Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Publication Title

Program: Electronic Library & Information Systems

Volume

45

Issue

1

First Page

78

Keywords

LITERATURE reviews, LIBRARY surveys, EDUCATION, INFORMATION services, INTELLIGENT agents (Computer software), ARTIFICIAL intelligence, DIGITAL libraries, LIBRARIES & students, Intelligent agents, Libraries, Library systems

Last Page

97

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive literature review on the utilisation of intelligent agent technology in the library environment.

Design/methodology/approach - Research papers since 1990 on the use of various intelligent agent technologies in libraries are divided into two main application areas: digital library (DL), including agent-based DL projects, multi-agent architecture for DLs, intelligent agents for distributed heterogeneous information retrieval and agent support to information search process in DLs; and services in traditional libraries, including user interface for library information systems, automatic reference services and multi-agent architecture for library services. For each paper on the topic, its new ideas or models, referred work, analyses, experiments, findings and conclusions are addressed.

Findings - The majority of the literature covers DLs and there have been fewer studies about services in traditional libraries. A variety of architecture, framework and models integrating agent technology in library systems or services are proposed, but only a few have been implemented in the practical environment. The application of agent technology is still at the research and experimentation stage. Agent technology has great potential in many areas in the library context; however it presents challenges to libraries that want to be involved in its adoption.

Practical implications - The survey has practical implications for libraries, librarians and computer professionals in developing projects that employ intelligent agent technology to meet end-users' expectations as well as to improve information services within limited resources in library settings.

Originality/value - The paper provides a comprehensive survey on the development and research of intelligent agents in libraries in literature.

DOI

10.1108/00330331111107411

Comments

This article is a post print of an article published in Program: Electronic Library and Information Systems. The definitive version can be found here. Copyright (2012) Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

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