Future Libraries in the Age of AI: Service Transformation and Governance Challenges

Closes:
Journal
Library Hi Tech
Guest editor(s)
Dan Wu, Shaobo Liang,

Introduction

AI technologies are reshaping libraries from traditional resource repositories to intelligent knowledge service hubs, driving transformative changes in service models, user interaction and operational workflows. This special issue focuses on the dual dimensions of AI-enabled library service innovation and AI governance challenges. This special issue aims to address critical issues including trustworthy AI application, data privacy protection, algorithmic fairness and inclusive service in libraries, while showcasing cutting-edge empirical research, case studies and theoretical explorations of AI adoption in library practice globally. This issue seeks to bridge academia and industry, providing evidence-based insights for library managers, LIS scholars and AI researchers to advance sustainable, equitable and human-centred library development in the AI age.

List of Topic Areas

  • AI-enabled library services
  • Personalized and proactive knowledge services
  • Human-centred intelligent library systems
  • AI-supported reference and learning services
  • Intelligent agents for library services
  • Agent-based user support and academic assistance
  • Multi-agent systems in library workflows
  • Conversational agents and library interaction design
  • Trustworthy AI in libraries
  • Privacy, transparency, and explainability
  • Bias, fairness, and inclusion in AI-enabled library services

Submission Information

Submissions of full manuscripts are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available here:

Submit via ScholarOne

Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see:

Author guidelines

Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to “Please select the issue you are submitting to”.

Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.

Key Dates

Opening date for manuscript submissions: 1 November 2026

Closing date for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027