By Fredrick Adika

On February 28, 2025, the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) Library successfully hosted the 69th United Nations/World Bank/University Librarians (UNWBUL) Partnership meeting. Established in 2008, the UN/WB/UL partnership was formed to bring librarians together for knowledge sharing, information resource exchange, networking, benchmarking, forming communities of practice, and ensuring quality assurance. This quarterly event, held four times a year, gathers librarians from Kenya's public and private institutions to discuss emerging trends and best practices in academic library services. The United Nations and the World Bank remain key partners in supporting innovation and advancements in academic libraries.

The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Ms. Damiana Kiilu, representing the USIU-Africa University Librarian. She highlighted the crucial role of librarians in fostering academic excellence and encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions. The first session, chaired by Mr. Isaac Waruru from UN-Habitat, provided a platform for librarians to share updates on institutional projects and technological advancements, including digital repositories, open access strategies, AI-driven search tools, and library automation.

The second session, moderated by Mr. Moses Isutsa, the current Chairperson and University Librarian at Pwani University, featured a keynote presentation by Mr. George Nyalwal, Deputy Director (Planning) Library and Information Services at the University of Nairobi. His presentation, titled "Investigating the Readiness of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration in Academic Library Services: The Case of Kenyan Universities," explored the potential benefits and challenges of AI in academic libraries. The discussion encompassed AI-powered search engines, chatbots, metadata automation, and personalized learning tools while also addressing critical concerns such as academic integrity, misinformation, data privacy, and ethical AI usage.

Participants unanimously agreed on the need for librarians to take a proactive role in educating students and faculty on responsible AI usage, ensuring adherence to ethical research practices, and collaborating with IT professionals to develop AI policies. The importance of continuous investment in digital innovations and strategic institutional partnerships was also emphasized, as libraries must adapt to technological advancements while maintaining the credibility and integrity of academic resources.

This workshop reaffirmed that while AI presents numerous opportunities for enhancing academic library services, the expertise, ethical oversight, and professional judgment of librarians remain indispensable. As technology continues to reshape the information landscape, librarians are at the forefront of ensuring equitable access to credible academic resources and guiding responsible AI integration in higher education.