Robots and Human Librarians for Delivering Library Services to Patrons

ABSTRACT

The study examined if students would prefer robots to human librarians in the delivery of library services. The study used a descriptive survey research design. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of the 1009 students surveyed, findings indicated that most students would prefer human librarians to robots in the delivery of library services. However, students would like to see robots introduced into library services because they believe they would be effective in giving directions, welcoming users, ensuring library security, answering library users’ questions, monitoring library users’ activities, library users’ registrations, charging and discharging of books, and maintaining library quietness. The study concluded that robots are necessary for providing library services and therefore recommends that robots be bought to do difficult and time-consuming jobs such as library security, monitoring library user activities, and providing directions.

KEYWORDS:

• Robots
• librarians
• library services
• patrons
• Information technology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.