Abstract:

Emerging technologies, such as social service robots, present significant opportunities for academic libraries to enhance their appeal to visitors while reducing librarians’ workload of repetitive tasks. These tasks include guiding users through the library's shelves, providing introductions to the floor plan, and explaining the various services offered by the library.

The aim of the study is to understand the reactions of librarians and visitors to robot-librarians designed to assist with various tasks and reveal the challenges of adopting robotic applications within the library setting. At TalTech University, this research acts as a pilot to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating two robot assistants into the library's daily operations.

The study focused on optimizing librarians' daily activities in order to find a way to increase the provision of personalized services in the library. For this purpose, specific robot behavior scenarios were developed and tested. These scenarios were carefully crafted and refined through a collaborative design process to ensure that the robot's functions aligned with the needs and expectations of the library staff. The methodology involved a single design cycle, featuring iterative testing and continuous refinement of scenario in which the robot served as a guide to library visitors.

Data collection employed a mixed-methods approach:
- Quantitative Data: The Robot Self-Efficacy in Public Spaces Scale was utilized to measure visitors' perceptions of the appropriateness of robot behavior, taking into account technological, organizational, and personal factors. This quantitative approach yielded results about the public's comfort and acceptance levels regarding robot interactions.
- Qualitative Data: In-depth interviews with librarians and library management were conducted to explore the organizational challenges and benefits associated with robot integration, as well as the dynamics of human-robot interaction. These qualitative insights were crucial for understanding the perspectives of those directly involved with the robots.

The TEMI v3 robot assistant was tested over three months at TalTech University’s library. Data analysis included statistical methods for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data, providing a comprehensive understanding of social service robot acceptance.

The study outcomes provide insights into the factors that influence the acceptance of social service robots in academic libraries, practical recommendations for the implementation of robots in library settings, detailed considerations for addressing organizational impacts, and strategies for fostering positive human-robot interactions. The study also demonstrated that, despite the positive effect, there were some obstacles (e.g., fear of new technology, ethical considerations, innovations in work organization) that could affect the introduction of social service robots in the library. Finally, the study discusses potential future developments and applications of social service robots in academic environments.

Keywords:

Technology enhanced education, higher education, library service, social robots, service robots, robot assistant, TEMI V3 robot.