Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Library Services in China: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Directions

Abstract

This study investigates the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in library services in China and globally, with a particular focus on opportunities, challenges, and policy directions within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a systematic literature review and comparative temporal analysis of peer-reviewed studies, policy documents, and institutional reports from 2019 to 2025, the research disaggregates AI adoption into four distinct phases: Pre-Pandemic Foundation (2019), Emergency Acceleration (2020-2021), Generative AI Disruption (2022-2023), and Strategic Integration (2024-2025). The findings demonstrate that AI-driven applications-such as automated cataloging, intelligent chatbots, predictive analytics, and smart library infrastructures have significantly enhanced service efficiency, knowledge accessibility, and operational sustainability, particularly supporting SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). However, the analysis also reveals persistent challenges, including algorithmic bias, data governance tensions, workforce transformation, environmental costs of large-scale AI systems, and uneven progress across SDGs. Comparative evidence indicates that China’s state-led model enables rapid infrastructure deployment and technological scaling, while many Western countries prioritize ethical governance, inclusivity, and environmental accountability, often at the expense of implementation speed. By synthesizing these divergent approaches, the study proposes an SDG-aligned policy framework emphasizing multilevel governance, ethical safeguards, capacity building, and sustainable AI practices. The research contributes to theory by integrating AI-enabled library transformation with sustainable development scholarship and offers practical guidance for policymakers, library administrators, and international organizations navigating the long-term implications of AI in knowledge institutions.