EFFECTS OF AVAILABILITY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BASED LIBRARY SERVICES ON STUDENTS' LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN SELECTED UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of availability of artificial intelligence based library services on students' learning experiences in selected universities in southwest Nigeria, namely; Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Ondo State and Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, Osun State, with a total population of 12,008 and 2, 685 students respectively. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with a consecutive sample of 411 undergraduates (91.3% response rate) drawn from Yamanes' (1967) formula. A structured and validated questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha coefficients above 0.70-0.73) measured availability of artificial intelligence based library services and students' learning experiences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. Results showed that artificial intelligence based library services were generally available at low level (grand mean=1.57) across both institutions while students learning experiences were found to be generally unfavorable (grand mean= 2.98) although, moderately positive with respect to physical learning environments and staff responsiveness. Regression analysis also indicated that availability of artificial intelligence based library services did not significantly predict students' learning experiences ($\beta = .082, R^2 = .007, p = .083$) and the null hypothesis was retained. These findings are attributed to the near-absence of functional artificial intelligence based library services across sample institutions. The findings therefore, underscore the imperative for systematic investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure within Nigerian universities and holds far-reaching implications for library policy, educational technology planning and broader agenda of digital transformation within African education.