SLA / Arabian Gulf Chapter

Introduction:

For decades, interest in the field of libraries and information sciences has been developing and affected by modern innovations, especially in the technological fields and their inputs, the most important of which is intelligent technologies. Information institutions have adopted and used these technologies to enhance and manage their collections, improve and diversify the services provided to their visitors, improve their interaction with them, and develop solutions to address the challenges that accompany them. As a matter of fact, libraries and information institutions have become among the institutions most affected by applications and smart technologies in their work, services, security, and access to beneficiaries at all times in new creative ways.

 

The content, place, people, services, and tools in information institutions have been affected by smart technologies, and new concepts have emerged such as the smart library, the library of the future, and the smart cities library. This development has placed an additional burden on those in charge of academic programs in information studies disciplines, with their various names, in order to interact and contribute to the development of appropriate programs that meet the needs of library and information specialists and develop their skills and capabilities.

 

The twenty-seventh conference of the Special Libraries Association - Arab Gulf Chapter comes to address these trends, developments and challenges; and presents a recent and important topic according to specific axes that prompt researchers and specialists to choose and participate in research according to interests.

Conference Main Themes:

1. Content & Collections Management:

  • Electronic Resource Management (ERM).

  • Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in content management.

  • Recent technical developments in organizing content.

  • The impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence on electronic resources.

2. The Interactive Participation of Users and Information Resources:

  • The Metaverse and cyberspace in information institutions.

  • Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in information institutions.

  • Smart applications for Big Data analysis in information institutions.

  • Emerging technologies and interactive participation in holdings management.

  • Smart applications in supporting open access to information resources.

  • The impact of artificial intelligence and chatbots on information services.

3. Information Security and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Information Institutions:

  • The influence of smart technologies on misleading and fake informational content.

  • The impact of artificial intelligence on the security of systems and networks in information institutions.

  • The impact of artificial intelligence on data privacy and beneficiaries.

  • Security dilemmas of artificial intelligence and their implications on national security.

4. Smart Cities and Libraries of the Future:

  • Future library buildings in smart cities.

  • Future library services in smart cities.

  • The role of professionals in future libraries in smart cities.

  • Security of information institutions in smart cities.

5. Keeping Pace with Academic and Professional Programs in the field of Libraries and Information Technology:

  • The impact of artificial intelligence on academic programs.

  • Challenges and obstacles facing academic programs in responding to developments in the field.

  • Competencies required for faculty members and academics programs to cope with the impact of smart technologies.

  • Building capacities and developing professional competencies to employ artificial intelligence technologies.

6. Opportunities, Challenges and Risks in Employing Artificial Intelligence Technologies:

  • Employing artificial intelligence technologies in managing informational crises.

  • Artificial intelligence and the challenges of scientific publishing.

  • Ethical and legislative aspects of superintelligence applications in information institutions.

  • Employing artificial intelligence in strategic planning and analysis in information institutions.

  • The role of information institutions in raising awareness of the ethical use of smart technologies.

Important Dates & Submission Deadlines:

  • Abstracts submission deadline: August 20, 2023.

  • Abstracts acceptance and authors notification no later than September 10, 2023.

  • Full paper submission deadline: December 31, 2023.

  • Review, revision and final acceptance: January 28, 2024.

  • Note: Results will be notified progressively

Contact Information:

Dr. Ayman Hassan Alhabshi

Scientific Committee, Chairman
E-Mail: ayman.alhabshi@gmail.com

Mr. Abdullah Bin Hamoud Al-Sarmi

E-Mail:asarmih@hotmail.com