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The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive literature review on the utilisation of intelligent agent technology in the library environment.

Research papers since 1990 on the use of various intelligent agent technologies in libraries are divided into two main application areas: digital library (DL), including agent‐based DL projects, multi‐agent architecture for DLs, intelligent agents for distributed heterogeneous information retrieval and agent support to information search process in DLs; and services in traditional libraries, including user interface for library information systems, automatic reference services and multi‐agent architecture for library services. For each paper on the topic, its new ideas or models, referred work, analyses, experiments, findings and conclusions are addressed.

The majority of the literature covers DLs and there have been fewer studies about services in traditional libraries. A variety of architecture, framework and models integrating agent technology in library systems or services are proposed, but only a few have been implemented in the practical environment. The application of agent technology is still at the research and experimentation stage. Agent technology has great potential in many areas in the library context; however it presents challenges to libraries that want to be involved in its adoption.

The survey has practical implications for libraries, librarians and computer professionals in developing projects that employ intelligent agent technology to meet end‐users' expectations as well as to improve information services within limited resources in library settings.

The paper provides a comprehensive survey on the development and research of intelligent agents in libraries in literature.

This paper explores a different approach to evaluating the merits of specific technical components of computer based learning applications. A traditional double blind experimental study was implemented in a new context. A computer based Clinical Decision Simulator (CDS) system was designed and implemented incorporating an intelligent agent. This was compared to an otherwise identical system with no agent, and a group of students not using CBL systems. The results suggested that although no improvement in measurable learning outcomes could be conclusively demonstrated there was some evidence that those students using the intelligent agent system demonstrated more positive learning experiences and a deeper conceptualisation of the issues. This would suggest that a comparative multimethod experimental evaluation strategy, although complex (and not without its shortcomings) may help provide a more comprehensive analysis of students learning experience, and provide a useful picture of the student’s perceptions of CBL tools. This novel approach may be of particular relevance where the justification of a specific technological aspect of an e‐learning application is required. The value of developing and using an experimental strategy to evaluate a specific technological aspect of a computer based learning (CBL) application is discussed.

The purpose of this paper is to present a brief outline of the potential applications of intelligent agent technology in libraries with a list of illustrative examples.

A definition and the attributes of intelligent agents are presented, along with different types of agents and their wide‐ranging applications in various contexts. Illustrative examples of intelligent agents are presented, with some interesting case studies from different domains.

The role of intelligent agents in modern libraries is highlighted from various perspectives, such as electronic information services, collection development and acquisition, classification and organization of library materials, indexing and abstracting, issuing collection, and reference services.

The authors do not attempt to devise an intelligent agent to test these applications in the libraries where they work, although they wish to pursue it as a future course of action.

With libraries dealing with patrons who never disclose fully their information needs and research interests to library staff, libraries have to resort to newer methods of feedback collection, and intelligent agents provide viable options to improve information organization and refine library services.

The paper, being very precise and covering the latest developments, offers new insight into the field of intelligent agents and their pragmatic applications in libraries to interested professionals.

Intelligent agents – software components designed to perform complex tasks for the user (with or without the presence of the user) – are used in a variety of settings, from instant messaging and web auctions, to ATM network management and air traffic control systems. The technology also has applicability within libraries, adding a level of user‐oriented control and flexibility to activities such as digital collection management and virtual reference. The use of intelligent agents to assist users with their searches has perhaps the greatest potential. The purpose of this article is to provide background information on the use of agent technology in information settings, and review three library‐based projects that utilize agent technology in a practical way.

A comprehensive literature review combined with brief case studies of practical applications of agent technology in three modern library settings. A conceptual model of a virtual, agent‐based personalized library is also presented.

Librarians and others in the information profession recognize the potential of agent technology within the library setting. The paper presents a number of practical scenarios for using agents, from supporting digital libraries and teaching information literacy to virtual reference.

There are numerous implications for current and future use of agent technology in libraries, including how to engage IT staff in the development process, how to educate users about the benefits of the technology, and how to make sure library professionals have the skill set to allow them to participate in the conceptualization, design and implementation of agents.

There is a wealth of professional literature on agent technology and its uses, mostly from a computing or engineering perspective. This paper has value in that it presents the concept from a library perspective, and includes references to relevant library literature and projects.

This paper aims to improve understanding of the process through which knowledge acquisition, technical tools and organisation actors can contribute to an organisation development in developing knowledge as a systemic competitive weapon. It examines the relationships between the technology and human value, because they are vital instruments of the knowledge management (KM) process. By considering that KM is related to intelligent agents, information technology (IT), and strategic decision‐support systems (SDSS), it attempts to provide useful insights on KM efficiency. A conceptual model of KM efficiency in the organisations supported by the combination of intelligent agents’ role and intelligent systems resources is presented. The model is divided in two areas: the area of technical tools for specification of intelligent systems resources and the area of intelligent agents destined to focus their roles on organisations’ performance. The major factors are discussed and directions for future research are suggested.

Supply chain management represents a critical competency in today’s global business environment and has been the focus of considerable, but mixed, information systems research. The research described in this paper builds on work in multi‐agent systems to argue that intelligent agents offer excellent potential and capability for supply chain management, and contributes to discussion and theory pertaining to electronic markets and supply chain disintermediation. Argues that the knowledge associated with intermediation work represents a key mediating variable between disintermediating technology and supply chain efficacy and discusses how intelligent agent technology can be employed to both intermediate and disintermediate the supply chain, attaining the cost and cycle‐time benefits of disintermediation without the attendant loss of human knowledge and expertise. The paper outlines a number of implications for theory and practice in information systems, and it formalizes some important research questions through a contingency framework to help stimulate and guide future work along these lines.

An intelligent agent‐based information warfare advisor is being developed for the Strategic Crisis Exercise at the US Army War College. This paper will provide some background on intelligent agents and will then describe the proposed architecture for building this intelligent agent‐based information warfare (IW) advisor (called “Bob‐in‐a‐box” ‐ named after our IW domain expert, Bob Minehart).

There is a tremendous explosion in the amount of data that organizations generate, collect and store. Managers are beginning to recognize the value of this asset, and are increasingly relying on intelligent systems to access, analyze, summarize, and interpret information from large and multiple data sources. These systems help them make critical business decisions faster or with a greater degree of confidence. Data mining is a promising new technology that helps bring business intelligence into these systems. While there is a plethora of data mining techniques and tools available, they present inherent problems for end‐users such as complexity, required technical expertise, lack of flexibility and interoperability, etc. These problems can be mitigated by deploying software agents to assist end‐users in their problem solving endeavors. This paper presents the design and development of an intelligent software agent based data analysis and mining environment called IDM, which is utilized in decision making activities.

Intelligent software agents offer the potential to unleash the power of the Internet to optimise the process of supplier sourcing. Aims to promote an awareness in the buyer/supplier community of the potential for using intelligent software agents over the Internet for this purpose. The traditional relationship between suppliers and buyers is contrasted with that of Internet‐based trading. This comparison confirms that trust is a critical component in the traditional relationship and that an understanding of the nature of trust is necessary in revealing where and how agent technology will have maximum benefit for both buyers and suppliers. It is shown that the technology that can enable this form of sourcing is already well established, and a range of conceptual agents are described. Finally, identifies the benefits that will accrue to organisations that adopt agent technology as part of their supplier‐sourcing portfolio, and recommendations for further work are made.

Criminal elements in today's technology‐driven society are using every means available at their disposal to launder the proceeds from their illegal activities. While many anti‐money laundering (AML) solutions have been in place for some time within the financial community, they face the challenge to adapt to the ever‐changing risk and methods in relation to money laundering (ML). This research seeks to focus on ML control and prevention, which aim to automate the monitoring and diagnosing of ML schemes in order to report suspicious activities to banks.

The research adopted the technology of intelligent agents to provide a more adaptive, flexible, and knowledge‐based solution for AML.

Based on the analysis of monitoring, diagnosing, and reporting of ML activities occurring in electronic transactions, several types of intelligent agents are proposed and a multi‐agent framework is presented for AML. Furthermore, business knowledge such as business rules and strategies are extracted from AML practice, and applied to the design of individual agents to make them act autonomously and collaboratively to fulfil the goal of ML detection.

The proposed multi‐agent framework is a stand‐alone system, which can be integrated by banks to combat ML. Although it is a uni‐bank framework at present, it can be extended to multi‐bank application in the future.

The research explores the approach of applying an intelligent agent for knowledge‐based AML in an electronic transaction environment for banks. By separating business logic from the business model, such a business‐rules approach can enhance the flexibility and adaptability of the agent‐based AML system.