Artificial intelligence is not only being observed; it is being shaped. Four members of the North-West University Library and Information Service (NWU LIS), Neli Tshabalala, Phuti Rabatseta, Cecil Gasa, and Maropene Ramabina, attended the 5th IFLA AI Symposium, hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal Library, from 16 to 20 June 2025. They also took the stage to present their papers and ideas to a global audience of researchers, innovators, and information professionals.
From ethical implementation to practical applications, the presentations covered some of the most critical topics in AI today and its impact on libraries. Each left the symposium with a deeper understanding of the field's momentum and the responsibilities that come with its development. During the unveiling of the robotic innovation, NWU LIS was commended for pioneering the development and launch of a locally built robot. At the same time, the University of KwaZulu-Natal LIS received a second-place recognition. 'Thola', meaning 'Find', the UKZN LIS physical robot, will be used to streamline circulation functions and enhance user experiences.
Each NWU LIS team member contributed a unique perspective to the symposium as follows:
Ms Neli Tshabalala:Integration of artificial intelligence embedded analytics tools for resource optimisation in academic libraries within the South African context Ms. Tshabalala's presentation explored the integration of artificial intelligence and learning analytics into institutional dashboards, aiming to improve library services, optimise resource distribution, and align with institutional goals. Additionally, practical examples demonstrated how AI is applied in analytics within the Information Resources section of the NWU LIS. The session attracted significant attention owing to its practical insights into real-world implementation scenarios.
Ms Neli Tshabalala
Ms Phuti Rabatseta:Usability of artificial intelligence for the provision of information services at an academic library in South Africa Phuti shared a case study on how the University of Limpopo library utilises AI to provide information services. She also explained how attitude can influence behavioural intention to use AI. "Have a positive attitude and good behavioural intention to use so that we adapt in the AI era and be able to survive," she echoed.
Ms Phuti Rabatseta (Left)
Mr Cecil Gasa: Power automate: enhancing workflows in institutional repository management Cecil explained how AI can be utilised to improve workflows when managing institutional repositories.
Mr Cecil Gasa
Mr Maropene Ramabina: Evaluating AI-generated prompts for enhancing library services: a comparative study of ChatGPT and Copilot Maropene demonstrated how generative AI responds to different prompts by comparing ChatGPT with Copilot.
Mr Maropene Ramabina
Themes gathered from the symposium:
Collaboration The symposium emphasised the importance of bringing together professionals from various industries to address challenging AI issues.
Ethical use of AI There is a common consensus that AI development must be rooted in inclusivity and ethics. Several speakers stressed that AI should be closely aligned with institutional principles from design to deployment.
Generative AI Is Revolutionising Numerous presentations explored how generative AI is evolving from novelty to necessity in fields such as education and information.
AI Literacy AI is no longer reserved for data scientists. With AI permeating every aspect of life, everyone needs to be aware of and understand the basics of AI across various sectors.
The delegates are committed to sharing their knowledge with their teams. The symposium served as a reminder that we are not only creating AI-powered solutions but also shaping the perception, application, and trust of AI. While the area of AI is advancing rapidly, we remain optimistic about its future if we stay curious, cooperative, and accountable. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of AI's capabilities together.
Artificial intelligence is not only being observed; it is being shaped. Four members of the North-West University Library and Information Service (NWU LIS), Neli Tshabalala, Phuti Rabatseta, Cecil Gasa, and Maropene Ramabina, attended the 5th IFLA AI Symposium, hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal Library, from 16 to 20 June 2025. They also took the stage to present their papers and ideas to a global audience of researchers, innovators, and information professionals.
From ethical implementation to practical applications, the presentations covered some of the most critical topics in AI today and its impact on libraries. Each left the symposium with a deeper understanding of the field's momentum and the responsibilities that come with its development. During the unveiling of the robotic innovation, NWU LIS was commended for pioneering the development and launch of a locally built robot. At the same time, the University of KwaZulu-Natal LIS received a second-place recognition. 'Thola', meaning 'Find', the UKZN LIS physical robot, will be used to streamline circulation functions and enhance user experiences.
Each NWU LIS team member contributed a unique perspective to the symposium as follows:
Ms Neli Tshabalala: Integration of artificial intelligence embedded analytics tools for resource optimisation in academic libraries within the South African context
Ms. Tshabalala's presentation explored the integration of artificial intelligence and learning analytics into institutional dashboards, aiming to improve library services, optimise resource distribution, and align with institutional goals. Additionally, practical examples demonstrated how AI is applied in analytics within the Information Resources section of the NWU LIS. The session attracted significant attention owing to its practical insights into real-world implementation scenarios.
Ms Phuti Rabatseta: Usability of artificial intelligence for the provision of information services at an academic library in South Africa
Phuti shared a case study on how the University of Limpopo library utilises AI to provide information services. She also explained how attitude can influence behavioural intention to use AI. "Have a positive attitude and good behavioural intention to use so that we adapt in the AI era and be able to survive," she echoed.
Mr Cecil Gasa: Power automate: enhancing workflows in institutional repository management
Cecil explained how AI can be utilised to improve workflows when managing institutional repositories.
Mr Maropene Ramabina: Evaluating AI-generated prompts for enhancing library services: a comparative study of ChatGPT and Copilot
Maropene demonstrated how generative AI responds to different prompts by comparing ChatGPT with Copilot.
Themes gathered from the symposium:
Collaboration
The symposium emphasised the importance of bringing together professionals from various industries to address challenging AI issues.
Ethical use of AI
There is a common consensus that AI development must be rooted in inclusivity and ethics. Several speakers stressed that AI should be closely aligned with institutional principles from design to deployment.
Generative AI Is Revolutionising
Numerous presentations explored how generative AI is evolving from novelty to necessity in fields such as education and information.
AI Literacy
AI is no longer reserved for data scientists. With AI permeating every aspect of life, everyone needs to be aware of and understand the basics of AI across various sectors.
The delegates are committed to sharing their knowledge with their teams. The symposium served as a reminder that we are not only creating AI-powered solutions but also shaping the perception, application, and trust of AI. While the area of AI is advancing rapidly, we remain optimistic about its future if we stay curious, cooperative, and accountable. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of AI's capabilities together.