Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Technology, and Information Literacy Instruction: Transforming the Role of Academic Libraries
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Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and mobile technology are revolutionising higher education, research, and library services. With the appearance of the generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity and the widespread use of smartphones and mobile applications by students, a lot has changed in terms of the ways learners’ access, assess, create, and utilise information. Thus, there is a paradigm shift in the traditional role of academic libraries that are known for providing information resources and information literacy (IL) instruction. The current paper will discuss the impact of AI and mobile technology on IL instruction in academic libraries and consider the ways in which librarians respond to converging technologies. It will consider applications for IL programs that include intelligent search systems, chatbots, mobile applications for libraries, personalised learning tools, research assistance, and automatic content analysis, as well as the benefits these technologies provide, including enriched learning experiences, flexible and personalised IL instruction regardless of the location, accessibility and engagement. However, it will also identify some of the significant challenges associated with these innovations, including disinformation, algorithmic biases, privacy issues, copyright violations, digital divide, and academic integrity risks. This paper presents a case for the need of librarians working in academia to go beyond information literacy skills to have skills in AI literacy, mobile information literacy, critical thinking, ethical use of technology, and digital citizenship, and ends with specific strategic recommendations for integrating AI and mobile technologies within the framework of IL education.
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