ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN AFRICAN LIBRARIES: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IMPLICATIONS FOR DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN AFRICAN LIBRARIES: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IMPLICATIONS FOR DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP
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Date
2026
Authors
MOHAMMED, Abubakar Abdullahi
MAIHADISHI, Aisha Abubakar
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Volume Title
Publisher
Library and Information Management Forum Vol. 28. No. 1 2026
Abstract
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into library and information services is
fundamentally reshaping the landscape of knowledge management across Africa. Academic,
research, and special libraries are increasingly deploying AI-driven tools for information
retrieval, metadata generation, research support, digital preservation, plagiarism detection,
and user-centred service delivery. While these technologies offer significant opportunities for
enhancing access to knowledge and improving the efficiency of digital scholarship, they also
raise critical concerns regarding intellectual property (IP), copyright ownership, data
governance, and ethical stewardship of scholarly outputs. In the African context, where
libraries play a strategic role in supporting education, innovation, and indigenous knowledge
preservation, the intersection of AI, knowledge management, and IP rights remains
insufficiently examined in the existing literature. This paper examines how AI-enabled
knowledge management systems are transforming library operations and scholarly
communication in African institutions, with particular attention to the legal and ethical
implications for intellectual property protection. The study adopts a conceptual and policyoriented
approach, drawing on recent literature, emerging best practices, and evolving
regulatory discussions surrounding AI-generated content, institutional repositories, digital
rights management, and research data ownership. It argues that while AI can significantly
strengthen knowledge organization, discovery, and dissemination, inadequate policy
frameworks and low levels of IP literacy among information professionals may expose African
scholarship to risks such as unauthorized reuse, digital plagiarism, data exploitation, and loss
of ownership over indigenous and locally generated knowledge assets. The paper proposes a
strategic framework for African libraries that integrates AI governance, copyright education,
institutional IP policy development, and responsible knowledge-sharing mechanisms. It
concludes that libraries must move beyond traditional custodial roles to become proactive
actors in safeguarding intellectual assets, promoting ethical AI adoption, and supporting
sustainable digital scholarship ecosystems across the continent. The recommendations offered
are intended to guide policymakers, library leaders, and knowledge managers in aligning
emerging technologies with Africa's broader goals of innovation, knowledge sovereignty, and
research visibility.
Description
Journal of Library and Information Management Forum