Foreword

Abstract

The Ghana Library Journal (GLJ) is pleased to present Volume 31, Issue 1, a special issue dedicated to the theme “Enhancing Information Access in an Era of ChatGPT and Other Artificial Intelligence Technologies.” This issue brings together selected papers presented at the 4th CARLIGH International Conference, held from 6th to 10th May 2024 at the GIMPA Executive Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana. The conference provided an important platform for researchers, librarians, educators, information professionals, and technology experts to reflect on the opportunities and challenges emerging from the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its implications for information access, learning, research, and library services.

The emergence of ChatGPT and other AI technologies has transformed the information landscape. In educational institutions, libraries, research environments, and professional settings, AI tools influence how information is discovered, accessed, evaluated, generated, and shared. While these developments offer exciting opportunities for enhancing service delivery, research productivity, and knowledge creation, they also raise essential questions regarding ethics, academic integrity, digital inclusion, information literacy, privacy, and equitable access. The papers in this special issue critically engage with these challenges and provide valuable insights into how libraries and information professionals can navigate this evolving landscape. The contributions examine various contemporary issues, including awareness and accessibility of electronic information resources, AI adoption in academic libraries, the use of AI tools in academic writing and research, and the role of librarians in promoting academic integrity in the age of generative AI. Together, these papers highlight the increasing relevance of AI within library and information services and underscore the critical role information professionals play in ensuring responsible, ethical, and inclusive technology deployment.