AI Applications in Libraries: Books

With the constant evolution of technology, libraries must grapple with the urgent need to adapt or face obsolescence. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into library operations presents many new opportunities as well as a complex array of challenges. The traditional roles of libraries, as pillars of knowledge and information, are being reshaped by AI, compelling institutions to reassess their relevance in an ever-evolving digital landscape. The urgency of this intersection between libraries and AI is emphasized by the necessity to revolutionize outdated systems, and it is in this dynamic context that Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Libraries emerges as an essential guide. Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Libraries offers a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted integration of AI into library operations and services. This book goes beyond theoretical discourse, providing real-world case studies, practical implementations, and research that illustrates how AI is reshaping cataloging, resource discovery, user interactions, and data management within library environments. For librarians and AI professionals alike, the challenges are diverse, ranging from ethical considerations and privacy concerns to the complex task of incorporating AI into the fabric of library services. The book addresses the ethical implications of AI-enabled libraries, offering strategies for navigating privacy concerns and potential challenges in the implementation of AI. It serves as a strategic guide for evaluating the impact and effectiveness of AI initiatives, developing policies and practices centered around AI, and training librarians for the inevitable integration of AI into their roles. By fostering collaboration between librarians, researchers, and AI experts, this book aims to empower professionals to navigate the transformative journey that AI is ushering in for libraries, fostering innovation, collaboration, and the creation of more effective and user-centric library services.

Librarians are uniquely positioned to rise to the challenge that artificial intelligence (AI) presents to the field. Libraries and their like have existed for millennia; they progress with society, altering and adapting their services to meet the information needs of their communities.   The Rise of AI collects projects, collaborations, and future uses from academic librarians who have begun to embrace AI in their work. In three parts--User Services, Collections and Discovery, and Toward Future Applications--it explores: machine translation creating incubation spaces robotics combining information literacy initiatives with AI literacy fostering partnerships with other on-campus groups integrating AI technology into collections to enhance discoverability using AI to refine metadata for images, articles, and theses machine learning   The Rise of AI introduces implications and applications of artificial intelligence in academic libraries and hopes to provoke conversations and inspire new ways of engaging with the technology. As the discussion surrounding ethics, bias, and privacy in AI continues to grow, librarians will be called to make informed decisions and position themselves as leaders in this discourse.  

Artificial Intelligence for Academic Libraries provides a clear and dependable guide to the history, theory, and application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in academic libraries, addressing the needs of librarians, staff, administrators, and other stakeholders. Emerging from a long-running conversation between an academic librarian and a professor of computer science, this book provides readers with a critical perspective on the history, present, and future of AI in libraries and information services. Synthesizing the literature on AI, ML, and librarianship, the authors provide the requisite background to evaluate the impact of these technologies on the information ecosystem. The first half of the volume covers the fundamentals of AI, notably the divergences between the two major AI paradigms as well as philosophical, legal, and ethical issues that arises from the use of AI. The second half addresses specialized topics, including hybrid AIs that bridge the dominant AI paradigms, the responsible use of AI in research and learning, and suggestions for professional development. Artificial Intelligence for Academic Libraries will benefit academic librarians seeking to develop a solid understanding of AI and ML and their likely impact on library operations and services, including student and faculty outreach. The volume also serves as a pedagogical resource for library and information science students entering this rapidly changing field.

This detailed overview on artificial intelligence in libraries is a history, a guide for librarians, and a resource for students and researchers. Artificial intelligence is an extremely important but little-understood topic, including in libraries. This timely book explores what AI is, how it works, how it's relevant to all types of libraries, and how it can be used. Readers will better understand the use of AI in library systems and applying AI to teaching and learning environments, and they will grow in the ability to discern potential ethical issues posed by this emerging technology. The final chapter provides a practical guide to using various types of AI in libraries.

In the form of generative AI, libraries are facing technological transformation of unprecedented speed and scale. Both controversial and disruptive, the sudden ubiquity of AI has already triggered uncertainty as well as the need for rapid adaptation. As AI reshapes how humans learn, work, and interact with information, libraries across the ecosystem--from public to academic, from school to special libraries--must resist the temptation to merely serve as static support and instead claim the center by becoming a dynamic, positive influence. Because, as the authors of this book persuasively argue, libraries are uniquely positioned to lead AI's ethical and human-centered integration within communities. Blending theory and concepts with an unswervingly pragmatic approach, from this book readers will be introduced to foundational principles and frameworks for navigating the so-called "Age of Intelligence" that provide useful guiderails no matter how AI technology actively evolves; delve into the complex ethical considerations of AI, including bias, equity, privacy, misinformation, and the potential impact on human agency and dignity; receive guidance related to stakeholder engagement, resource allocation, and the need for continuous learning and adaptation; discover practical models for evaluating and implementing AI tools thoughtfully and effectively in ways that align with libraries' values and mission; become familiar with STACKS, an approach for learning, problem solving, and innovation with generative AI; explore AI literacy as an expression of metaliteracy using seven frames for instruction and learning; and walk away with a sense of how libraries can actively define their essential role as leaders and shapers of the AI landscape, ensuring their continued value and preventing marginalization. As this book demonstrates, by embracing their unique position as ethical stewards and trusted guides, libraries have an unprecedented opportunity to shape how AI transforms society--not from the margins, but from the center of a shared future.