Integrating Artificial Intelligence Competencies in Portuguese Academic Health Libraries: An Exploratory Study of Librarians’ Perceptions

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Published: 2026-09-23
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32384/jeahil3728

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Luiza Baptista
Universidade de Évora, Centro Interdisciplinar de História, Culturas e Sociedades, Évora, Portugal
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1043-2758 (unauthenticated)
Dr. Tatiana Sanches
Universidade de Évora, Centro Interdisciplinar de História, Culturas e Sociedades, Évora, Portugal , Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4902-2628 (unauthenticated)

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping higher education and information services, creating opportunities and challenges for academic libraries, particularly in health sciences. Because evidence-based healthcare depends on trustworthy information, librarians need AI competencies that include ethical awareness and critical evaluation. This empirical study investigates Portuguese academic health librarians’ perceptions of AI integration into professional practice. A survey based on the Association of College and Research Libraries’ AI Competencies for Academic Library Workers framework (2025) explored ethics, knowledge, evaluation, and AI application. Responses from librarians revealed limited institutional implementation, insufficient training opportunities, and the absence of formal evaluation frameworks. Nevertheless, participants recognized AI’s potential while emphasizing professional judgement, ethical responsibility, and evidence-informed health information practices.

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 22 (2026)

Section

Feature Articles
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Author Biographies

Luiza Baptista, Universidade de Évora, Centro Interdisciplinar de História, Culturas e Sociedades, Évora, Portugal

Degree in Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (1986), postgraduate studies in Documentary Sciences at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto (1991), Master's degree in Archives, Libraries and Information Sciences at the University of Évora (2005) and a PhD in Information and Documentation Sciences at the University of Évora (2012) . Since 1988, she has worked as a librarian at the University of Porto; Lusíada University of Porto (director); Portuguese Catholic University (Northern delegation) and University of Lisbon. In 1995, she developed the project for the creation of the European Documentation Centre (EDC) of the Lusíada University of Porto, integrated into the European Union Information Network under the coordination of the European Commission.
She is a researcher in the areas of Statistics, Quality Assessment, Performance and Impact of Libraries, Open Access and Open Science and Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Libraries, and is the author of several articles and chapters in national and international publications. She was a trainer, course coordinator, and participated in the executive bodies of the Northern Delegation of BAD – the Portuguese Association of Librarians, Archivists, and Documentalists. She was a fellow for advanced studies at the Foundation for Science and Technology, reference SFRH/BD/36867/2007 (2008-2011). Since 2012, she has been an integrated researcher at CIDEHUS.UE - the Interdisciplinary Center for History, Cultures, and Societies of the University of Évora.
She participated as a member of the jury for master's and postgraduate courses, as an examiner, at the Portucalense University, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Universidade Aberta and Faculty of Letters of the University of Lisbon.
She participated in the scientific committees of several international congresses.
Member of the Scientific Council of the International Conference on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries (QQML).
Received the distinction, Praise for Cooperation – Non-teaching 2013/2014 awarded by the Student Association of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto.

Diploma of Merit - 2021 (member for 30 years) from BAD - Portuguese Association of Librarians, Archivists and Information and Documentation Professionals.

Dr. Tatiana Sanches, Universidade de Évora, Centro Interdisciplinar de História, Culturas e Sociedades, Évora, Portugal, Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal

Invited Assistant Professor at Superior School of Dance of the Polytechnic of Lisbon (ESD-IPL)
Invited Assistant Professor at Universidade Aberta, Lisbon
Researcher, CIDEHUS, Universidade de Évora - Centro Interdisciplinar de História, Culturas e Sociedades, Portugal
Researcher contributor, Higher Institute for Applied Psychology (ISPA)
Director of Services Librarian at Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
Pos-Doc in Information Science from the University of Coimbra, PhD in Education from the University of Lisbon, Master’s degree in Education and Reading from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, and a degree in Modern Languages and Literature (Portuguese Studies). She is post-graduated in Documentary Sciences and also in Higher Education Pedagogy. She is a researcher at CIDEHUS, University of Évora, and previously collaborated in the Unit for Research and Development in Education and Training at the Institute of Education (University of Lisbon). She also collaborates with the APPsyCI - Applied Psychology Research Centre Capabilities & Inclusion at ISPA (Institute of Applied Psychology – University Institute). Between 2007 and 2025, she was Head of the Documentation Division at the Faculty of Psychology and Institute of Education (University of Lisbon). She has been working in the field of public libraries since 1993 (initially in a professional-technical position and later as a librarian) and in university libraries since 2007.

How to Cite

1.
Integrating Artificial Intelligence Competencies in Portuguese Academic Health Libraries: An Exploratory Study of Librarians’ Perceptions. J Eur Assoc Health Info Libr [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 23 [cited 2026 Sep. 23];3(22):9-14. Available from: https://ojs.eahil.eu/JEAHIL/article/view/728