Libraries and well.. everything else

Here’s my plan for implementing a Program Series called Digital Art Days

For this choose your own adventure module, I chose to look into AI and ChatGPT, an emerging technology that has been incredibly popular and significant. Years before ChatGPT was released to the public, every so often I would wonder what the next significant technological advancement would be? A technology that would be so impactful that it would become a necessity and completely change aspects of our personal, social, and professional lives, such as the invention of the computer or the internet. I really do believe that we are seeing the next world changing technology right now, and that it is exponentially improving as time goes by.

In this module, there are a number of questions that are asked regarding AI and its relation to the hyperlinked library model. I found this one question that made me think of the broader concept of what is happening right now that is not only applicable to AI, but also to other future advancements. The question was: how do we center intention, curiosity, and compassion for our communities in a time of rapid change? This made me think differently on how to approach new and emerging technologies. In many cases, new technologies will be demonized. It has been said that the next generation who grows up with AI will be lazier, lack critical thinking skills, and so on, but the same thing has been said in the past with the popularity of other world changing technologies like the internet (Jackson, J.H. 2023). If the integration of AI is already happening and will continue, why shouldn’t libraries be quick to understand the technology and find ways it can serve everyday people? 

I don’t think we have to look far to find past examples we can learn from and apply to help the public with these rapid changes. When we look at the integration of digital technology such as computers in public libraries, I think we can learn how these could be translated into ways we help the public understand AI, especially once AI becomes a necessity in everyday life. 

I think a good start is for us information professionals to learn and understand the technology. I know in the public library system that I currently work in, there has been a team created to assess and integrate AI into our library services. This team looks at different AI models, assesses which ones would best fit and how they can be implemented into library services. From what I’ve heard, there will also be opportunities for staff, especially staff that primarily work with emerging and digital technologies, to be trained on the AI services that will be offered to the public in the future.

Even from this module, I learned a lot of new things about AI and ChatGPT that will help me as a person who works in a public library. For example AI chatbots are typically Large Language Models (LLM) that are specifically designed to mimic how humans communicate which is great if you need to reword a sentence or want a simple question answered (Mind Matters News 2022). One of the downsides of these LLMs is that they are not always right, especially when you ask complex and open-ended questions. They may give you an answer that sounds correct and makes sense because, well, they are primarily designed to output information that sounds “right”, regardless of if it is “correct” (Mind Matters News 2022). I think this distinction is very important to know, at the very least to demystify AI as all knowing magic machines. 

In the future, I’m excited to continue to see how libraries integrate AI into their services and programming. It is exciting to see how libraries are some of the early adopters of new technologies. Keeping up with and embracing these rapid technological changes will absolutely benefit all library users.

References

Jackson, J. H. (2023, February 14). Chatting with chatgpt: Deep dive in five with Tom Moriarty. SJSU NewsCenter. https://blogs.sjsu.edu/newsroom/2023/chatting-with-chat-gpt-deep-dive-in-five-with-tom-moriarty/

Mind Matters News. (2024, October 15). Why we should not trust chatbots as sources of information. Mind Matters. https://mindmatters.ai/2022/12/why-we-should-not-trust-chatbots-as-sources-of-information/

Shah, C. (2024, June 2). The rise of AI Chat agents and the discourse with Dilettantes. Information Matters . https://informationmatters.org/2022/12/the-rise-of-ai-chat-agents-and-the-discourse-with-dilettantes/ 

One of the interesting points I learned from in Module 5 Hyperlinked Communities was from one of the readings. In the chapter “Reaching all Users” from the Heart of Librarianship, it opens with a study that attempts to evaluate how much people value the libraries in their community. A large majority said that their community would be impacted if their library were to close, but significantly less people said that they themselves would feel a major impact. 

Perhaps many people don’t think the services that libraries would provide are relevant to them, or they don’t know that libraries serve more than just readers. In fact, that is what I’ve personally seen when I tell people I meet that I work at a public library. I usually get asked if I work with books all day as a librarian (I then have to explain that I am not a librarian), and some people express to me that they are afraid of going back to a library after not paying an overdue fine as a child. I then also let them know that our library system got rid of overdue fines a few years ago and that people are still welcome to visit libraries even if they did have a fine on their account. I’ve also noticed that people are consistently surprised to know that we offer many services, programs, and classes that are not book centered, and that are completely free. For a long time even after I started working at a library, I was unaware of the services the larger branches in our system offered such as musical instrument lending, availability of the entire adobe suite in makerspaces, or the opportunities to get free museum passes. 

That study in the reading showed to me the importance of outreach to let people know of our services and to show that libraries are for a wide range of communities and activities. We are hubs for all kinds of people, and not just restricted to books and solitary activities.

I’ve seen outreach take place for my library system, from small visits to schools and hospitals, to larger system wide ones. For example at the Canadian National Exhibition, an annual community fair that takes place in the summer in Toronto, our library system has booked booths to promote our libraries, with activities and games available for anyone that comes by. 

As digital technology continues to become our main source of finding information, finding our community members, and a basic necessity, I continue to see the importance of libraries adapting in unique ways to create services, programs, and initiatives as well as to promote these to the general public. I think this includes paying attention to where people are finding community, and being quick to adapt to new technology as a way to keep up.

Here’s newsletter from fall of last year that includes some of the programs and outreach that has been done, including the one at the Canadian National Exhibition

https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/programming/2024/09/city-librarians-report-for-september-2024.html

I found the idea of participatory culture and participatory service in libraries a particularly interesting topic. I come from an educational background in media where there has been a lot of emphasis on how technology and media has allowed for two way communication, an uncommon or impossible trait of traditional media such as tv, movies, and radio. I’ve learned how it shapes the way not only we consume media but how media is created to encourage engagement in a way that has not been seen before. For example, many Youtube videos from professional creators are tailored in a way that the algorithm favors and will push to more viewers. Another example is content on social media that is uploaded with the main purpose of getting a reaction in the comments from others, whether good or bad. Not only are we reacting to the media we consume, we are now also consuming the reactions (comments/likes/reposts), and the reactions of the reactions and so on. 

I won’t lie, when I learned of the concept that media is changing due to our increased ability to comment, share, and become creators ourselves, I thought of it a little bit negatively. I have seen so much danger in how easy it is for anyone to upload any kind of content, regardless of its truth or potential consequences. I have heard of examples of people putting themselves or others in harm’s way or spreading misinformation to become viral and get a quick buck. I haven’t considered the way that participatory service can benefit libraries when it comes to community engagement and learning. 

As we move towards an increasingly participatory culture, where the viewers (participants) are also expected to be creators, it absolutely makes sense for library services to keep up to be more participatory as well. Participatory services in libraries can be a way to compete against the existing unfortunate side effects of participatory culture that we see online.

I really liked the example provided in module 4 of the public library in Aarhus, Denmark. When a baby is born in the city, the parents are given a device that allows the bell in the library to ring, a symbol of the addition of a new community member. It is a wonderfully unique example of participatory culture that connects the community, even outside the walls of the library, with the use of technology.

“Participatory culture demands that cultural and information professionals play an active, visible role in our communities” (Stephens, p. 80). During my time working in public libraries, I have become familiar with the regulars that show up to programs. I have seen an emphasis on programming with the interests of the community in mind from my coworkers. I really do believe in the importance of libraries becoming communal spaces where people can learn voluntarily and non traditionally, especially in a time where the internet and social media exists. I hope to see a continued shift of participation within the community through programming and services to create a positive change in an era where many may feel disconnected.

References

Michael Stephens. (2016). Age of participation. The Heart of Librarianship : Attentive, Positive, and Purposeful Change. (p. 80). ALA Editions.

Hello! I’m Joyce!

I currently work at a library in Toronto, Canada. I have a background in media and technology as well as many years of experience in public library systems. I just joined the SJSU MLIS program January 2025 after taking many of the mandatory core classes and I’m looking forward to taking courses that interest me including this one!

During my free time, I love to crochet, specifically plush dolls and animals (although admittedly I haven’t picked it up in a while). In general I also enjoy hobbies where I can be creative and craft items. Recently at work I’ve gotten a hold of a cricut machine so I’ve been diving head first into learning how to make custom stickers!

Excited to start the summer semester! In the meantime, here are some photos of a dinosaur I crocheted!