Managing Bias When Library Collections Become Data

Everett-Hayes, Lauren

Coleman, C. N. (2020). Managing bias when library collections become data. International Journal of Librarianship, 5(1), 8-19. https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2020.vol5.1.162

Summary

Catherine Coleman’s article addresses AI developments and how libraries should be critical of their integration into library functions, instead focusing on the ethos of what libraries do for patrons. For one, the point is brought up that AI has shown to be biased because of the nature of how it gets its data. It can only take what it can access, which is not a complete view of the information someone may try to access. The author illustrates that a collection is where library data is concentrated, and, when considering how to incorporate AI, how you access information becomes extremely more relevant (Coleman, 2020).

A core thing the author seemed to want to get across was that AI should be wielded as a tool instead of as a solution as it could help with assessing bias in collections. A current example of overarching bias are the paradoxical LOC subject headings in how they are necessary for categorizing but also cause problems through misrepresentation, racism, etc. The author also expertly speaks about how libraries are more relevant than ever with the integration of AI:

At this moment when there are as many papers about the successes of AI research as there are papers calling out algorithmic bias, data bias, and setting forth principles of AI practice, libraries need to do much more than provide curated data to AI researchers. Libraries need to apply the principles of the profession to managing bias in AI-based systems. (Coleman, 2020, p. 16)

Lastly, Coleman (2020) sums up the article perfectly with the following quote, which pairs well with her call to action that is illustrated throughout: “Libraries need what AI has to offer, but AI needs what librarians have to offer even more” (p. 16).

Evaluation

Overall, I found this article well articulated and felt that it pushed the subject on AI in libraries in effective ways that both explored how AI could help and where it has limitations. Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of things librarians have to consider regarding our library Code of Ethics, copyright, and accessibility to our collections as there is more of a push to use AI and allow it to access our collections without a leash. However, this article talks about how AI can be both a barrier and an asset that continuously needs human input and discretion. In this back-and-forth, there ends up being a lot of really great questions and points made by Coleman that gives us a lot to think about and prepare for, but also feel empowered by. I don't think we have to be afraid of AI replacing our work or making libraries obsolete. The way in which humans understand other humans and what they need will always exist through the nature of research and making connections to the scholarly conversations out there. AI might get robust enough to aid us in seeing our biases and analyzing collections on a deeper level, but I don't think we will use it to put the books on the shelf, since human patrons will always be our focus.

As an honorable mention that might be interesting to others, there is an open access book that is mentioned in this article that gives a humanistic perspective on data that I would like to note here: All Data Are Local: Thinking Critically in a Data-Driven Society

Outsourcing Technical Services in Academic Libraries

Orr, Jessica 

Michalak, R. (2023). Outsourcing Technical Services to Streamline Collection Management: A Case Study of an Academic Library’s Book Reduction Project. Journal of Library Administration, 63(5), 682–699. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2023.2219604 

Summary

In this case study, Michalak examines how a small academic library reduced its monograph collection by 61 percent through outsourcing technical services to LibraryIQ and hiring temporary student workers to complete the physical weeding. The project relied on data‑driven deselection criteria, agile project‑management practices, and structured onboarding to maintain accuracy and staff alignment. The author emphasizes that outsourcing enabled the library to meet an aggressive two‑month deadline while maintaining transparency and community trust. 

Evaluation

Michalak’s case study offers a practical model for libraries facing space constraints or outdated collections. The author’s emphasis on data‑driven deselection and agile project management demonstrates how outsourcing can balance efficiency with accountability. I found the focus on transparent communication especially valuable, as it highlights the importance of maintaining community trust during large‑scale collection changes. The article also raises important questions about the long‑term impact of deselection, particularly when only a small portion of the collection is available digitally. Overall, this case study provides useful guidance for libraries navigating space limitations while acknowledging the risks and ethical considerations involved. 

Rethinking Libraries for the Age of AI

 Slick, Becca

Sousa, N. M. T. (2025). Academic libraries as hubs of artificial intelligence competency. Discover Artificial Intelligence, 5(1), 221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44163-025-00490-8 

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere right now, whether we’re using it for research, writing, or just everyday tasks. But in the article Academic Libraries as Hubs of Artificial Intelligence Competency, the author argues that libraries need to do more than just provide access to these tools. They should actually help people understand how AI works and how it shapes the information we rely on.

    For a long time, libraries have been seen as neutral spaces, places where information is organized and made available without bias. But this article pushes back on that idea. It argues that neutrality isn’t really possible anymore, especially when so much of the information we access is filtered through algorithms. Search engines, databases, and recommendation systems all play a role in deciding what we see (and what we don’t). And those systems aren’t neutral at all, they’re built by people and influenced by things like data choices, commercial interests, and existing biases.

    Because of this, the author says libraries need to step up and take a more active role.

    One of the main ideas in the article is AI literacy. Basically, this means helping people understand not just how to use AI tools, but how to think about them. That includes knowing how AI systems work (at least at a basic level), recognizing their limitations, and being able to question the results they produce. It’s not just about getting help on an assignment, it’s really about understanding how AI is shaping knowledge and decision-making in everyday life.

    This is where libraries come in. The article argues that libraries are actually in a great position to teach these skills. Instead of just helping students find sources, libraries could:

• show how algorithms influence search results
• talk about bias in AI systems
• encourage more critical thinking about information
• and highlight voices that might otherwise be overlooked

    In other words, libraries can become places where people learn how to navigate a world that’s increasingly run by AI.

    Of course, the article also points out that this isn’t easy. Libraries are dealing with budget cuts, reliance on commercial databases, and long-standing expectations to stay “neutral.” On top of that, not all librarians have training in AI, feel prepared to teach it, or refuse to learn about it altogether. But even with these challenges, the author argues that libraries have an important opportunity to evolve and stay relevant.

    At the end of the day, the article makes a pretty clear point: libraries can’t just be about access anymore, they need to be about understanding. In a world shaped by AI, that shift matters more than ever. 

Evaluation - I think this article brings up a really important issue, especially for those in an MLIS program. AI isn’t going away, and a lot of students are already using it without really thinking about how it works or what its limitations are. So the idea that libraries could help fill that gap makes a lot of sense.

    What stood out to me most was the argument about neutrality. Libraries have traditionally tried to stay neutral, but this article makes a good case that neutrality can actually be a problem. If we don’t question the systems we’re using, especially algorithm-driven ones, we’re basically just accepting whatever they give us. That’s not great, especially when bias and misinformation are real concerns.

    That said, the article is definitely a bit heavy in terms of language. Some of the wording (like “epistemic” concepts) makes it harder to read than it needs to be. I found myself having to slow down and reread parts, which might be a barrier for a broader audience. It also stays pretty theoretical, there aren’t a lot of concrete examples of libraries already doing this work, which would’ve helped make the ideas feel more practical.

    Overall though, I think the message is solid. Libraries have always been about supporting learning and access to knowledge, and this feels like a natural next step. If anything, this article is a reminder that our role as future librarians might be a lot more active, and a lot more important, than just managing collections.

 

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.

Open Access to All, and to All a Goodnight

Cordero, Brandon

Oladokun, B. D., Sambo, A. S., Bassey, M. M., & Enakrire, R. T. (2024). The open access effect:    Transforming collection development using open repositories. International Journal of Librarianship,        9(4), 36–51. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.23974/ijol.2024.vol9.4.395

Summary:

This paper employs a systematic literature review to look at the effect of increased open access (OA) articles on academic libraries. The study finds OA articles and journals have facilitated libraries to reallocate their funds from subscription-based journals to to support OA initiatives and improve digital infrastructure. OA supports collaboration, innovation, and equitable information between libraries and their audiences. However, challenges like sustainability, quality control, copyright compliance, and digital preservation are factors that can inhibit OA from expanding. 

Review:

This topic is important in addressing the rise of digital age materials. While digital age media has become more accessible than ever before, subscriptions and their rates are also rising. Open access looks to solve these problems by creating a source of free resources. Resources and collections will no longer depend on which college you attend, open access incentivizes academic institutions to work together in creating equitable access. Oladokun and crew have done a great job at laying out the benefits, the most effected groups (such as STEM majors having the most expensive journal subscriptions), challenges, and future outlook if we keep investing in open access materials.

Collection Development in the Era of Big Deals

Author-

Pyke, Aidan

Citation-

Mongeon, P., Siler, K., Archambault, A., Sugimoto, C., & Larivière, V. (2021). Collection Development in the Era of Big Deals. College & Research Libraries, 82(2), 219. doi:https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.82.2.219

Summary-

    Using data based on 28 different Canadian universities, the writers of this article observed the usage levels of journal subscriptions between different academic disciplines and platforms. From these observations, they found great variance between these disciplines and platforms in multiple institutions resulting in several economic inefficiencies in regards to the 'big deal' model of academic journal subscriptions in university libraries. Their study showed that a large portion of these journals were rarely used by library patrons, leaving the writers to suggest an alternative model based on usage levels and shared interest of patrons and staff. 

Opinions & Evaluation-

     With my own personal local academic library (the Knight Library at the University of Oregon) cancelling all print journal subscriptions due to budgetary reasons I can completely understand the motivation of this paper, and the evidence seems to back up my local academic library's decision to cut those subscriptions. Before reading this article I was a little unsure on why such cuts were necessary, but after looking at this article I can see why it had to be done and I would have made a similar choice if put into that position. Perhaps not all the of the print subscriptions needed to be cancelled, if the Knight library looked at the usage levels of their print journals as these writers suggest to do then maybe the ones most used would still be available to patrons who use such materials. 

Crisis Librarianship: An Examination of Online Librarianship Roles in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

 Reed, K. N., Kester, B., Kaufmann, K. F., Homol, L., & Crampsie, C. (2022). Crisis Librarianship: An Examination of Online Librarianship Roles in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 48(4), 102530–102530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102530

Submitted by William Suarez

Summary:

    A study that surveyed the members of a library organization for their perceptions of their online roles as librarians. This study placed a focus on any change to online librarianship roles after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns beginning in March 2020. Participates were given a survey that exercises both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The results show that overall, the roles largely remained the same as before the lockdowns. The survey also showed that there were reports of increase in demands due to workplace issues like a lack in resources.

Review:

    This was a very valuable research study as libraries had to undergo a lot of change due to the pandemic lockdowns. I believe this was a much needed study to do as after the lockdown, these changes also provide a change for libraries to reevaluate themselves and adjust themselves according to what their respective communities need. The results prove that this survey was needed after the lockdowns as even though the professional role itself remained unchanged, this change allowed the workers to realize where they were lacking in their ability to do their job, i.e. realizing that they were lacking in resources. 

Rightsizing the Academic Library Collection by Suzanne M. Ward

 

By Adame, Katelynn

  Ward, S. M. (2015). Rightsizing the academic library collection. ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association.

Summary: 

Ward's Rightsizing the academic library collection provides a new take on the deselection/weeding process. Always a daunting task, the book proposes the solution of rightsizing for academic libraries. The book begins my evaluating some of the challenges faced by academic libraries, including collaborative efforts, instruction design, employee relation, online learning, enrollment consideration, data collection, diversity, and more. Ward points out that libraries, "need to prove not only that their services benefit the institutions students and faculty, but also that these services are an integral part of student and faculty success," (p. 3). Where collections are concerned, issues of space, quality, and usability are all considerations when advocating for the growth of the library and their collections. Collection curation and deselection criteria should constantly be evolving to meet the needs of students, however, predicting the needs can be difficult, leaving library staff trailing behind while students advance. Large, unruly collections can be difficult to maintain and use, posing potential risks to funding and accessibility of the library collection. Ward does cover some traditional methods of weeding, and while these values still have merit, they may not necessarily be the best solution for academic libraries. The concept of Rightsizing requires libraries to assess their collections and evaluate what a suitable collection may look like for their institution. Rightsizing implements a plan that clearly "state the project’s objectives, staffing assignments, available resources, importance and relationship to the library’s primary goals, expected time frame for a large retroactive effort, measures of success, and strategy for ongoing maintenance," (p. 49). Instead of an annual practice, rightsizing transform the practice of deselection into an ongoing practice that is integral to the lifecycle management of an overall collection. The goal is to ultimately utilize space as best as possible while providing a collection that is usable, accessible, and offers students multiple avenues of information access. 

Evaluation/Review: 

As someone who works in a library with an unruly collection, this was an invaluable resource. Weeding has been an ongoing issue for our institution. Our general collection is full of outdated and unused material. While we continue to get new materials, our old materials seem to never leave. This leaves our collection daunting and unusable for students. I believe Ward has posed some excellent solutions through Rightsizing. Her solution of creating a weeding plan and criteria to generate an ongoing process of weeding can be helpful for librarians who do not have the time or resources to complete the laborious task of weeding. Rightsizing offers a means of maintain a collection that is realistic, manageable, and suitable to your staffing and institutional needs. For individuals in academic libraries, balancing collection management alongside other duties as liaisons, instructors, committee members, and more can be daunting. Typically, the practice of weeding gets pushed aside, leaving a collection in less than ideal condition. Rightsizing might be an excellent solution for information professionals who are looking to manage an unruly collection. 

Collection Management Cycle

 

Grose, Kelsey.

Lantzy, T., Matlin, T., & Opdahl, J. (2020). Creating a library-wide collection management cycle: One academic library’s approach to continuous collection assessment. Journal of Library Administration, 60(2), 155–166. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2019.1677092

Summary: This article depicts a university library’s attempt to develop a holistic on-going collection management cycle to better aid its campus’ needs. Before this attempt, the library would conduct collection evaluations for specific purposes, which caused the evaluations to be inconsistent and some collections to age without updating. To prepare for this new endeavor, the library staff consulted literature reviews, surveys of similar institutions, and discussed their issues with stakeholders. The library decided to run a cycle every five years to cover all subject areas. This cycle covers inventory, data collection and analysis, stakeholder consultations, and weeding. They began the process by testing it on a few subject areas to make sure the processes would work on a grander scale. One challenge they faced was developing detailed data reports in a timely manner. However, they ultimately felt the benefits outweighed the challenges.

Evaluation: As a middle school librarian, implementing such a cycle would have a lot of benefits. It would ensure the maintaining of a collection that stays relevant to students’ and teachers’ needs, and the identifying of outdated, irrelevant, and underused materials on a regular basis. Additionally, being able to set up my budget over a five year period would help my principal see the direction we are moving in. However, considering a university library’s staff found it difficult to keep up with the timeliness of the plan, I don’t know how feasible it would be to do this with only myself and my media tech working on it. Another consideration, on the other hand, is that our smaller scale collection might not need such a formal and lengthy cycle.

Review of Active Learning: A Consideration in Collection Development in Health Sciences Libraries?

 Posted by: Shelton, Michaela

APA Citation: 

Cisney, L. (2022). Active learning: A consideration in collection development in health sciences libraries?         Collection and Curation, 42(2), 41-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/CC-02-2022-0009

Summary: 

Cisney (2022) conducted a literature review and a survey to health sciences libraries regarding how active learning is considered in collection development at health sciences libraries. Active learning is often used in medical education, and as libraries adjust to integrate with curriculum it becomes increasingly important that the collection can support learning and instruction. Cisney's survey was sent to members of the Medical Library Association Technical Services Caucus and Collection Development Caucus and had a 6% response rate. Based on responses, the survey found that most respondents did not make considerations for active learning when making collection development decisions. Because the level of respondents was so low, generalizations could not be made across health science libraries, but rather the responses are an indication that the topic should be explored further. Further studies may also explore if the COVID-19 pandemic changed how libraries view or practice active learning. 

Evaluation: 

While the survey discussed in this article could not be generalized to other health science libraries, the responses still show that librarians involved in collection development may be missing important connections with the information literacy and learning side of the library. For collection librarians who are interested in making considerations for active learning, Cisney's literature review provided several recommendations. The literature review showed that when making considerations for active learning in collection development, librarians may select electronic resources to provide flexibility of use in class, as well as budget for clinical and diagnostic tools and other technology that aids active learning. Libraries may work with students when selecting what materials to purchase for collection updates. Additionally, libraries may alter the types of materials they select or how they store collections to provide learning spaces in the library. 

An early or somewhat late ChatGPT guide for librarians

 Posted by: Joe Mullins

APA Citation:

Hall, B., & McKee, J. (2024). An early or somewhat late ChatGPT guide for librarians. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, 29(1), 58–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/08963568.2024.2303944 

Summary:

    This article presents an up-to-date guide (this summary was written in December of 2024) of ChatGPT in respect to librarians and their work. Acknowledging the current immense usership of ChatGPT by society, Hall and McKee recognize the need for better education, workshop, and general discussion on the stalwart AI tool, particularly for information professionals. However, in this article not only do the authors advocate for research on AI and education of information professionals on ChatGPT but also highlight the importance of caution in using these tools due to limitations. Ultimately, they assert that libraries and librarians alike must stay current and share information with peers on the usages of AI as well as alert their colleagues and patrons to the softwares pitfalls and how to overcome challenges when using the tool.

Evaluation

    This article does a great job in exploring the current design of ChatGPT and advocating and calling on information professionals to become educated in the AI platform to better understand the applications uses and pitfalls. After providing a cursory overview of the popularity and usership of ChatGPT, the article then provides a great literature review of trending and noteworthy articles, workshops, and videos created by university libraries on the software – please see below the evaluation for an attached version of this reading & watching list. Following this literature review, the article then begins to provide a well written piece surveying and demonstrating the uses of ChatGPT as well as acknowledging the pitfalls of the software. They first describe some of the uses of the AI software in detail, which includes assistance in developing curricula, summarizing content, investigating websites, creating rubrics, topic ideation and brainstorming, analyzing and visualizing basic data, crafting social media posts, reviewing content, and writing code. Equally they also present the pitfalls of ChatGPT, highlighting its inability to adequately fact-check, cite sources, analyze and visualize complex data, evaluate or analyze current events, and incorporate or analyze private information. After providing this well thought review of functions and inabilities of ChatGPT, the authors then reassert their argument that it is imperative that information professionals and libraries must stay current and share information with their peers on the usages of ChatGPT – although this could be applied to all comparable AI softwares – and to educate their peers and library users on accurate information about ChatGPT, and especially its pitfalls. Overall, it is a well written and researched article that information professionals should read to ensure education on AI, and ChatGPT especially, is in their tool belt. In the current digital age washed with misinformation, an article highlighting the correct uses and detriments of AI is a valuable tool to have stored in one’s arsenal.

Attachment of Articles Reading and Watching List:

ALA Connect (American Library Association [ALA], 2023) for “ChatGPT” returns 60 “Discussion Threads”

“ChatGPT and Other AI Tools: A Guide for Faculty,” including pages for “ChatGPT/AI Use Cases & Strategies in Higher Education” 

“Readings, Podcasts, and Other Information about ChatGPT and AI” (Wayne State University Libraries, 2023).

In April 2023, the University of Washington community hosted a panel discussion, “Demystifying ChatGPT for Academics” (UW Video, 2023). 

Texas State University (Vaverek, 2023)

Stony Brook University (Kennedy, 2023)

Brown University (Morton-Aiken, n.d.)

DePauw University (Gilson, 2023)

Northern Illinois University (ChatGPT and Education | Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, n.d.)

University of Minnesota (Matts-Benson, 2023)

New York University (Dai, 2023)

University of Georgia (Chaturvedi, 2023)

The Place for Artists' Books in Library Collections

Wemhoff, Ashley

An Article Review of "Acquiring Artists' Books at Art Book Fairs: Dynamic Collection Development Practices" by Joey Vincennie

Vincennie, J. (2022). Acquiring artists’ books at art book fairs: Dynamic collection development practices. Art Documentation, 45(2), 257–268. https://doi.org/10.1086/725520 

Summary:

This article discusses the practice of acquiring artists' books for library collections. During art fairs artists may sell books showcasing some of their collected works. The author of this article seeks to understand what kinds of libraries add these materials to their collections and contemplate why art fairs aren't used more for collection development. To begin they discuss briefly the history of art book fairs.

They describe art book fairs as, "venues for artists and publishers to sell their materials to the public. Materials one can generally find at an art book fair include artists’ books, zines, photobooks, artist multiples, rare books, magazines, posters, and ephemera."

While the author notes that art book fairs vary in size, they observe that these events provide a wonderful opportunity for librarians to connect with local artists, learn about artists' trades, and curate a collection of books to add to they library. 

After an examination of literature that discusses the collection of art books in libraries, the author goes on to present their findings from an online survey they collected from academic and special library respondents. From the results they found that 89.3% used art fairs as a place to build their art book collections, 57.1% used a virtual art book fair for collection development, and 75% had collections policies in place for the acquisition of art books specifically.

Evaluation 

The author of this article acknowledges that they would have liked to get responses from school and public librarians in their survey results, but they simply didn't get any feedback. There certainly could be some merit for these two library types to utilize art fairs as a collections development tool, but I have a feeling that it is mostly academic libraries and art libraries the utilize this resource. 

A brief discussion on how virtual art fairs are becoming more commons since the COVID-19 pandemic show that art fairs are becoming more accessible for rural librarians or for those who have limited budgets. Before reading this article I had not considered using art fairs to find materials for a library collection. I appreciated this author's nuanced discussion on how art is often subjective and librarians need to consider the community when acquiring art for a library collection.

If you are looking for an example of what art books visually look like, check out https://www.artbook.com/, one of the leading sellers for art books globally.

A university-wide collaborative effort to designing a makerspace at an academic health sciences library

Herron, J., & Kaneshiro, K. (2017). A university-wide collaborative effort to designing a makerspace at an academic health sciences library. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 36(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2017.1259878

Summary:

Herron and Kaneshiro’s article presents the process taken by the Ruth Lilly Medical Library’s new Tech Team at the Indiana University School of Medicine in designing and creating a makerspace. A heavy emphasis is made on the collaboration between the Tech Team and a variety of campus groups and departments. The paper is structured in a way that parallels the steps in which the Tech Team took in their process. First, conducting an environmental scan consisted of accumulating resources, meeting with other staff members with 3D printing expertise, and identifying who would be potential user groups. This collaborative step of speaking with students, staff, and faculty informed the Tech Team’s proposed focus for the makerspace to provide a gateway to 3D printing and prototyping. The team promoted the new service through word of mouth, sample prints, and an opportunity fair while the physical space was renovated to better serve as a makerspace. This paper offers a comprehensive synthesis of the collaborative process taken by the Tech Team in designing and building a successful makerspace within an academic library. 

Evaluation:

The relevance of Herron and Kaneshiro’s article lies in its value to academic libraries who are at the beginning of their journey to design and build their own makerspaces. The emphasis on collaboration between library staff and other university members provides valuable insight for library staff unfamiliar with makerspaces as they can gain a network of connections in their own campus community. Another significant takeaway from this article is how the Tech Team strategized to differentiate their new space from other similar 3D printing labs in the university. This resource can help library staff to position their own makerspaces in relation to specialized academic libraries, such as medical academic libraries in this case.

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. 

Latin American Collections Concepts

Williams, & Krentz, J. L. (Eds.) (2019). Latin American Collection Concepts: Essays on Libraries, Collaborations and New Approaches. McFarland & Company, Inc.

Jana Krentz and Gayle William’s edited volume showcases some of the specific trends, themes, and challenges that shape the work of librarians collecting materials from Latin America and about topics in Latin American Studies. The volume grew out of conversations facilitated by the Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM) meetings and aims to share models of collecting and collaboration that can be applied both within and beyond Latin American collection work. Krentz and William’s introduction notes that while the group “acknowledged that within their respective institutions, their work may be viewed as anachronistic and out of step when viewed against academic library practices bent on streamlining collection development practices,” it can also be “ground-breaking” and that their work has been “used as models for other branches of information sciences, especially other area studies disciplines" (p. 1). 

One through-line of the individual chapters is how geopolitical changes after the Second World War, particularly increased interest in and funding for area studies during the Cold War period, shaped the growth of Latin American collections across several decades. Multiple chapters discuss some of the challenges and legacies of the 1942 Farmington Plan for collaborative collection development as well as some of the agreements that preceded this plan and shaped its implementation. Several chapters discuss changes in Latin American publishing industries, particularly the role that eBooks have (or have not yet) played. Additional chapters focus on collection development for specific kinds of collections, for example music or legal materials.

This volume is indispensable not only for librarians building Latin American collections but also librarians initiating collaborations with colleagues at other academic institutions and those building collections in area studies with a strong print materials focus. Given that it was published a year before the beginning of the 2020 pandemic – and the significant changes in publishing and collections practices that it produced – the editors’ and contributors’ ongoing reflections and analysis would further add to scholarship on collections development.

Shared Patron-Driven Acquisition Within a Consortium: The OCUL PDA Pilot

 Peterman, Rhian 

Davis, K., Jin, L., Neely, C., & Rykse, H. (2012). Shared Patron-Driven Acquisition Within a Consortium: The OCUL PDA Pilot. Serials Review, 38(3), 183–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.serrev.2012.08.002

This article provides a case study for the implementation of patron-driven acquisitions as a collection development and management strategy. The article outlines the successes and challenges of PDA. Additionally, the authors look at the institutional and consortial level implications this acquisition strategy has by providing a detailed review of the participating libraries’ implementation strategies as well as key takeaways. 

    This is an important article to contextualize the PDA methodology. However, the implementation methods do not seem like they were comprehensively reviewed regarding interoperable software or hardware requirements (though the authors do go into detail regarding this issue). Future analysis regarding the elimination of isolated collections in favor of building a larger single collection would be an interesting potential solution.

Collaborative collection development: current perspectives leading to future initiatives

Peterman, Rhian 

Levenson, H. N., & Hess, A. N. (2020). Collaborative collection development: current perspectives leading to future initiatives. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 46(5), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2020.102201

The article presents collaborative collection development as a means to fulfill institutional needs during economically fraught times. Furthermore, the authors outline the potential benefits as well as potential complications, or challenges, that a collaborative collection development program may possess. The authors present a review of the literature regarding previously enacted collaborative collection development programs as well as a view for the future. This article notably frames the proposal within the context of a post-Covid-19 budgetary landscape.

The data-driven methods employed by the authors in this article need broader contextualization for other library system types, e.g., public library systems. However, the potential industry resilience garnered by enacting this collection development model cannot be understated. Further research regarding this topic is needed, especially as it relates to potentially mitigating broader environmental impacts.

Creating a Culture of Readers through Collection Development and Outreach

Peterman, Rhian 

Prince, J., & Boff C. (2020). Creating a Culture of Readers through Collection Development and Outreach, Collection Management, https://doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2020.1859423

This article provides a case study of three separate events at the Bowling Green State University to align curricular reading with collection development and services. Additionally, the article provides a glimpse into the impact successful collection development decisions can have on building cross-campus communities around a library’s collection. Additionally, the authors advocate for proactively aligned outreach efforts that showcase the collection development efforts of the institution.   

Furthermore, this article is particularly interesting when noting the importance of collaboration with faculty and educators regarding collection choices, outreach efforts, and circulation use. Through dedicated programming and events, the collection choices can be showcased while providing needed proofs of positive impact for future budget decisions. 

Building Collections through Purchase Suggestions in Academic Libraries

Peterman, Rhian

Ibacache, K. (2020). Building Collections through Purchase Suggestions in Academic Libraries,    Collection Management, 45(2), 179-192, https://doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2019.1666332

This article outlines the positive impact patron driven acquisition models can have on the collection development process. The authors assessed data from over 100 universities using the Suggest a Purchase program, looking at what impact the information captured on the forms could have on collection development decisions. The authors advocate for using form submission patron driven acquisitions as a means for a more user-focused, tailored, and functional collection development strategy. Collection development librarians can use this process to better meet user needs as well as increase the circulation of library materials. 

    Within this framework, patron driven acquisition is not a replacement of librarian driven collection development, instead it could be meaningfully used to augment and focus collections. However, further information and data points needs to be gathered regarding the viability of implementing this collection method.

Collection Development Trends in Academic Libraries

Collection Development Trends in Academic Libraries

Lopez, Liliana

Horava, T., & Levine-Clark, M. (2016). Current trends in collection development practices and policies. Collection Building, 35(4), 97-102. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1108/CB-09-2016-0025

The article Current Trends in Collection Development Practices and Policies by Tony Horava and Michael Levine Clark delivers the results of a study on current trends and issues in academic library collections. It provides a glimpse of major current collection trends and issues within North American academic libraries. The trends and issues in this study include: the use of collection development policies, demand driven acquisition (DDA) models, big deals, use of the collections budget, rationalizing legacy print collections, stewarding local digital collections, and demonstrating value.

The findings from this study render a deeper understanding of collection development functions within academic libraries. They show evidence that academic libraries use their collections budget to fund many costs other than content —often using funds for memberships and MARC records. Some of the other findings highlight the trend of demand-driven acquisitions (DDA) and an academic library’s willingness to support open access investments. Furthermore, collaborative print rationalization projects are not an academic library’s priority but academic libraries do tend to have at least one collaborative print rationalization project within their collection development plan. Perhaps the most inspiring practices and trends are the innovative ways in which academic libraries demonstrate their value.

Evaluation:

Overall, this article provides a platform to reflect on and compare strategies for academic library collections. It enables academic libraries to share current practices and trends — to build upon them and improve their collection development plans. However, this study is only the start of the conversation, because academic libraries have to continue developing their competitive edge to continue thriving and making the most out of their funds.