Purpose This paper aims to examine the systemic tensions between traditional library values and rapid technological adoption in 2026. Design/methodology/approach The paper synthesizes findings from recent industry reports including Marshall Breeding’s, 2026 Library Systems Report and analysis of landmark legal cases on e-lending. Findings The central theme in 2026 is “Innovation under Constraint.” Libraries globally face austerity versus AI disruption, exploitative e-book licensing models, generative AI hallucinations, high-stakes cloud migration failures and the conflict between surveillance infrastructure and patron privacy. Originality/value The paper provides a critical practitioner perspective on how libraries are negotiating technological change while defending their role as democratic trust anchors.
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Adetoun A. Oyelude (2026) studied this question.
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