Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash
It’s important for libraries to look at new horizons and adapt, but I’ve always personally felt a little behind the times. I was one of the last people I knew to get a smart phone when they came out because I was “against” them. I was never interested in the newest tech. In my high school self’s opinion, the internet and smart phones were making people lazy, absent-minded, and gullible. I don’t feel as strongly now, and I know that I must stay knowledgeable on new trends to be a successful librarian. Seeing the articles about ChatGPT and libraries piqued my interest.
In the article Getting a Grip on ChatGPT (2023), the authors mention the slight panic when Wikipedia launched and that turned out to be a bit of an overreaction. ChatGPT might follow in the same footsteps. Eventually, it might be used so often that we don’t even think about it. But how can we use ChatGPT in the library setting? The article called ChatGPT: A Library Perspective (2023), says “the library is here to help you to learn and understand how these tools can be used and provide some guidance on when they should or should not be used according to our professional best practices.” This made me realize that having library programs related to best practices when using ChatGPT would be a great idea. This shows the public that libraries are current with the times and not shying away from new advancements, while also teaching people information literacy. Incorporating new tech in libraries isn’t inherently a bad thing. There are positives that can come out of it.
This is a great topic. I have been uncomfortable with AI so I took a training offered by California Library Association called “AI and the Future of Libraries.” I found it to be very helpful. It was divided into three sections: how libraries can use ChatGBT, How AI works, and ethics of AI. I especially appreciated the conversation about ethics and AI.
On a side note, all three guest speakers were professors of San Jose States iSchool!
I’m with you about the late adoption. I used to laugh at kids texting on T9 phones. “Just send an email!” However, I also see the benefits of introducing people to tech that they may not NEED yet but that could keep them ahead of the curve.