Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of creativity in the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative work behavior of librarians among managers, administrative staff, and heads of public libraries in Iran.
Method: This applied research employed a descriptive-correlational method using a quantitative approach to examine the mediating role of creativity in the relationship between AI and librarians' innovative work behavior. The statistical population consisted of managers, administrative staff, and officials working in the Iran Public Libraries Foundation. Due to limited access to these individuals across the country, a cluster sampling method was employed. Provinces were initially clustered based on the number of libraries from the highest to the lowest. Then, one province was randomly selected from each cluster: Fars (Cluster 1), Mazandaran (Cluster 2), Zanjan (Cluster 3), Ardabil (Cluster 4), Semnan (Cluster 5), Lorestan (Cluster 6), and Tehran was also selected from the first cluster due to its centrality. A total of 310 participants were randomly selected from these provinces. In the quantitative phase, standardized questionnaires were used for data collection. AI was measured using the 22-item scale developed by Chen et al. (2022), selected for its coherence, brevity, and comprehensiveness, covering a wide range of AI dimensions. Creativity was measured using the 10-item questionnaire by Barron and Oldham (2006), and innovative work behavior was assessed using the 12-item scale by De Jong and Den Hartog (2010). A total of 310 questionnaires were distributed and used as the basis for data analysis. A five-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" was applied. Convergent and discriminant validity were used to confirm the validity of the measurement tools.
Findings: The results indicated that AI has a positive and significant effect on librarians’ innovative work behavi