Daily Times

There is no doubt that cutting-edge technologies have brought tremendous challenges in the library field. Still, it has influenced the librarian’s habits and patron desires to explore maximum information in minimum time. Few worthy technologies like virtual and augmented realities, 3D printing, the Internet of Things and mobile applications etc. Among these technologies, the use of robotics is interesting as well as controversial for library operations.

Robotic technology is not new in contemporary society. It was implemented in the industrial setup in 1960 to do difficult and risky jobs. The word robot stems from the Czech word robot, which means forced labour or serf). This technology was used by Karel Capek in 1920. A robot is an electromechanical machine led by computer software or an electrical circuit. Few computer engineers have argued that robot is a programming device that mimics human behaviours and assists people in their difficult tasks. According to Builtln, a few popular types of robots are pre-programmed robots, autonomous robots, Humanoid robots, teleoperated robots and augmented robots. Each robot has different functions to work: a Humanoid robot mimics human behaviour, and an autonomous robot works independently without involving humans. Teleoperated robots are semi-autonomous robots that use wireless networks to permit human control from a safe distance. The augmented robot can be used to increase the present human skills or replace human work with the help of machines. Robots can increase work efficiency in ways humans cannot do in less time. After the advent of advanced technologies, people in developed countries have transformed their businesses from human labour to robotic machines.

The augmented robot can be used to increase the present human skills or replace human work with the help of machines.

Many industries and world businesses are converting manual operations to machine-associated technologies. Several popular technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, the Internet of Things and Augmented reality have been implemented on larger scales in various businesses. Libraries are changing agents of advanced technologies. Robots in the library field are not new to be discussed. Many large libraries have deployed robotic technologies to retrieve books, media and other library materials. Some libraries have used it to locate the material on the library shelves. Some have used it for security purposes, while others used it to answer the inquiries posed by the patrons. Most of the largest libraries in the USA, UK and Canada use robots for reference and directional queries, while others use them for information literacy instructions. Some libraries used them for space management while others used them for self-navigating purposes at night time. Few have deployed them for speech recognition and machine translations, while some have introduced robot librarians that help patrons retrieve their desired information in the least possible time.

Many developing countries like Pakistan use RFID and barcode technologies to detect the theft of items from libraries, while others use them to count library visitors daily. Some libraries in developing countries use biometric systems to address potential users. In contrast, others have deployed this technology to reach out to larger resources like big data and data analytics in both operational and service-oriented aspects. Several libraries have adopted chatbots and voice assistant services for university libraries, while others have implemented them for charging and discharging library items without the involvement of librarians.

Robots are useful for directing users toward libraries; they ensure library security, answering library users when they ask. It can also monitor the user’s activities inside and outside. It can maintain a quiet and reading-oriented environment inside the library. In developing countries like Pakistan, some obstacles are associated with robotic technologies while deploying them in library operations. Few of them are fewer job opportunities and comprehend library users’ inquiries etc., and some other impediments like poor policies about technology usage and costly machinery, etc. Few have observed that robots may gradually replace the job of real librarians; however, in countries like Pakistan, the biggest deterrent to implementing robots in library operations are funding constraints and the mindset of stakeholders.

Nevertheless, robotic technologies are rising in developed countries; however, librarians in Pakistan still need to be fully aware. Fewer have implemented it, while others are using them for experimental purposes. In Pakistan, fewer industries have stepped into robotic technologies; however, libraries still need this fascinating technology. Scholarly work is scarce in education and library fields regarding robotic technologies; however, reading a few papers, it was comprehended that privacy, equity, ethics and developing tools are a few impedes that could hamper robots in library services. Robotics and AI provide faster services; we can advance our library services with these disruptive technologies. The government of Pakistan and its policymakers should think about robotic technology to empower administrative practices in education and libraries. Sean Gerety rightly said, “The technology you use impresses no one. The experience you create with it is everything.”

The writer is the Deputy Director of Library Services at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. He can be reached at abidhussain@issi.org.pk