ORCID Identifiers
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2005-1177
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
7-2025
Abstract
This chapter explores how generative AI and agentic AI are redefining library services through enhanced interactivity, personalization, and scalability of support. The rise of machine learning, and specifically natural language processing (NLP) with large language models, brought a new wave of capabilities to library chatbots. Moving beyond single-turn question-answering chatbots, the concept of autonomous AI agents (or agentic AI) in libraries represents a significant leap in capability. An autonomous agent is an advanced form of AI that can understand and respond to inquiries, then take action without human intervention. When they are given an objective, they can generate tasks for themselves, complete assigned tasks, and work on the next in the chain until the objective is complete. For libraries, the Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) approach offers a way to keep AI responses current and accurate. A RAG-enabled agent, however, could query the library’s integrated library system (ILS) or catalog to check for that author’s books and their status, then incorporate that live data into the answer. The paper delves deep into the use of Autonomous AI Agents in academic libraries. It discusses in detail the four major frameworks for developing autonomous library agents viz. LangChain, LangGraph, Microsoft Autogen, and CrewAI. Then it examines the technical infrastructure for AI agents in libraries. It also looks into the ethical and organizational considerations involved in integrating generative and autonomous AI into library services.
ISBN
9788198925732
Publisher
Prof. KA Isaac society for Library and Information Science
First Page
230
Last Page
252
Disciplines
Library and Information Science
Keywords
Library AI, AI agents in Libraries, Agentic AI Application, Autogen, Autonomous AI agents, Chatbots, Ethical considerations, Large Language Models, Retrieval-augmented generation, RAG, AI Applications in Libraries
Recommended Citation
Narayanan, N. (2024). Beyond chatbots: The emergence of autonomous AI agents in libraries. In K. P. Vijayakumar, K. P. Sadasivan, M. G. Sreekumar, & K. G. Sudhier (Eds.), Navigating the information landscape: Trends and innovations in libraries. A Festschrift in honour of Prof. K. A. Isaac (pp. 230–252). Prof. K. A. Isaac Society for Library and Information Science.
Indexed in Scopus
no
Open Access
no