Locking horns with library technology: trends and prospects
Adetoun A. OyeludePurpose
This paper aims to examine the systemic tensions between traditional library values and rapid technological adoption in 2026.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper synthesizes findings from recent industry reports including Marshall Breeding’s, 2026 Library Systems Report and analysis of landmark legal cases on e-lending.
Findings
The central theme in 2026 is “Innovation under Constraint.” Libraries globally face austerity versus AI disruption, exploitative e-book licensing models, generative AI hallucinations, high-stakes cloud migration failures and the conflict between surveillance infrastructure and patron privacy.
Originality/value
The paper provides a critical practitioner perspective on how libraries are negotiating technological change while defending their role as democratic trust anchors.