Shannon Fetch
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Yamson, G. C. Immediacy as a better service: Analysis of the limitations of ChatGPT in library services. 

    Sage Journals. 14 November, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266666923120676

ChatGPT has become a very popular chatbot recently. People use it for all sorts of things, it can have conversations, tell jokes, write speeches, and much more. This study was conducted to find the ways that ChatGPT falls short when used to assist with library services. 

In the age of modern information technology, libraries have been forced to change how their services are delivered and in recent years have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) applications to improve the quality of their service. Chatbots powered by AI provide instant assistance to users. They effectively respond to common inquiries and point users in the direction of pertinent resources. This leaves librarians open to work on other tasks. 

There are limitations to AI services such as ChatGPT though. They rely on preexisting knowledge and therefore, responses can be biased based on that knowledge. It is difficult to ensure accuracy with chatbots and they cant necessarily replicate a personal touch the way a human interaction can, and that is important to people. 

Chatbots have their limitations but can be a useful resource in the library. This seems to be the way the world is headed and AI will continue to evolve and improve its services.

Collection Development Based On Patron

 Mao Yang

APA: Allen, M., Ward, S., Wray, T., & Debus-López, K. (2003). Collection development based on patron requests: Collaboration between inter-library loan and acquisitions. Library Collections, Acquisitions, and Technical Services, 27(2), 203-213.

Summary:
Allen, Ward, Wray, & Debus-Lopez (2023) used this article to see the effectiveness of collection development based on patrons. They called this method On-Demand Collection Development. On-Demand Collection Development is when the librarian purchases a book rather than borrow through inter-library loan. It was found that this method was more cost-efficient and patrons received their requests faster. Allen, Ward, Wray, & Debus-Lopez (2023) believes that on-demand collection development is a practical aspect that meets both patron and library needs.

Evaluation:
This article focused on using the method on academic libraries. I think this method works well in academic libraries because the patrons are university students or faculty member. I would like to see if this method would work on public libraries. When there is a wider range of interest and patron, I wonder how the on-demand collection development would work. Overall, I think it's a great method in collecting books because the library owns the book compared to inter-library loans.

“I Think You Should Read It Anyway”: Black Readers and Book Bans.

 Parker, K. N. (2023). “I Think You Should Read It Anyway”: Black Readers and Book Bans. Voices from the Middle, 30(4), 15-.

Iñiguez, Amber

Summary:

This article discusses the impact of recent surges in book bans on Black readers and educators. The author, in conversation with colleagues, highlights the disproportionate impact of bans on books by LGBTQIA+ authors, authors of color, and those addressing social-emotional issues. It encourages educators to collaborate with others, build communities of criticality and resistance, and center Black students' voices in discussions about book bans. By listening to Black students' experiences and supporting their activism, educators can work towards ensuring access to inclusive and affirming literature. The author urges educators to protect, read, share, and celebrate banned books, especially those written by Black authors.

Evaluation:

The article offers a compelling perspective on the current surge in book bans across the United States, particularly focusing on the impact on Black readers and educators. Through a critical analysis of the issue, the author highlights the intersectionality of race, censorship, and education. I appreciate the strategies for educators to resist book bans and support Black and LGBTQIA+ students' access to affirming texts. It emphasizes the importance of building diverse classroom libraries and engaging students in critical discussions about censorship. It brings up a good good point about teaching the youth about censorship and its dangers. Additionally, the article celebrates the resilience of Black and LBBTQIA+ youth in response to book bans, emphasizing the importance of centering their voices in discussions about education and social justice.

Project READY: Re-imagining equity and access for diverse youth.

To, Nhi.

 

Project READY. (n.d.). Project READY:  Reimagining equity and access for diverse 

youth. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

https://ready.web.unc.edu/about-us/ 

 

Summary: Project READY, which stands for Reimagining Equity and Access for Diverse Youth, 

is a free online professional development curriculum with the aims of promoting racial 

equity in libraries and educational settings. Developed by a group of educators and library

staff from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Project READY offers modules

on understanding racism, building cultural competence, and transforming library services, 

programming, and practices to support diverse youth. 

 

Evaluation: This project is a valuable resource for librarians as this could provide useful

information regarding topics of racial equity that may be lacking in their understanding. 

Provided that this is a free course, I believe Project READY should be an option that all 

libraries can look to add into their training or professional development for their staff 

members. The curriculum is comprehensive, leaving anyone who is able to complete the 

course fully to have a wealth of knowledge afterwards. I found this source to be incredible

cool as it is free and it is also online. Accessibility was definitely a consideration when 

creating this toolkit.

Holes at the Bottom of the Boat: Disrupting Performative EDI Efforts

Zepeda, Erick 

 

Hall, T.D. (2023) Holes at the bottom of the boat: Disrupting performative equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts in libraries in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Journal of Library Administration, 63(4), 566-577, DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2023.2201722

 

Summary: The transition to digital work during the pandemic laid bare the inconsistencies in demands for employees to use and consume online media while lower income employees are less likely to have access to technology and reliable internet connections, particularly in rural areas. On the public-facing front, lower income areas are less likely to have access to information organizations and librarians that can assist in overcoming the digital divide. Meanwhile, the pandemic saw the elimination of many lower classified positions within libraries, where the majority of BIPOC staff are employed.

 

Evaluation: I am naturally skeptical of an industry’s incorporation of social justice aesthetics. They often end up divorced from practice. DEI has yet to even take roots in library culture, but we need not follow suit with the private sector or even The White House. Rather, I like how Hall refers to this stage as the "mission-critical" for DEI initiatives. The industry will either have to implement these concepts into material solutions or stagnate in a deathloop of meaningless gestures.

Summary and Evaluation of "Collection Directions: The Evolution of Library Collections and Collecting"

 Chiriboga, Claudia

Article Title: Collection Directions: The Evolution of Library Collections and Collecting

Dempsey, L., Malpas, C., & Lavoie, B. (2014). Collection Directions: The Evolution of Library Collections and Collecting. portal: Libraries and the Academy 14(3), 393-423. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2014.0013.

Summary: 

This article offers a comprehensive examination of how collecting behaviors have evolved within network environments, outlining potential future directions through diverse model analyses. Dempsey, Malpas, and Lavoie delve into the shifting dynamics of print collections, heightened interactions with research and learning behaviors, and trends in scholarly communication. Their aim is to furnish a framework for libraries to deliberate on evolving investment patterns across collection categories. The authors introduce the idea of network context, collection grids, and managing shared print, while explaining transaction costs, the importance of infrastructure, and explore the changing patterns of research and learning.

Evaluation: 

As stated in the article, “Libraries are not ends in themselves but serve the needs of the institutions of which they are a part. As those needs change, so do the requirements placed on the library.5 Changes in the way research and learning are done are more important drivers of change than internal library developments” (5). I concur with the statement that libraries exist to meet the needs of the institutions they belong to, and as these needs evolve, the demands on the library also shift. The assertion that alterations in research and learning methodologies have a greater impact on driving change than internal library developments aligns with my perspective. Additionally, the article states, “As access and collections are decoupled in this way, it moves the library toward a set of services around creation, curation, and consumption of resources that are less anchored in a locally managed collection and more driven by engagement with research and learning behaviors” (7). I agree with the idea that separating access from collections leads the library towards a focus on services related to creating, curating, and consuming resources. This shift diminishes the emphasis on locally managed collections and emphasizes engagement with research and learning behaviors.

Is Your Library Ready for the Reality of Virtual Reality?

Palmer, Meghan

Grant, Carl R., Rhind-Tutt, S., "Is Your Library Ready for the Reality of Virtual Reality? What You Need to Know and Why It Belongs in Your Library" (2018). Proceedings of the Charleston Library Conference. http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284317070

Synopsis:  This article defines virtual reality from a basic level, as well as explores the different types of virtual reality i.e. VR, AR, and MR. Additionally, it examines the benefits of virtual reality in libraries and why more libraries should adopt the technology for regular services outside of gaming.

Evaluation: While not the longest article, I think there's a lot to gain from it if you're looking for basic information about virtual reality and how it benefits libraries. It's a persuasive piece and I think it does a great job at exploring all of the options and giving examples of how different library patrons can benefit. I like that they specifically address the issue of accessibility and point out that virtual reality is a great tool to experience learning materials or specific texts that can't otherwise be accessed in a typical public/academic library due to fragility, price, etc. Overall, I love the perspective of using VR as a more affordable way to add more to library collections and keep patron interest.