Mapping AI Literacy Among Library Professionals: A Cross-Regional Study of South Asia and the Middle East

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in library systems, the demand for AI-literate Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals is intensifying. This cross-sectional survey study investigates AI literacy among 317 LIS professionals across six countries in South Asia and the Middle East, measuring competencies across cognitive, behavioral and normative domains. Findings reveal high conceptual awareness (M = 3.93), moderate normative competence (M = 3.71), and lower levels of behavioral integration (M = 3.40). While no significant gender or national differences were observed, age, education and library type showed statistically significant variation. Based on these findings, we propose the “AI Literacy Maturity Framework for Library Professionals (AIM-Lib),” a staged model integrating cognitive understanding, practical application and ethical awareness. The findings contribute to the discourse on digital transformation in libraries and provide actionable insights for curriculum reform, policy development and professional upskilling—particularly for regions underrepresented in AI integration discourse.