Introducing Chatbots in Libraries

Bachofer, Mark

McNeal, M. L., & Newyear, D. (2013). Introducing chatbots in libraries. Library Technology Reports, 49(8), 5-.

Summary:

For my Presentation Five in this class, I set out to explore the feasibility of utilizing artificial intelligence as a chatbot to answer the questions of digital patrons. While I’m definitely not the biggest fan of AI, especially in creative endeavors, at the branch where I work, two-thirds of my workdays are spent manning the ASK inbox. For the majority of the emails that we receive, I am able to cut and copy a preprepared response, and send it back out. In my mind, this would be an ideal use for such technology – scanning incoming emails, recognizing certain keywords, and deploying the premade advice. But before I fully condoned the use of AI chatbot technology, I wanted to make sure that I understood where it came from.

In Introducing chatbots in libraries, McNeal provided exactly the resource I was looking for. This article discusses the history of chatbots, and their more recent implementation in libraries. I was surprised to find that some branches have been using them since the mid-2000s, but given that the technology has existed since 1966, I suppose that’s not too unreasonable.

The first chatbot was designed as a therapist. Specifically, ELIZA acted as a Rogerian therapist, which reframe statements are questions to then induce further introspection, and allow the individual undergoing therapy to control the conversation. This type of conversation seemed ideally suited to a chatbot, as they specialize in recognizing keywords, and providing outputs based on those triggers. However, it also seemed ideal for a library scenario.

Indeed, many libraries have adopted chatbots – new systems include Emma the Catbot in Mentor, Ohio and Pixel at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – but their overall purpose remains the same: to allow branch staff to get back to the desk. Interpersonal contact is one of the key duties of library staff, and if AI is able to increase the time that we are able to spend interacting with the public, I think that it is worth implementing.

Evaluation:

I very much enjoyed this article. It gave a solid history of chatbots, and was able to uncover the underpinnings of this technology. It’s important to understand where new technologies come from, how they’ve developed, and how they can be used in the future.

I did notice that there was not much discussion about the personal privacy issues of AI chatbots, which is still a concern I have. I think that while implementation of such a system in libraries is a good idea that could free up a lot of staff time, we will have to take precautions to avoid distributing people’s information. 

Representation of libraries in artificial intelligence regulations and implications for ethics and practice

Bradley, F. (2022). Representation of libraries in artificial intelligence regulations and implications for ethics and practice. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 71(3), 189-200. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750158.2022.2101911

Summary:

This article discusses the existing and potential ethical issues with AI as well as the regulations around AI. It also looks at how AI is being used in libraries and how information professionals are influencing and involved with policy around AI. 

Evaluation:

This article is great because it looks at both the benefits of AI and how libraries are using it as well as ethical problems, and discusses solutions to those problems through the involvement of information professionals. The article also discusses other studies which is helpful. 

Maya Pulfer

Intellectual Freedom and the Collection Development Process

Shauna Bailey

 

Reference:

 

Costello, L. (2020). Survey Applies Public Collection Development Librarians’ Support for Intellectual Freedom to Collection Process. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 15(1), 245–247. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29686

 

 

Summary: 

This study used an online survey to explore how 645 Midwestern public librarians’ attitudes around intellectual freedom and demographics influenced decisions concerning collection development. Intellectual freedom around the management of collections was the focus of the survey. It was found that the participants used many tools in the selection of collection materials. Just less than half indicated their library had a policy to assess collection balance, while just over half indicated their libraries did not have a policy in place to ensure a balanced collection. Almost ¾ of respondents felt local communities should influence collection development. Communities' political leanings did not have an impact on participants’ alignment with the intellectual freedom stance of the American Library Association (ALA), though holding an MLS degree did significantly affect respondents' stance and alignment with the ALA. Almost ¾ of the participants felt that collection development should be influenced by the government library funding leadership. A small number of respondents encountered pressure from their coworkers or communities to either purchase or restrict collection materials. Interestingly, almost 40% of respondents felt torn between their professional views on intellectual freedom and their personal values, though, there was support for intellectual freedom and alignment with the principles of the ALA in general.

 Evaluation:

 This article focuses on the implications of intellectual freedom around collection development in public libraries. I found it interesting that most of the participants indicated that their libraries did not have a collection development process in place to ensure a balanced collection. This article suggests collection development without a structured plan will stray off course, something we have also been learning in INFO 266. This article highlights public collection development librarians and their efforts to follow the guidance of the ALA intellectual freedom standards. Continued education for information professionals around intellectual freedom, and the importance of developing guidelines and policies to ensure a balanced collection development process cannot be stressed enough. Maintaining balanced collections, developed while following the principles of intellectual freedom, will ensure that public libraries remain vibrant, inclusive spaces for the communities that they serve.

A call for research-informed services for Black and African-American students

Reference

Davis, R., & Saunders, L. (2022). Beyond lip service: A call for research-informed services for Black and African-American students. Journal of Academic Librarianship., 48(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102479   

Summary

Library leadership in America has committed verbally to serving the underserved - especially Black and African American student populations - time and time again, states Davis and Saunders (2022), but in order to do that, academic library staff nationwide need to understand these students’ experiences. Their article outlines research done on those experiences. When it comes to college libraries, for example, Davis and Saunders report “African-American students are unlikely to ask for help in the research process either from their instructors or from librarians and that reluctance to seek help might be complicated by race” (2022, p. 3). In order to better serve this population, Davis and Saunders suggest librarians gain a “clear, research-based understanding of the experiences, needs, and expectations of the Black and African-American students they intend to serve,” (2022, p. 4). 

Evaluation 

As a high school librarian gaining my library teaching credential, I know how important it is to understand one’s patrons on as many levels as possible. I have done my best to enhance my library’s collection, putting my purchasing power behind buying materials written by Black and African-American authors telling their own stories. Prior to this article, however, I thought that - as well as my empathy and anti-racist beliefs - would carry me through. Now, however, I feel strongly that I need to take that to the next level and educate myself through seeking out research that highlights the experiences and necessities of the students I work with in my school library everyday.

Abby Souza

ChatGPT and the rise of chatbots in academic libraries

Haggard, Millicent 

Reference

Adetayo, A. J. (2023). Artificial Intelligence Chatbots in academic libraries: The rise of ChatGPT. Library Hi Tech News, 40(3), 18-21.

Summary

        Adetayo reviews ChatGPT and other chatbots, and how they are being used in academic libraries. Adetayo reviews how they can be used to simulate human conversations for users, deliver rapid answers to a variety of questions, and overall, just improve the quality of library services. The chatbots can also assist users with accessing materials or placing holds, without having to wait for a librarian for these services. The chatbots handle simple inquiries and tasks to help free up more space for the librarians to work on other projects. The article also touches on how chatbots can assist with language translation when it is needed, which makes the library more accessible for a larger group of people. The article also mentions some potential issues with the chatbots as well, such as inaccurate query responses and limited comprehension. One of the biggest potential issues discussed is the risk of librarians losing their jobs due to the intelligence of AI and chatbots. 

Evaluation

        I chose to review this article because it was the one that stood out to me the most this semester out of all my readings and became the topic of my "design your own" presentation. I never really tapped into chatbots or researched them before this class, so it was interesting to read about everything that they can do and learning about companies other than ChatGPT that are providing these services. Along with learning about all that they can do, I also learned so much about the implications involved. It was interesting to learn that while most academic libraries are studying chatbots and AI, only a small percentage of them are implementing the services in the libraries. Due to many technological issues and privacy concerns, so many users fear implementing AI into their libraries or businesses. Job loss seems to be the main concern of many, but I don't agree with this. I think that these AI tools could supplement and help workers do their jobs more efficiently and are not meant to take their place. I think with proper training and regular adjustments, chatbots can be very beneficial to libraries and other businesses. 

Discussion

 

Miranda, Celinna

Reference

Williams, J.F. (2014, September 20). Joan Fry Williams: Consultant & Futurist [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn0clFLyeiU&list=PLgMt-Lvz0cxG1K8_O2TsbnMwpjViwQtnG&index=2

Summary

Williams uses design thinking in her approach to creating "future-ready" libraries. She encourages unique and human-centered approaches to library programming and services. Williams’ references mega trends in technology and workplace in order to paint a vivid image of future-ready libraries.

Evaluation

I wanted to share this lecture from Joan Fry Williams, a library consultant and futurist. I especially agreed with her presentation on makerspace in public libraries; she suggests modular furniture and accessible technology be available to library patrons in order to meet their creative and collaborative needs. She even makes practical suggestions for small libraries dealing with minimal space to set collaborative hours where patrons do not have to worry about keeping their volume low. Her passion for future ready libraries is obvious in all of her recommendations. There are a lot of important take aways from this video. I personally appreciate that she embraces technology in libraries and encourages librarian's to live in the future in order to maintain a relevant and modern library that can be an invaluable resource to the community. I think that If this lecture were to be updated, Williams would certainly be talking about AI. What do you all think?

"Prizing" books as an unintended consequence of censorship

  Kidd, K. (2009). “Not censorship but selection”: Censorship and/as prizing. Children’s Literature in Education, 40(3), 197–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-008-9078-4

Kidd’s theoretical and critical essay offers a brief history of censorship, book banning practices, and anticensorship in the USA. Most censorship efforts are tied to obscenity, be it pornographic, racist, violent, etc., and bans on children’s books are mostly motivated by the idea of contaminating the youth. Kidd examines the history of literary prizes in connection to book challenges. Kidd claims that book challenges can spark anticensorship efforts that lead to “prizing” of a book, whether the title merits the attention or not. He concludes that the worst thing that could happen to a book is non-attention which results in a book just fading away into the stacks. This article reveals the central role that libraries, librarians, and their selection policies have on anticensorship practices that have become especially important in the past 30 years. Another interesting point of the article is the analysis of censors and anticensors, which Kidd explains as two extremes always “othering” one another, both of which increase attention on a given title. I completely agree that a book disappearing into the stacks is the ultimate "death" of the book. It's interesting to think about how censorship efforts actually bring more attention to books, and I am curious if efforts by adults to censor books leads to the intended audience having more interest in reading the book in question.