Environmental Artificial Intelligence For Sustainability in Public Libraries: A Case Study of the United Arab Emirates

Purpose – Explaining the role of environmental artificial intelligence in improving the management of public libraries and enhancing environmental sustainability in them. And analyzing the factors affecting and challenges of using environmental artificial intelligence to achieve environmental goals. Design/methodology/approach – analyzed the role of environmental artificial intelligence (AI) applications in public libraries in the United Arab Emirates. The study posed 43 questions to the 31 public libraries in the UAE, examining the current level of knowledge among Emirati public library specialists about environmental AI, practices within Emirati public libraries to achieve environmental sustainability, and the challenges of adopting environmentally smart applications in Emirati public libraries. Findings – A significant portion of staff in Emirati public libraries (52%) have either limited of environmental sustainability principles, highlighting a substantial gap in environmental awareness and training within these libraries. While 68% of library staff recognize the importance of environmental sustainability, 52% of libraries do not implement sustainability practices at all, often due to a lack of institutional support or sufficient awareness. Less than half (48%) of Emirati public libraries have not used environmental artificial intelligence applications or were unaware of them. Originality/value – Environmental AI in public libraries is an emerging area of research that bridges library science and environmental health, making it a potential research area. Contributions to the research area help public libraries to make the most of environmental AI applications and raise awareness of these new technologies. Research limitations/implications - The study not only expands the knowledge base on environmental sustainability, but also provides an understanding of the development of environmental AI to provide advanced research support in this field.