PERCEIVED BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF AI-POWERED CHATBOT ADOPTION AMONG ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS IN KASHIM IBRAHIM LIBRARY, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA

Abstract

While the extent of AI-powered chatbot adoption in Nigerian academic libraries remains
limited, the factors shaping librarians' willingness to adopt such tools specifically, their
perceived benefits and anticipated challenges remain comparatively underexplored. This study
examined the perceived benefits and challenges of AI-powered chatbot adoption among
academic librarians at Kashim Ibrahim Library (KIL), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
A survey research design was adopted, using total enumeration of the library's entire population
of 115 academic librarians. Data were collected using a self-developed instrument, the AI
Chatbot Adoption and Utilization Survey (AICAUS), administered online via Google Forms
between January and February 2025; 98 of 115 librarians responded (response rate = 77.8%).
The instrument demonstrated good internal consistency (overall Cronbach's alpha = 0.87).
Descriptive statistics frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to
analyse responses on a 5-point Likert scale. Findings show strong recognition of chatbots'
potential benefits: faster response to user queries was the most valued benefit (71.3%, mean =
4.10), followed by 24/7 availability (65.2%, mean = 3.90), improved user satisfaction (60.9%,
mean = 3.85), and reduced staff workload (59.1%, mean = 3.80); support for visually and
hearing-impaired users was the least recognised benefit (45.2%, mean = 3.40). Regarding
challenges, lack of technical expertise was the most pressing barrier (66.1%, mean = 3.90),
followed by limited funding (60.9%, mean = 3.85), inadequate infrastructure (59.1%, mean =
3.80), data privacy and security concerns (52.2%, mean = 3.65), and user resistance or lack of
awareness (50.4%, mean = 3.60). Aggregate benefit and challenge means (3.81 and 3.76,
respectively) were closely matched, indicating that librarians' favourable perceptions of chatbot
value are substantially, though not entirely, offset by concerns about implementationfeasibility. The study recommends targeted staff training, infrastructure investment, and
accessibility-focused enhancements to chatbot design.