The double-edged sword of AI: librarians’ perceptions of job displacement and polarization

Purpose – The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into library services has raised significant concerns regarding job displacement and workforce polarization. In so doing, this study aims to examine librarians’ perceptions of AI's impact on job displacement, job polarization and institutional policies guiding AI adoption. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, targeting academic librarians in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Using purposive sampling, this study focused on institutions that had integrated AI into library services. Data were collected from 95 academic librarians through a structured four-point Likert scale questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test and linear regression analysis were used for data analysis. Findings – Findings reveal that librarians perceive AI as a significant threat to job security, particularly for lower-skilled staff. AI adoption is creating job polarization, favouring technologically skilled librarians while limiting career opportunities for those lacking AI expertise. Institutional preparedness for AI adoption is inadequate, with many libraries lacking structured retraining programmes and financial support. Furthermore, hypothesis testing confirms that librarians’ perceptions of AI significantly influence job displacement concerns, while institutional policies have little impact on shaping these perceptions. Originality/value – While existing research often concentrates on technical applications of AI, this study shifts attention to how AI influences the human side of library work. As a result, this study provides a unique contribution to the discourse on AI adoption in librarianship by offering a comprehensive analysis of librarians’ perceptions of job displacement and job polarization, particularly within the Nigerian academic library context. This study concludes that strategic interventions, such as AI training programmes and inclusive policies, are essential for workforce sustainability. It recommends that policymakers invest in AI skill development, library administrators implement workforce transition plans and professional library associations create mentorship programmes to bridge the digital divide.