Artificial intelligence and the library as Third Place: cognitive automation and the reconfiguration of labour.
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| Title: | Artificial intelligence and the library as Third Place: cognitive automation and the reconfiguration of labour. |
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| Authors: | Mandiá-Rubal, Sara1 (AUTHOR) sara.mandia.rubal@udc.es |
| Source: | Journal of Documentation. 2026, Vol. 82 Issue 2, p453-466. 14p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Library automation, *Artificial intelligence, *Human behavior, *Automation, Labor unions, Infrastructure (Economics) |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This paper examines how artificial intelligence (AI), understood as a form of cognitive automation, may reshape the labour structures and social functions of contemporary libraries. It seeks to explain how AI can complement, rather than displace, the library's communal role by supporting its capacity to act as a Third Place. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts a sociotechnical, conceptual approach, synthesizing research from library automation, social infrastructure and science and technology studies. It develops a theoretical model – the bifunctional institution – to analyse the interaction between algorithmic systems and the social–material dimensions of library work. Findings: The study finds that AI may reduce routine interpretive labour and create organisational capacity for librarians to engage in relational, pedagogical and community-oriented activities. However, these benefits are contingent on robust governance, institutional autonomy and professional agency. AI can strengthen the library's social mission when integrated responsibly but may exacerbate inequalities or undermine transparency if adopted uncritically. Research limitations/implications: As a conceptual paper, the work does not include empirical data. It highlights the need for future qualitative and organisational studies examining how AI tools are adopted in practice, how labour is redistributed within specific institutions and how governance structures mediate the relationship between automation and community-oriented work. Practical implications: The model highlights conditions necessary for responsible AI adoption, including ethical governance, staff training and alignment of AI systems with public values and professional norms. Social implications: By enabling a renewed focus on community engagement and shared learning, AI may reinforce libraries as crucial forms of social infrastructure in increasingly digitised and fragmented societies. Originality/value: The paper offers one of the first theoretical integrations of automation studies and Third Place scholarship. It advances the concept of functional complementarity and provides a new framework for understanding libraries as bifunctional institutions composed of interdependent algorithmic and social layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Documentation is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 191585096 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Artificial intelligence and the library as Third Place: cognitive automation and the reconfiguration of labour. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mandiá-Rubal%2C+Sara%22">Mandiá-Rubal, Sara</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sara.mandia.rubal@udc.es</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Documentation%22">Journal of Documentation</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 82 Issue 2, p453-466. 14p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Library+automation%22">Library automation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+intelligence%22">Artificial intelligence</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+behavior%22">Human behavior</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Automation%22">Automation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+unions%22">Labor unions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infrastructure+%28Economics%29%22">Infrastructure (Economics)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Purpose: This paper examines how artificial intelligence (AI), understood as a form of cognitive automation, may reshape the labour structures and social functions of contemporary libraries. It seeks to explain how AI can complement, rather than displace, the library's communal role by supporting its capacity to act as a Third Place. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts a sociotechnical, conceptual approach, synthesizing research from library automation, social infrastructure and science and technology studies. It develops a theoretical model – the bifunctional institution – to analyse the interaction between algorithmic systems and the social–material dimensions of library work. Findings: The study finds that AI may reduce routine interpretive labour and create organisational capacity for librarians to engage in relational, pedagogical and community-oriented activities. However, these benefits are contingent on robust governance, institutional autonomy and professional agency. AI can strengthen the library's social mission when integrated responsibly but may exacerbate inequalities or undermine transparency if adopted uncritically. Research limitations/implications: As a conceptual paper, the work does not include empirical data. It highlights the need for future qualitative and organisational studies examining how AI tools are adopted in practice, how labour is redistributed within specific institutions and how governance structures mediate the relationship between automation and community-oriented work. Practical implications: The model highlights conditions necessary for responsible AI adoption, including ethical governance, staff training and alignment of AI systems with public values and professional norms. Social implications: By enabling a renewed focus on community engagement and shared learning, AI may reinforce libraries as crucial forms of social infrastructure in increasingly digitised and fragmented societies. Originality/value: The paper offers one of the first theoretical integrations of automation studies and Third Place scholarship. It advances the concept of functional complementarity and provides a new framework for understanding libraries as bifunctional institutions composed of interdependent algorithmic and social layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Documentation is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=191585096 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 14 StartPage: 453 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Library automation Type: general – SubjectFull: Artificial intelligence Type: general – SubjectFull: Human behavior Type: general – SubjectFull: Automation Type: general – SubjectFull: Labor unions Type: general – SubjectFull: Infrastructure (Economics) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Artificial intelligence and the library as Third Place: cognitive automation and the reconfiguration of labour. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mandiá-Rubal, Sara IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: 2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00220418 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 82 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Documentation Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
