited the University, NAL was always rated as the best library in terms of both physical and electronic holdings.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that NAL has expanded over the years to the extent that almost all the Colleges now have an extension of the University Library in their College buildings.
He appreciated everyone who has contributed immensely to the development of the University Library. He thanked everyone for contributing their quota to the Eminent Personality Lecture Series and Awards, which aimed to provide a better understanding of what the library was all about.
The Lecture concluded with a call on Nigerian libraries to strategise, adopt and use AI for improved library and information service delivery, noting that the prospects for AI integration in Nigerian libraries are promising and offer several opportunities for enhancing library services, improving user experiences, and optimising library operations.
Eminent personalities at the event included a former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Kaka; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi; Deputy Vice-Chancellor Development, Prof. Kola Adebayo; Registrar, Dr. Titus Adeniyi, while awards were presented to past University Librarians, and some retired and serving staff of the Library.
