Thanks for this very measured take on a topic that provokes a lot of kneejerk reactions, in both directions. I tend to fall on the side of it being largely a negative tool for the humanities. Something that will reorient the ways we discuss and teach critical thinking.

Right now, there is a huge, overwhelming push away from the humanities as being an entirely impractical field. STEM rules the land. This is reflected in the quote above, where ChatGPT is framed a kind of calculator and the process of thinking through an idea as being tedious, already mastered steps. This is, of course, true in math, where equations must follow specific set patterns and rules. But if you’re writing an essay or working out a research question, it’s the personal struggle that gives the work its real value. The human element is what gives it its value. If you teach people to skip this difficult work, and to rely on what are essentially borrowed ideas coldly cobbled together from variety of unknown sources, you run the risk of seriously stunting their ability to develop any genuinely new or exciting ideas.

Hi @louis, thanks for your comment. I am right there with you. I have seen that same argument comparing ChatGPT to calculators, and the problem for me is that it’s not being used that way. I like the general idea behind Moriarty telling students “writing makes you smarter. ChatGPT makes you sound like everybody else.” That’s a great argument… but it’s falling on deaf ears. My students did not care about developing skills. They care about getting the assignment over with. And that’s not a dig at the students. In my personal experience, young students often must be taught to care, and the process of writing is one way to teach them that. In cases like that, ChatGPT builds a bridge from the start of the learning process to the end of it, allowing students to completely skip the actual learning.

Going back to the calculator example, we as educators allow students to use calculators in upper level coursework only, such as calculus and trig. I don’t know what constitutes that upper level coursework within the humanities– I don’t know who those students might be. But I know who they aren’t: highschoolers who are just getting the hang of writing.

@bklint I was actually wondering about this recently – how professors actually detect if a student used an AI tool or not. There are several students at the university I work at who have openly admitted to me that they use ChatGPT to write papers or to summarize projects all the time, and they never get caught. Regardless, when students do this they are only cheating themselves and will have a hard time in their careers trying to come up with original thoughts or ideas.

Hi Kyle,

Thanks for sharing your visit to the Salt Lake City Public Library, this place looks so cool and I appreciate you taking the time to delve into the various aspects of the library! I would love to totally visit one day.

@kylehanson This library looks so amazing! I’m glad you had some time to explore, and in turn share with us. I particularly love the local artist sticker machine – I have never seen anything like that and it is just too cool. The seed library is also super neat – I love when libraries incorporate gardening.

@claireburke I have never been to a human library, but it is now on my bucket list to find one that I can attend. The concept is just so cool. It is one thing to read about a culture, it is a whole other thing to actually meet someone that is a part of that culture and hear first-hand stories and experiences.

@inabookbind I love that you turned inward for this reflection! I agree that librarians who are happy and healthy will serve their communities better, so it’s mutually beneficial to grant staff time for self-care and peer connection. My library holds staff days with guest speakers, breakout sessions, and yummy treats, but it’s only once a year! It seems that the effects can wane over time, so I think it’s an important point to hold them more frequently in whatever capacity a library can manage.

Hi @inabookbind,
I really appreciate your post emphasizing on the importance of a fun and enjoyable staff learning experience that actually focuses on workers’ well-being (in particular their mental health) rather than exclusively focusing on patrons’ wants and needs. This is such an essential topic!

The examples you shared, like the Oak Park Public Library and the Cherry Hill Public Library’s staff day, look absolutely fantastic and really inspiring. I wish there were more libraries prioritizing their employees’ growth and wellness with more than just the annual staff development day. I think they should take place at least once a month, because investing in the staff not only improves workplace morale but actually leads to greater community service in the long haul. Aka, a win-win situation!!

Hi Carlee,

Great post, thank you for sharing! You brought up such good points regarding cultural competence and humility. There is no way we can directly relate all the various life experiences of everyone who steps into the library, but the least we can do is be equipped with the tools and be ready to help anyone with an open mind and heart!

@arthurkolat I so enjoyed the video. You brought all of the facets of the library as classroom to life. What wonderful feedback you received as well. And I must tell you I enjoyed the color of your crocs. 😀

Hi Kiana,
Thanks for your post. I thought your mention about sensory rooms being beneficial for folks with brain injuries or dementia in addition to neurodivergent folks was interesting. It always strikes me how accessibility for one group can turn out to benefit many others outside that group too. Thanks for your insight!

Kiana,

These sensory spaces look so cool, and they look different from other ones I’ve seen! I particularly like the use of light in a couple that you shared. They look stimulating and relaxing at the same time.

Kiana – I so appreciate all these amazing examples!

Michelle – I so appreciate your thought on cultural humility. We actually just updated the lecture and info 200 from cultural competence to cultural humility because I think it is that important of a concept. Thanks for this post.

Thank you for sharing some of your own story here, Michelle! It sounds like libraries have had a profound impact on you; it also sounds like your life has helped you become a great librarian.

Hi Denise,
Thanks for sharing. I like your inclusion of vertical farming as a new technology, especially in a school or library. I’ve seen small versions, but it’s interesting to imagine what a large scale version could look like. And certainly beneficial in growing urban areas! Also love the picture of the kitty. 🙂

I really needed to read your post today- so thank you. You had mentioned the feeling of how time has stopped, and that describes how I’ve been feeling for these past two days.

I work in a high school and while officially I’m supposed to keep politics out of the workplace, I had to have several conversations with students yesterday who felt let down by their families, communities, and nation.

I overheard a discussion around a group of freshman (full disclosure- one of them is my child) and they were trying to figure out what they could do. I asked them if they were trying to start a revolution, and several of them yelled “YES!” While I was teasing, I was given hope. These kids are 14 years old, but they are already aware that they have to do something in this world to help.

So yes. Collaborate. Connect to the right organizations and make sure that we take a stand for what is right.

Louis – I so appreciate your honesty and thoughtfulness about this post. The last week plus has been difficult in many ways. I feel like I’m grieving your last paragraph resonates and I hope and I will always have hope that this will be the way forward.

@acorey This is all so interesting! I agree that information professionals can play a role in helping parents decide how they approach technology and their children. I see both sides: too much screen time cannot be the best, but also we want to raise conscientious and thoughtful digital citizens.