Book Banning and Burning: A Historical Evolution

 

The article Bannings and Burnings in History traces how censorship has taken different forms across centuries, from bans that restrict access to outright destruction through burning. Both practices often stem from fears that certain ideas are dangerous, inappropriate, or offensive, yet they differ in intensity: banning removes works from circulation, while burning seeks to erase them entirely. Modern examples include challenges to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series in the United States, where critics objected to depictions of magic and witchcraft. Earlier history shows how powerful voices could escalate censorship into destruction, such as Savonarola’s “bonfires of the vanities” in Florence, which consumed books and art created by the city’s greatest talents. By presenting a timeline that spans ancient bans of Homer’s Odyssey to contemporary challenges of works like The Handmaid’s Tale and I Am Malala, the article demonstrates that censorship is a recurring phenomenon across cultures. Whether through banning or burning, the result is the same: ideas are silenced, and cultural heritage is diminished.

Reference

Freedom To Read. (2023). Bannings and Burnings in History. Freedom to Read. https://www.freedomtoread.ca/resources/bannings-and-burnings-in-history/

Reimagining Teen Services: What The Future of Library Services for and with Teens Calls Us to Do

By Kat Foster

Braun, L. W., Hartman, M. L., Hughes-Hassell, S., Kumasi, K., & Yoke, B. (2014). The Future of Library Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action. YALSA. https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/yaforum/content/YALSA_nationalforum_Final_web_0.pdf

Summary:

This YALSA report makes a strong argument that libraries cannot serve today’s teens using yesterday’s models. Braun et al. emphasize that libraries must shift from simply providing books and quiet study areas to becoming dynamic learning environments where teens can explore interests, build digital and media literacies, and connect with supportive adults. The report highlights the persistent equity gaps that shape young people’s daily lives, especially around technology access, educational opportunity, and representation. It stresses that teen services must be culturally relevant, socially just, and intentionally designed to meet the needs of marginalized youth.

A major theme throughout the report is the importance of connected learning, experiences that link teens’ academic, social, and personal worlds. The authors call for libraries to redesign programs, spaces, staffing, and partnerships so they actively support teen-driven inquiry, creation, and leadership. Libraries should no longer be “for teens,” but with teens, centering their voices in decision-making and service design.

Evaluation:

I appreciated how directly this report names the structural inequities that shape teen experiences. It’s easy to talk about libraries as welcoming spaces, but Braun et al. remind us that teens’ real needs go far beyond access to books. When we think about collection development and connection development, the report pushes us to look at whether our collections actually reflect the cultures, identities, and digital realities of the youth we serve. It also challenges us to think beyond formal programming. Informal learning, spontaneous collaboration, and teen-led projects are equally important pieces of a modern library ecosystem.

This focus on digital and media literacy feels especially relevant. Many teens rely on the library for technology support, and the report makes it clear that providing devices is just the first step. Libraries should be preparing young people to analyze information, create media, navigate online spaces safely, and advocate for themselves in digital environments. That kind of work reshapes the role of staff as well, moving from gatekeepers to mentors and co-learners.

Overall, the report serves as both a critique and an inspiration. It reinforces that meaningful teen services require flexibility, community partnerships, and a willingness to rethink traditional models. I can see this framework shaping how librarians approach everything from space design to collection development to day-to-day interactions with teens. It’s a call to build libraries where all teens feel seen, supported, and genuinely invited to participate.

Unlocking Digital Archives: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives on AI and Born-Digital Data

Syed, Sara Asad

Jaillant, L., & Caputo, A. (2022). Unlocking digital archives: cross-disciplinary perspectives on AI and born-digital data. AI & society, 37(3), 823-835.

Summary: This article explores the barriers to accessing born-digital archives in cultural institutions like libraries, museums, and archives. It highlights how most born-digital materials such as emails, web archives, and digital records are "dark" (inaccessible) due to privacy concerns, copyright restrictions, commercial sensitivities, and technical challenges. Using examples like the British Library's Wendy Cope email archive and the National Library of Scotland's Data Foundry, the authors argue that archives overly prioritize risk aversion, contrasting this with tech giants like Google that exploit data maximization. They propose solutions like secure online access systems, consortia modeled on HathiTrust for born-digital content, and AI machine learning applications for sensitivity review. However, the paper also warns of AI pitfalls, including biases, errors, "black box" opacity, and ethical issues like fairness and transparency. The conclusion emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration to make archives more accessible while upholding ethical standards.

Evaluation: This article correlates well with collection management, especially around balancing access, preservation, and ethical stewardship in digital environments. In collection development, we're taught to prioritize user needs and inclusivity, but the authors show how privacy and copyright laws can stifle that. It is frustrating to think of valuable resources like personal emails or web snapshots sitting unused because institutions fear lawsuits or damage to their reputation. Practical suggestions like building secure online platforms or AI-assisted sensitivity reviews, could transform how we manage born-digital collections. For instance, integrating machine learning tools could help with weeding and appraisal processes, making large-scale collections more feasible without overwhelming staff resources. However there are ethical concerns. Biases in training data could perpetuate underrepresentation of marginalized voices. Overall, it reinforces the need for librarians to collaborate with tech experts and advocate for policy changes. I'm inspired to explore AI ethics more in my own research, perhaps focusing on how small libraries could adopt these tools affordably. This piece is a great reminder that collection management in the digital age is not just about acquiring items but ensuring that they are ethically and equitably usable.

Intersectionality: the Importance of Prioritizing Inclusion in an Increasingly Hostile World

Armstrong, Spencer 

Bosman, E. (2023). The Availability of Spanish Language LGBTQ Nonfiction Books in the United States-Mexico Borderland. Collection Management, 48(3), 257-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2023.2172508  

This article evaluates the availability of Spanish language LGBTQ+ nonfiction books in libraries near the United States/Mexico border. It found that such items were present in each examined library, although the amount of materials available varied in volume depending on each institution's average budget. This demonstrates an unwavering commitment to their community's needs. Examining their patrons' needs will allow them to continue building up their collection's materials on this topic at a level appropriate for their specific community.  

Intersectional materials, such as Spanish language LGBTQ+ nonfiction books, are often considered to be a niche interest rather than a key part of a community's collection needs. Although the importance of any specialized topic varies based on a community's demographics, it is important to conduct research into their interests to better meet their information needs over time. Although budgets can be a potential concern when attempting to purchase such materials for a collection, it is important to note that even small libraries were able to include Spanish language LGBTQ+ nonfiction books in their collections once they were identified as a priority. 

It is important for information professionals to identify which "niche" interests their community holds that are not being adequately represented in their current collection. Oftentimes, the very nature of intersectionality will prove that many "niche" topics are inclusive of many community members. As a result, identifying these interests greatly benefits both collection and connection development. 

Subject-Specific Policy Statements: A Rationale and Framework for Collection Development.

McGuigan, G. S., & White, G. W. (2003). Subject-Specific Policy Statements: A Rationale and Framework for Collection Development. Acquisitions Librarian, 15(30), 15. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1300/J101v15n30_03

Summary:

McGuigan and White argue that traditional, library-wide collection development policies are often too broad to meet the nuanced needs of specialized subject areas. They present subject-specific policy statements as a more effective alternative, enabling libraries to articulate clearer goals, define collection boundaries, and communicate the distinctive characteristics of individual subject collections. The authors emphasize that creating detailed subject-based policies supports librarians in managing resources more effectively and helps patrons better understand what to expect from particular collections.

Evaluation: 

The passage presents a clear and well-reasoned argument for the value of subject-specific collection development policies within libraries. It effectively contrasts traditional, library-wide policies, which are characterized as overly broad and insufficient for addressing nuanced disciplinary needs with more detailed subject-based policies that offer clarity and precision. By emphasizing the benefits of subject-specific approaches, such as improved communication of collection goals, enhanced support for librarians, and better guidance for patrons with specialized research needs, the text highlights the practical advantages of tailoring policies to particular subject areas.

A notable strength of the passage is its articulation of how subject-based policies function not only as guiding documents but also as strategic tools. The discussion underscores that developing these policies requires close analysis of the current collection, an understanding of user needs, and forward-looking planning, activities essential to maintaining a relevant and robust collection. The reference to McGuigan and White strengthens the argument by grounding it in professional discourse and demonstrating that concerns about overly general policies are recognized within the field.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Transformative Force, Redefining the Landscape of Modern Libraries

Robbins, Nicholas

Mondal, D. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Transformative Force, Redefining the Landscape of Modern Libraries. INQEST-Peer-reviewed Multidisciplinary Online Research journal, 3(1), 15-23.

 

The article explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming modern libraries by reshaping their operations, services, and user experiences. As libraries evolve alongside technological advances, AI has become a powerful tool for improving efficiency, accessibility, and personalization of information services. Important AI applications include cataloging, indexing, information retrieval, document matching, citation mapping, summarization, robotic process automation, and chat bot based user support. These technologies enable faster handling of large datasets, more accurate discovery of resources, and round the clock service availability. The article also discusses talks about how AI enhances service quality and operational efficiency by automating repetitive tasks, reducing human error, supporting data-driven decision-making, while freeing librarians to focus on complex research support and community engagement. Tools such as machine learning, natural language processing, speech recognition, and expert systems are central to digital and virtual library systems. The concept of the Smart Library illustrates AI’s future role, featuring self service facilities, remote management, and personalized user access through intelligent devices.

 

I like this article because it acknowledges the challenges, including high costs, the need for specialized expertise, potential job displacement, skills shortages, data bias, and AI’s limited ability to generalize across tasks. Being realistic about the current limitations of exciting new technology is important. The article also highlights the importance of data and AI literacy, positioning librarians as educators in responsible technology use. The article concludes that AI is not replacing libraries or librarians but redefining their roles, allowing them to become leaders in information innovation. With ethical adoption and proactive skill development, AI offers a huge potential to enhance access to knowledge, improve service delivery, and build more inclusive and responsive libraries for the future.

A study of Croatian public libraries: Challenges and opportunities in embracing artificial intelligence.

Todaro, Alyssa

Vrana, R. (2025). A study of Croatian public libraries: Challenges and opportunities in embracing artificial intelligence. Public Library Quarterly (New York, N.Y.), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2025.2458378 

This article is an exploration of the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Croatian public libraries and the librarians' awareness of AI technology as it relates to the future of library science. The researches found that most implementation of AI technology focuses on the enhancement of existing library operations and services with limited original concepts/solutions using AI technology. 

It's interesting to learn about the implementation of AI in international libraries and consider how the challenges they are facing are similar and different to those of libraries in the United States. The research results provide insight into how librarians are currently implementing AI, what areas of librarianship could benefit from AI, and the perceived benefits of AI. This article is helpful when considering the broad scope of AI applications in the library and what potential barriers might exist to successful application.

Amazon searches and the future of AI in libraries

 Hi All--

There is an interesting report by two of Amazon's researchers about how it ranks its searches. This study was conducted by Daria Sorokina and Erick Cantu-Paz. Daria went to Lomonosov Moscow State University for her master's degree and then to Cornell University for her PhD. Erick went to Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México for his bachelor's degree and then to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for his PhD. They both worked for Amazon--A9, which developed Amazon's search engines for all of its sites--when the report was written and published the report for an international conference where it was reviewed.

Amazon's report is specifically about how Amazon ranks its products in search results to be relevant to customers. Amazon trains its searches. This means that it focuses on how consumers react to its results and modifies them to be popular with them. The researchers' methodology was to record consumer reactions--purchases--and then, through several models, produce more relevant results. An additional method was to count searches to see whether the relevant search, the purchase, happened with relatively few searches.

Search engines can be quite complicated because they must be the store clerk and the store all at once. That means that they must guess what the customer wants and so must be able to interpret language and cues from the customer. Thus, search engines must use natural language processing (NLP) to judge whether, for instance, a customer wanted a "casual dress" as in something a girl might wear and not dress shoes. Search engine calibration was done partly beforehand and also live through customer responses and data analysis. There were, apparently, discrepancies between what consumers wanted at the top of the page and what consumers bought.

This is applicable to public library technology use because we use search engines all the time and, increasingly, AI. By training searches and correctly interpreting prompts, we can redirect to the right book, for instance. Thus, NLP is very important for automated understanding of when people do not know which book they want. AI is a major improvement on more traditional Google-like keyword searches but can often misunderstand major changes in prompts--it's an inductive machine, primarily--and hallucinates. Time will tell whether further improvements will fix this.

--Nicholas Bullen

References

Cantu-Paz, E. & Daria, S. (2016). Amazon search: the joy of ranking products. SIGIR.  http://doi.org/10.1145/2911451.2926725

Blog Post - Collection Development Techniques Gathered from a Modern Assyrian Heritage Collection

Rosie Ramos

Zaghmouri, L. (2023). The First of Its Kind: Collection Development Techniques for the Vasche Library’s Modern Assyrian Heritage Collection. Collection Management, 48(1), 48–55. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1080/01462679.2022.2099331

Summary:

In The First of Its Kind: Collection Development Techniques for the Vasche Library’s Modern Assyrian Heritage Collection, Lena Zaghmouri examines how California State University’s Modern Assyrian Heritage Collection developed and expanded a uniquely specialized circulating collection in Modern Assyrian Studies, which is rare and unique. Motivated by a donor’s $50,000 endowment and a broader initiative to support an emerging academic program, the project sought to fill a significant gap in library collections, where most Assyrian-related materials focus on the ancient world rather than contemporary Assyrian communities, histories, and cultures.

Zaghmouri highlights the collaborative and innovative methods required to build a collection in a field with limited, often difficult-to-acquire materials.Their primary strategy involved systematically searching the Online Public Access Catalogues of major research universities such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, Harvard, and Princeton in an effort to locate titles not currently held by the Vasche Library.

The article underscores how collecting for marginalized or low-publication fields requires strategies beyond conventional acquisitions workflows. The team’s work revealed that the existing collection already held most commonly available titles, making community outreach, author contact, exploration of self-published works, and partnerships with small and local presses which are essential for future growth. Zaghmouri argues that these nontraditional methods not only support collection development but also strengthen the library’s relationships with local Assyrian communities and scholars, ensuring that the collection remains relevant, comprehensive, and culturally responsive.

Evaluation:

I really enjoyed reading this article because I think it highlighted some important aspects of collection management that I am interested in practicing at some point in my career. I really appreciated the team's approach to collection development with an application of practices specifically catered to working with smaller communities. I also appreciated how Zaghmouri addressed the criticism academic libraries receive as being elitist institutions while also outlining different ways that librarians and library staff can work on bringing down the barriers affecting different marginalized communities. 

Brewster Kahle on the History of the Internet Archive

Photo of Kahle via Wikipedia

Folsom, Jake.

Swisher, K. (2017, March 8). Full transcript: Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle on Recode Decode [podcast transcript]. Vox. https://www.vox.com/2017/3/8/14843408/transcript-internet-archive-founder-    brewster-kahle-wayback-machine-recode-decode

This reading was an episode of the podcast Recode Decode, hosted by Kara Swisher, in which Swisher interviews Brewster Kahle founder of the Internet Archive (IA), covering his career, the archive, as well as industry trends and outlook. 

Kahle and Swisher had known each other professionally for some time at the time of recording, and they seem to be sympathetic with one anothers' positions on several issues surrounding tech and information science, leading to a congenial and freewheeling conversation. I came to the episode as a listener of Swisher's podcasts, and found her conversational style to be a natural fit with this interview. As it happens, I actually found the interview through an information search for interviews with Kahle after working on a project about the Internet Archive during r my metadata course.

I found Kahle's work so interesting within the context of this course, because the IA is a great example of a resource available to any library with computers as an addition to its collection. Librarians who recommend its services are also contributing to the connection development within their institutions.

Kahle is an interesting and idiosyncratic thinker, describing 501(c)(3) organizations as great American innovations and a kind of "secular church." Kahle is also an interesting and relevant figure for his prescient recognition of trends in society and economy (he is talking about OpenAI in this podcast from all the way back in 2017!) 

Over Thanksgiving weekend, a family member recommended Ian McEwan's "What We Can Know" to me, and what she told me about the book had unmistakable thematic parallels to Kahle's work, and in particular his oft-cited analogy between the Library of Alexandria, and the risk of disappearing digital items, and the importance of an archive to preserve them. As McEwan's book tops year-end lists for 2025, we can see Kahle's ideas remain relevant and captivating to readers and thinkers.

Toddling Toward Technology Computer Use By Very Young Children

Dizon, Haidee 

Hinchliff, G. (2008). Toddling toward technology computer use by very young children. Children and Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 6(3), 47-50.

The article provides an interesting perspective on the young children’s early use of computers and technology. Because of the changing technology landscape, technology will continue to be a major part of young children’s learning and developmental growth. While some parents may be hesitant to introduce computers to their young child, the article shares that libraries can be sources of community support on digital media use and education. This can stem from simple creation of products, coloring, or reading digital stories. In fact, there are educational programs that offer parents tips on how to guide website and educational computer use (i.e. Mediatech Foundation, PBIS, and ALSC). Lastly, recent students have also noted school readiness in Head Start programs that discovered that preschoolers, who used developmentally appropriate education sites for fifteen to twenty minutes, demonstrated positive results on school readiness and cognitive tests (Hinchliff, 2008). With these ideas in mind, introducing technology to young students demonstrates several benefits when they advance in their academic careers. Students learn to use technology for demonstrating their knowledge and skills, while reinforcing literacy skills in different formats and materials.   

Overall, the article serves as a supportive resource on introducing computers and digital resources for parents. It discusses how children will be able to learn and engage in reading through diverse formats. It is also an engaging article that poses questions for some skeptics about the  early use of technology and young children. During my preschool teaching years, I also experienced doubts because I noticed that more children had increased screen time, which limited social interactions. I did not entirely support iPads and other screens to infants and toddlers because these devices did not allow students to engage with others meaningfully. And because of the critical early childhood education years when young students need to develop language skills and interact with others, these devices pose challenges for families on how it should be used appropriately. In this way, I did not understand why we should have a lot of screen time and technology present for young children. However, after reviewing this article, I started to realize that it is acceptable to introduce technology early because young students will continue to experience changes in the technological landscape. More importantly, it is adapting to the technology and understanding the educational programs that are available for teachers and students. As future librarians, we are valuable resources for families and teachers on educational technology and how it could be incorporated within school curriculum and literacy. Ultimately, young students will benefit from the computer programs that practice content materials and showcase learning in diverse media.    

 

Blog Post_ Community Collaboration In Ethnomusicology Archives: Ethical Considerations For Collections Management

Posted by: Martin, Melissa

Citation: VanCour, S & Vallier, J. (2021). Community collaboration in ethnomusicology archives:

    Ethical considerations for collections management. ARSC Journal. 52(1). https://link-gale-com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/apps/doc/A663758128/AONE?u=csusj&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=2407f723

Summary

This article addresses two collections – Melville Jacobs Collection and Crocodile Café Collection. The idea of addressing these specific collections is to evaluate the “nature and ethics of collection ownership and access” and “reimagined traditional principles of collection stewardship, embracing a collaborative, community-oriented approach as the cornerstone for ethical management of recorded sound collections in contemporary ethnomusicology archives” (VanCour & Vallier, 2021).  

The Melville Jacobs collection consists of 96 Edison and Ediphone cylinders and over 100 varies disc sizes of other materials (VanCour & Vallier, 2021). They document music, language, and stories from Snohomish, Tulalip, Puyallup, Snoqualmie, and Duwamish peoples (VanCour & Vallier, 2021).  The materials also document other Pacific Northwest communities, like the Cowlitz of Oregon, Semiahmoo of British Columbia, and Carcross/Tagish First Nation of the Yukon (VanCour & Vallier, 2021). They are developing an free open-sourced content management system that follows an ethically grounded access model called Mukurtu, with collaboration with local tribal communities (VanCour & Vallier, 2021). This helps remove colonial barriers and acknowledges the tribal communities having ownership of their songs and stories that were recorded by Jacobs and empowering to define the level of access granted to their heritage materials (VanCour & Vallier, 2021).

The Crocodile Café Collection consists of 3,000 hours of live music from 2002 to 2007 (VanCour & Vallier, 2021). The bands on the recordings were Mudhoney, Everclear, Modest Mouse, Harvey Danger, and Death Cab for Cutie (VanCour & Vallier, 2021). Performers never gave informed consent of the recordings which leads to copyright and ethical issues of the collection (VanCour & Vallier, 2021). They created an ethically grounded access model by contacting stakeholders and user groups (VanCour & Vallier, 2021). This allowed them to take a portion of the recording and make them widely available to users (VanCour & Vallier, 2021). VanCour and Vallier concluded the importance of community collaboration on ethical management of a specific collection.

Opinion

This article does a great job at holding a conversation about ethical management within special collection. This ethically grounded access model helps replace the colonial model which was previously enforced in the institutions. VanCour and Vallier (2021) summaries colonial model as “researchers from settler nations traveling to record or extract ‘primitive’ sounds from ‘non-Western’ cultures; upon returning to their home institutions in Europe or North America, they then published their findings and deposited their field recordings into archives to be mined for further academic and financial gain.” The new model continues to work with the communities after the recordings were acquired. The institution does own the recordings and has copyright of the recording. However, it is vital to have community collaboration, with the communities who were recorded, about the level of accessibility certain materials may have in the collection. Collection management is broader than growing, maintaining, or shrinking a collection. There is an ethical element to special collections. Librarians and archivist must be aware of ethical implications when they are managing their collection.

Transformative Agreements in An Academic Library: Two librarians' experience with collection development and this new type of agreement with publishers

McLain, R., & McKelvey, H. (2024). Shifting the collection development mindset: Moving from traditional journal subscriptions to transformative agreements. Library Resources & Technical Services, 68(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.5860/lrts.68n1.8218

Audrey Wilcox

Summary

This article, written by Rachelle McLain and Hannah McKelvey and published in 2024, does a great job in describing the processes behind transformative agreements (TAs), what they are to libraries and publishers, as well as the considerations behind implementing TAs. Hannah and Rachelle write about their experiences managing, executing, and negotiating with seven TAs over the course of three years at their academic library at Montana State University. They begin by examining the current literature on the subject and then explain how they were introduced to Tas by attending a 2019 conference. From there, they delve into how TAs can help support equitable open-access opportunities for authors and researchers. Throughout the article, they present research questions, workflows, benefits, and challenges that they encountered during their work. All in all, the researchers concluded that TAs are worth it to a library, regardless of its size or staffing, and that developing the knowledge and skills to work with publishers and authors in creating TAs will be even more critical in the future as more libraries participate.

My Evaluation

I believe this article to be incredibly important to any library looking to start implementing transformative agreements in their collection development processes. Rachelle and Hannah did a great job explaining their work and processes throughout the research and implementation of the TAs within their library. They bring up great considerations and questions that those new to the process should consider, as well as what to look out for when working with publishers. I feel that licensing processes and negotiating with big-name publishers can be daunting enough as it is, and when you add processes like TAs to the mix, it can get even more confusing. Open Access within libraries still has some wrinkles and aspects to work out, but licensing agreements like TAs can create more equitable access to publishing and research in a world of rising article processing fees and costs to authors.

Analyzing Children’s Reading Outcomes When Reading Print vs. Digital Formats. 

 

Hare, C., Johnson, B., Vlahiotis, M., Panda, E. J., Tekok-Kilic, A., & Curtin, S. (2024). Children’s reading outcomes in digital and print mediums: A systematic review. Journal of Research in Reading, 47(3), 309–329. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9817.12461

Mount, Allison

In this study, Hare et al, asked the question, how do print and digital formats affect reading outcomes including reding comprehension, engagement, vocabulary, speed, etc., in children 1-17 years old? They analyzed 121 studies comparing digital and print formats on reading outcomes in articles published between 2000 and 2023. They coded each of these studies for participant level, task level, and study level. The most common finding was that there was no difference between the two mediums but there were exceptions. Older children reading informational text had higher comprehension levels reading print. Digital was found to be better for engagement, particularly among very young children and diverse learners (children with learning disabilities or children that are not reading in their native language).

Studies such as this one are important to collection management because it can aid the selector in determining the best format for the intended audience. While there should always be options for all audiences between print and digital, there could be times to favor one over the other to target a particular objective. Libraries serving communities speaking and reading different languages may want to invest in more digital content for young readers learning to read in a language that is not native to them. Selections of informational text for older adolescents should favor print editions over digital so that reading comprehension is higher. While there were several studies available to be analyzed, they did not generally represent children of lower socioeconomic status and those from marginalized communities so more research is needed.

AI Models and Collection Development in Health Sciences Libraries

 

Morrison, Mary

Portillo, I., & Carson, D. (2025). Making the most of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models to support collection development in health sciences libraries. Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 113(1), 92–93. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2025.2079

Summary:

For the project, health sciences librarians at Chapman University in Irvine, Ca, evaluated the four AI models (ChatGPT 4.0, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot) over the course of six months using two different prompts in an effort to streamline their work and aid efficiency. 

For the first prompt, each generative AI model was asked to produce a current eBook list of titles published over the last two years on topics related to pharmacy, communication sciences and disorders, physical assistant, and physical therapy. For the second prompt, the tools were asked to find current subject gaps in the collection and to create a list of recommended call numbers in specific ranges that needed attention. Each collection list was uploaded into the generative AI models using the Create List function found in Sierra which is an Integrated Library System. 

Afterwards, the results were assessed for “quality, accuracy, the presence of fabricated titles (often referred to as ‘hallucinations’) if references were provided, correct citation details and accurate LC call numbers” (Portillo & Carson, 2025). All of the models gave inconsistent responses. Only two of the AI models gave sources for the titles they created. While Copilot was the most accurate in generating titles, Gemini and ChatGPT had many hallucinations and incorrect information. Some tools gave more hallucinations on different days with the same prompt. Because of this, none of the generative AI models are currently adequate tools for collection development. 

The second prompt got better results with all models giving some type of “helpful analysis and accurate LC call numbers” (p. 93). The subject gaps identified by each model were different, but they all had reasoning as to what areas needed further development and the research generated was found to be useful by the researchers for use in their current collection development work. 

The findings of the research support the idea that LLMs are not ready to serve as “primary information retrieval systems” for library collections and are better used as supplementary tools for “analyzing the subject coverage of their collection, identifying subject gaps, and highlighting areas for health science programs that may not be as well represented in a library collection”

 (p. 93).

Evaluation: Overall, I found this article to be a brief and concise research endeavor for a very focused group (health sciences libraries). I appreciated that they used four different AI models to test the accuracy of their results from the two collection based prompts. It was especially interesting to see how each model fared and how they had similarities and differences. I wasn’t surprised by the findings. I find AI tools especially helpful for many tasks, but in tasks that require higher order thinking or multiple steps that require some degree of nuance, there is still a great deal of room for improvement. I feel that AI will improve rapidly and that soon it will be something that is more useful in increasing librarians’ efficiency and reducing their workload. 

Collection Management with a Focus on Preservation

 Post by Oakes, Cory

Gregory, Vicki L.. Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Library Collections : An Introduction, American Library Association, 2019. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/sjsu/detail.action?docID=5850106. 

While the entire textbook by Gregory, "Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Library Collections" gives some solid foundational information for someone new to the subject, I found Chapter 11: Preservation the most interesting. 

Special collections within libraries, or on their own, require a different approach to maintain and manage. This chapter gives basics to be considered on preservation of books and other physical information items, how these can be reproduced in various forms that include putting items on microfilm, what sort of contingencies should be put in place in case of a disaster for physical as well as digital resources, and some discussion on what makes a digital item "preserved" or "preservable."

While I am interested in learning more about preservation and restoration of physical texts and information items, this textbook chapter only provides the briefest overview, and I would encourage anyone else interested in these things to seek out more in-depth information unless just a simple overview is needed.