Towards smart university libraries: a field study of Alexandria University libraries and their readiness with the development of a strategic plan for transformation into smart libraries

The goal of the study was to determine whether Alexandria University libraries were ready to turn into smart libraries, in terms of the skills required for Smart Librarians. In addition to monitoring the potential implications of the smart libraries for the human element within libraries. The study also explored the human, financial, and technical needs for changing libraries into smart libraries, as well as the challenges they face in doing so, and suggested ways to assist in changing Alexandria University libraries into smart libraries under existing conditions and possibilities. Besides, a proposed strategic plan was developed by the researcher through the environmental analysis of the libraries under consideration using SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in order to prepare a strategic plan. The study was based on the Field Method in order to collect data and facts about the subject of the study through personal interviews and a questionnaire that covers the basic aspects of the study, which was issued to the managers of Alexandria University's libraries in order to collect data from them. The data was processed by statistical analysis using the SPSS program.
One of the most important results of the study: libraries still require a lot of equipment to transform into smart libraries.
Keywords: smart library- Artificial intelligence (AI) - The Internet of things- Global Smart University libraries experiences- Strategic planning for smart university libraries