Artificial Intelligence in inclusive libraries: service management for vulnerable communities
Keywords:
artificial intelligence; inclusive libraries; accessibility; informational equity; universal design; digital ethics; governance; vulnerable communitiesAbstract
Objectives: Assess the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance informational inclusion in libraries serving people with disabilities and vulnerable communities, considering technical foundations, practical applications, social impact, and ethical governance frameworks. Methodology: Systematic documentary review and exploratory‑descriptive critical analysis of 140 documents (2014-2025) selected from academic databases and international organizations; analysis structured in five dimensions: technical foundations, accessibility and universal design, inclusive service management, social impact, and ethical governance. Results: NLP, machine learning, and computer vision enable virtual assistants, semantic search, assisted reading, personalized recommendations, and automated conversion to accessible formats; integration with universal design supports dynamic adaptations. Identified risks include digital divide expansion, an emerging algorithmic divide, data‑driven biases, and privacy threats. Discussion: AI can scale and personalize inclusive services, but effectiveness depends on ethical governance, representative data, and community participation; without safeguards, personalization may produce adverse effects such as “accessible echo chambers.” Conclusion: Positive impact requires a systemic approach: participatory governance, equity indicators, continuous staff training, and impact evaluation focused on informational justice. Contribution: It is evident that the future value of inclusive libraries will depend less on the algorithms they adopt and more on their ability to exercise ethical and social leadership in the digital age.
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