Re-imagining the library: A systematic review of people, place, platform and policy in smart library ecosystems

Smart library research is expanding quickly, but evidence remains fragmented across technologies, metrics, and evaluation methods. Many studies focus on individual tools, such as RFID shelves or occupancy sensors, while governance, user capacity, and contextual constraints receive limited attention. This fragmentation restricts cross-site learning and slows the development of coherent smart library strategies. Addressing this means the study reviews literature using Google Scholar as the sole database. Iterative keyword clusters covered IoT, RFID, AI/ML, AR wayfinding, environmental sensing, governance, and user capacity. Eligible sources included conceptual papers, empirical studies, systematic reviews, and practitioner reports, all mapped using the People, Place, Platform, and Policy (P 4 ) framework. Structured templates guided data extraction and quality appraisal, and findings were synthesized narratively due to diverse methodologies. The review finds consistent evidence that RFID-enabled shelves enhance inventory efficiency, occupancy systems improve space management, and IoT–ML environmental solutions increase user comfort. AR navigation tools show emerging potential for inclusive wayfinding. However, human capacity limitations, weak governance structures, infrastructure gaps, and immature AI safety practices repeatedly constrain implementation. The review concludes that smart libraries are socio-technical ecosystems and calls for baseline KPIs, embedded governance, and capacity development, supported by phased, context-sensitive roadmaps for scalable, equitable adoption.