User Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Public Libraries:  A Theoretical Framework and an Empirical Study of the Vladimir Nazor Library Network

Ciglar, Svjetlana; Radović, Tanja; Kolanović Roško, Gordana

New binding, Vol. XXIV, No. 45, 2026.

Professional paper

User Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Public Libraries: A Theoretical Framework and an Empirical Study of the Vladimir Nazor Library Network

Svjetlana Ciglar orcid.org/0009-0009-2818-2620 ; Zagreb City Libraries
Tanja Radović ; Zagreb City Libraries
Gordana Kolanović Roško orcid.org/0009-0008-9730-572X ; Zagreb City Libraries

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APA 6th Edition

Ciglar, S., Radović, T. & Kolanović Roško, G. (2026). User Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Public Libraries: A Theoretical Framework and an Empirical Study of the Vladimir Nazor Library Network. Novi uvez, XXIV, (45), 3-27. Retrieved from https://hrcak.srce.hr/349674

MLA 8th Edition

Ciglar, Svjetlana, et al. "User Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Public Libraries: A Theoretical Framework and an Empirical Study of the Vladimir Nazor Library Network." Novi uvez, vol. XXIV,, no. 45, 2026, pp. 3-27. https://hrcak.srce.hr/349674. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Chicago 17th Edition

Ciglar, Svjetlana, Tanja Radović and Gordana Kolanović Roško. "User Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Public Libraries: A Theoretical Framework and an Empirical Study of the Vladimir Nazor Library Network." Novi uvez XXIV,, no. 45 (2026): 3-27. https://hrcak.srce.hr/349674

Harvard

Ciglar, S., Radović, T., and Kolanović Roško, G. (2026). 'User Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Public Libraries: A Theoretical Framework and an Empirical Study of the Vladimir Nazor Library Network', Novi uvez, XXIV,(45), pp. 3-27. Available at: https://hrcak.srce.hr/349674 (Accessed 15 August 2026)

Vancouver

Ciglar S, Radović T, Kolanović Roško G. User Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Public Libraries: A Theoretical Framework and an Empirical Study of the Vladimir Nazor Library Network. Novi uvez [Internet]. 2026 [cited 2026 August 15];XXIV,(45):3-27. Available from: https://hrcak.srce.hr/349674

IEEE

S. Ciglar, T. Radović and G. Kolanović Roško, "User Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Public Libraries: A Theoretical Framework and an Empirical Study of the Vladimir Nazor Library Network", Novi uvez, vol.XXIV,, no. 45, pp. 3-27, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://hrcak.srce.hr/349674. [Accessed: 15 August 2026]

Abstract

This paper examines user perceptions of artificial intelligence in public libraries, with a particular focus on the Vladimir Nazor Library network in Zagreb. The theoretical section reviews recent studies on the use of AI in librarianship, including chatbots, virtual assistants, recommender systems, and intelligent search tools, while also discussing technology acceptance models, trust, privacy, service quality, and ethical concerns. The paper starts from the premise that AI can improve access to information and enhance the user experience, but that successful implementation depends on user perception and on preserving the human dimension of library services. The empirical part is based on a survey conducted on a purposive sample of 358 library users. The findings indicate a relatively high level of familiarity with the concept of artificial intelligence and moderately positive attitudes toward its use in libraries, especially as a supportive tool. At the same time, respondents strongly reject the idea that AI could replace librarians, particularly in creative work, reader advisory services, and direct interaction with users. The main advantages attributed to librarians are human contact, emotional engagement, personal approach, communication, expertise, and understanding of users’ needs. The study confirms that users support a hybrid model in which AI functions as an aid to librarians, but not as a substitute for their professional, social, and human role.