Identifying and Categorizing the Dimensions and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Library Services Using Meta-Synthesis Method

The objective of the present study is to identify and categorize the dimensions and applications of artificial intelligence in library services.

The present research method is the meta-synthesis applied using the seven-stage Sandelowski & Barroso to obtain a comprehensive combination of the research subject based on qualitative studies. These steps include the clear problem statement, systematic literature review, search of selected texts, extraction of information provided in texts, analysis and combination of findings, quality control, and presentation of results. The English papers related to the research field from 2010 to 2020 in the Web of Science database and the Persian articles relevant to the research field from 2001 to December 2020 in the Magiran, Noormags, SID, IranDoc, Civilica, Ensani.ir, and ISC databases have been investigated. After concordance of article acceptance criteria, 35 papers out of 1116 retrieved articles were selected for review by the meta-synthesis method.

According to the evaluations performed by the content analysis approach, 35 articles identified with the most overlapping in three topics, eight concepts, and 36 codes for the dimensions of artificial intelligence were labeled in libraries. The research findings indicate that artificial intelligence will play a role in acquisitions, organization, search on databases, reference, book circulation, information retrieval, planning and design and development of the library, and more extensively employed in public services and technical services compared to the library management services. Moreover, by comparing the frequency of application of artificial intelligence in the concepts extracted from the articles, it is concluded that the functions of artificial intelligence mostly affect the circulation department of the library; the reference, information retrieval, and information organization are in the next places, respectively. According to studies, management services are at the lowest level in terms of being affected by the advantages of artificial intelligence. In the indicators section, "diagnosis and understanding of user information need", "selecting the appropriate strategy for search and responding users," and "analysis of question and search strategy" are the most affected indicators, and "knowledge management in the library" and "digital library design" are the least affected indicators by the functions of artificial intelligence.

The results of the present study indicate that artificial intelligence can make extensive developments in all sections of libraries and will drastically change the library. Identifying the components of artificial intelligence in libraries and adding knowledge in this field makes librarians and information center managers better understand artificial intelligence technology and its potentials for application in different sectors of libraries.