Abstract

This study aims to analyze research trends in libraries and artificial intelligence (AI) in the era of generative AI through a bibliometric triangulation approach. To this end, 422 research articles on libraries and AI published since 2023 were collected from the Web of Science database. Based on these data, the study identified the intellectual foundations, categorized the thematic areas, and analyzed the core discourses of representative papers, thereby providing a multi-dimensional understanding of research trends and the expanding phase of the library-AI domain. By synthesizing the results of each analysis stage, three research streams were identified: the adoption of AI, the application of generative AI, and AI literacy. The findings indicate that library-AI research is transitioning from a stage of technological exploration and adoption to a stage of practical service restructuring. Furthermore, the analysis reveals an integrated discourse framework centered on AI literacy, encompassing policy, ethics, and librarian re-education. This suggests that AI literacy should be understood as a fundamental basis for developing practical strategies in library settings and redefining professional expertise. This study holds methodological significance by presenting the intellectual foundations, research themes, and core discourses of library-AI research in a multi-layered structure through a triangulation approach, and precisely mapping its expansionary trajectory.