Unlocking Hidden Treasures: The Transformative Potential of AI in Special Collections

What Can AI Do for Special Collections? Improving Access and Enhancing Discovery

Presenters: Sonia Yaco and Bala Singu

In this enlightening presentation, Sonia Yaco and Bala Singu explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the realm of special collections. Drawing from a year-long study conducted at Rutgers University, they delve into how AI can significantly improve access to and enhance the discovery of rich archival materials.

Introduction

Special collections in libraries house a wealth of historical and cultural artifacts. However, accessing and extracting meaningful insights from these collections can be challenging due to the nature of the materials, which often include handwritten documents, rare photographs, and other hard-to-process formats.

The presenters highlight a "golden opportunity" at the intersection of rich collections, an ever-expanding set of AI tools, and a strong desire to maximize the utility of these collections. By applying AI in meaningful ways, they aim to mine this wealth of information and make it more accessible to scholars and the public alike.

The William Elliot Griffis Collection

The focal point of the study is the William Elliot Griffis Papers at Rutgers University. This extensive collection documents the lives and work of the Griffis family, who were educators and missionaries in East Asia during the Meiji period (1868-1912). The collection includes manuscripts, photographs, and published materials and is heavily utilized by scholars from Asia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Margaret Clark Griffis

The study specifically focuses on Margaret Clark Griffis, the sister of William Elliot Griffis. She holds historical significance as one of the first Western women to educate Japanese women. By centering on her diaries, biographies, and photographs, the presenters aim to shed light on her contributions and experiences.

Strategies for Mining the Collection

To unlock the wealth of information within the Griffis collection, the presenters employed several strategies:

1. Extracting Text to Improve Readability: Utilizing AI tools to transcribe handwritten and typewritten documents into machine-readable text.
2. Finding Insights in Digitized Text and Photographs: Applying natural language processing and image analysis to gain deeper understanding.
3. Connecting Text to Images: Linking textual content with corresponding images to create a richer narrative.

Software Tools Utilized

The project explored a variety of AI tools, categorized into:

• Generative AI for Text and Images
• Natural Language Processing Tools
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Tools
• Other Analytical Tools

In total, they examined nearly 26 software tools, assessing each based on cost and learning curve. The tools ranged from free and user-friendly applications like ChatGPT 3.5 to more complex and subscription-based services like ChatGPT 4.0 and DALL·E API.

Project Demonstrations

The presenters showcased three key demonstrations to illustrate the capabilities of AI in handling special collections:

1. Improving Readability

One of the primary challenges with special collections is the difficulty in reading handwritten and typewritten documents, especially those written in old cursive styles. To address this, the team used OCR tools to convert these documents into ASCII text, making them more accessible for computational analysis.

Handwritten Material

The team focused on transcribing Margaret Griffis's handwritten diary entries. They used tools like eScriptorium, Transkribus (AM Digital), and ChatGPT-4 to process the text. Each tool had varying levels of accuracy and challenges:

• eScriptorium: A free tool with a moderate learning curve, it achieved an initial accuracy of around 89%.
• Transkribus (AM Digital): A commercial tool with a higher cost but offered competitive accuracy.
• ChatGPT-4: While powerful, it faced issues with "hallucinations," generating text not present in the original material.

By combining these tools, they improved the transcription accuracy significantly. For instance, feeding the eScriptorium output into ChatGPT-4 enhanced the accuracy to approximately 96%.

Typewritten Material

For typewritten documents, such as William Griffis's biography of his sister, tools like Adobe Acrobat provided efficient OCR capabilities with high accuracy. These documents were easier to process compared to handwritten materials.

2. Finding Insights with AI

Once the text was extracted, the next step was to derive meaningful insights using AI techniques:

Translation

To make the content accessible to international scholars, the team utilized translation tools:

• Google Translate: A free tool suitable for smaller text volumes.
• Googletrans API: An API version of Google Translate, which had reliability issues and limitations on volume.
• Google Cloud Translation API: A paid service offering high reliability for large-scale translations.

Text Analysis and Visualization

Using natural language processing tools, the team performed analyses such as named entity recognition and topic modeling. They employed Voyant Tools, a free, open-source platform that offers various analytical capabilities:

• Identifying key entities like names, places, and dates.
• Visualizing word frequencies and relationships.
• Creating interactive geographic maps based on the text.

Photographic Grouping

With over 427 photographs in the collection, the team sought to group images programmatically based on content similarities. By leveraging Python scripts and AI algorithms, they clustered photographs that shared visual characteristics, such as shapes, subjects, and themes.

3. Connecting Text and Images

One of the most innovative aspects of the project was linking textual content with corresponding images to enrich the narrative:

Describing Photographs Using AI

The team used ChatGPT to generate detailed descriptions of photographs. For example, given a photograph with minimal metadata labeled "small Japanese print," ChatGPT produced an extensive description, identifying elements like traditional attire, expressions, and possible historical context.

This process significantly enhances the discoverability of images, providing researchers with richer information than previously available.

Adding Metadata and Generating MARC Records

Beyond descriptions, the AI tools were used to generate metadata and even create MARC records for cataloging purposes. This automation can streamline library workflows and improve access to collections.

Generating Images from Text and Matching to Real Images

Taking the connection a step further, the team explored generating images based on extracted text and then matching these AI-generated images to real photographs in the collection:

1. Extract Text Descriptions: Using ChatGPT to identify descriptive passages from the diary.
2. Generate Images: Employing tools like DALL·E to create images based on these descriptions.
3. Match to Real Images: Programmatically comparing AI-generated images to actual photographs in the collection to find potential matches.

While not perfect, this method opens up new avenues for discovering connections within archival materials that might not be immediately apparent.

Limitations and Takeaways

Limitations

• Infrastructure Needs: AI requires significant resources, including computational power, software costs, and staff time.
• Technical Expertise: A background in programming and software development is highly beneficial. Collaboration with technical staff is often necessary.
• Learning Curves: Many AI tools, even free ones, come with steep learning curves that can be challenging to overcome.
• Human Intervention: AI tools are not fully autonomous and require human oversight to ensure accuracy and relevance.

Takeaways

• Combining Tools Enhances Effectiveness: Using multiple AI tools in conjunction can yield better results than using them in isolation.
• Start with Accessible Tools: Begin with user-friendly software like Adobe Acrobat for OCR and Google Translate for initial forays into AI applications.
• Incorporate AI into Workflows: Integrate AI tools into existing library processes to improve efficiency and output quality.
• Partnerships are Crucial: Collaborate with technical staff, data scientists, and computer science departments to leverage expertise.

Recommendations for Libraries

The presenters offer practical advice for libraries interested in leveraging AI for their special collections:

1. Begin with Easy-to-Use Software: Tools like Adobe Acrobat and Google Translate can have an immediate impact with minimal investment.
2. Experiment with Text Analysis: Use platforms like Voyant Tools to gain insights into your collections and explore new research possibilities.
3. Enhance Metadata Creation: Utilize AI to generate or enrich metadata, improving searchability and access.
4. Seek Funding Opportunities: Apply for grants to support more extensive AI projects, such as large-scale photograph organization.
5. Collaborate with Technical Experts: Engage with technical staff within or outside your institution to support complex AI initiatives.

Conclusion

The presentation underscores the significant potential of AI in unlocking the hidden treasures within special collections. By improving readability, finding insights, and connecting text with images, AI tools can make collections more accessible and enhance scholarly research.

The journey involves challenges, particularly in terms of resources and expertise, but the rewards can be substantial. As AI technology continues to evolve, libraries have an opportunity to embrace these tools, transform their workflows, and open their collections more fully to the world.

Questions and Further Discussion

During the Q&A session, attendees posed several insightful questions:

• Tools for MARC Records: The presenters used ChatGPT-4 to generate MARC records from photographs, finding it effective for creating initial catalog entries.
• Batch Processing: When asked about processing multiple images, they noted that while interactive interfaces might limit batch sizes, using APIs and programmatic approaches allows for processing larger volumes.
• Applying Techniques to Other Formats: The techniques discussed are applicable to manuscripts, maps, and even video materials. Tools like Whisper can transcribe audio and video content, enhancing accessibility.

Exploring the Possibilities of Generative AI: A Deep Dive into Research Tools

Exploring Research-Focused Generative AI Tools for Libraries and Higher Education

Hello everyone, and thank you so much for joining today's session on research-focused generative AI tools. In this presentation, we'll delve into various types of generative AI, with a particular emphasis on research tools like Consensus, Elicit, and Research Rabbit. We'll also discuss the challenges associated with generative AI and consider how these tools impact instruction and library services.

Types of Generative AI

Generative AI is a rapidly evolving field with a variety of applications. Some of the main types include:

• Chatbots: Conversational AI systems like ChatGPT that can generate human-like text responses.
• Image Generation and Synthesis Tools: Tools like Midjourney and NightCafe that can create images based on textual prompts.
• Research Tools: Our focus today is on research tools such as Consensus, Elicit, and Research Rabbit, which aim to enhance the research process.
• Music and Video Generation Tools: AI systems that can compose music or generate videos.
• Others: The field is continually expanding, and new tools are being developed as we speak.

Research Generative AI Tools

1. Consensus

Consensus is a search engine that utilizes language models to surface and synthesize insights from academic research papers. According to their website:

"Consensus is not a chatbot, but we use the same technology throughout the product to help make the research process more efficient."

Source Material: The content comes from the Semantic Scholar database, which provides access to a wide range of academic papers.

Mission: Their mission is to use AI to make expert information accessible to all.

Example Usage:

When prompted with the question:

"How do faculty and instructional designers use Universal Design for Learning in higher education?"

Consensus provides a summary at the top of the page, analyzing the top eight papers related to the query. Below the summary, it lists the eight papers, including details like the title, authors, publication venue, and citation count.

Features:

• Save, Cite, Share: Users can save articles, generate citations, and share them.
• Citation Generation: Similar to many databases, Consensus can generate citations, though users should verify for minor errors.
• Study Snapshot: Offers a synthesized overview of a paper's key points and outcomes. Note that generating a snapshot may require AI credits.

AI Credits and Premium Features:

• AI Credits: Users have a monthly limit of 20 AI credits in the free version, which are used for premium features like generating study snapshots.
• Premium Version: Offers additional features beyond the free version.

2. Elicit

Elicit is a research assistant that uses language models like GPT-3 to automate parts of the research workflow, especially literature reviews.

Functionality:

• When asked a question, Elicit shows relevant papers and summarizes key information in an easy-to-use table.

Example Usage:

With the prompt:

"How should generative AI be used in libraries and higher education?"

Elicit provides a summary of the top four papers, including in-text citations that link to the sources.

Features:

• Paper Details: Includes paper information, citations, abstract summaries, and main findings.
• Additional Columns: Users can add more columns to the results table to customize the information displayed.

Source Material:

Elicit pulls content from Semantic Scholar, searching over 175 million papers.

3. Research Rabbit

Research Rabbit is a research platform that enables users to discover and visualize relevant literature and scholars.

Mission:

To empower researchers with powerful technologies.

Features:

• Visualization: Provides visual representations of how papers are interconnected.
• Explore Options: Users can explore similar work, earlier work, later work, and linked content.
• Authors: Allows exploration of authors and suggested authors in the field.
• Export Papers: Users can export lists of papers for further use.

Example Usage:

Starting with one or more articles, users can find similar articles, explore cited works, or see which papers cite the original article. The platform creates a network graph showing the relationships between articles.

Personal Experience:

The presenter found Research Rabbit particularly useful for organizing dissertation literature reviews.

Why Use Generative AI in Libraries?

Generative AI technology is not going away; it's becoming a mainstay in our culture and professional practices. Libraries and librarians need to consider how to respond to this technology.

Supporting Patrons

• Should we support patrons in using these new tools or try to prevent them from using them?
• It's a balancing act, considering the benefits and challenges.

Advancing Effectiveness and Efficiency

• Generative AI tools claim to make research more effective and efficient.
• Teaching students how to use and evaluate these tools prepares them for future workplaces where such technologies may be prevalent.

Personal Uses of Generative AI

• Making Paragraphs More Concise: Using AI to refine writing.
• Rephrasing Assistance: Helping with tricky paraphrasing tasks.
• Creating Titles: Generating titles for presentations or programs.
• Organizing Articles: Managing literature for dissertations or research projects.
• Brainstorming: Generating ideas and exploring new concepts.

Challenges with Generative AI

While generative AI offers many benefits, there are significant challenges to consider.

Privacy and Lack of Transparency

• Uncertainty about where these tools get their information and how they process data.
• Users may unknowingly input sensitive information.

Quality and Hallucinations

• AI can produce inaccurate information or "hallucinations," including ghost sources that don't exist.
• Some are beginning to refer to these as "fabrications."

Biases and Blind Spots

• AI models can perpetuate biases present in the training data.

Date Range of Content

• Some AI tools may have outdated information, as their training data cuts off at a certain point.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

• Students may misuse AI tools, leading to academic integrity violations.
• Detection tools exist but may produce false positives.

Detection Tools and False Positives

• Tools designed to detect AI-generated content are not foolproof.

Evaluating Generative AI Tools

The AI ROBOT Test

Developed by Hervol and Wheatley, the AI ROBOT test is a framework for evaluating AI tools, focusing on:

• Reliability
• Objective
• Bias
• Ownership
• Type

This framework can be used in information literacy instruction to help students and patrons critically assess AI tools. You can read more about it here.

Additional Resources

The presenter has compiled a LibGuide with articles, videos, podcasts, and other resources on generative AI.

Poll Results

In a previous presentation, attendees were polled on their views regarding generative AI.

Should Librarians Embrace Generative AI?

Most respondents believed librarians should either embrace it or respond somewhere in between embracing and avoiding. Only one person suggested that librarians should avoid it.

Which Generative AI Tools Are Potentially Useful for Your Library?

• ChatGPT: 134 responses
• Elicit: 3 responses
• Perplexity: 118 responses
• Research Rabbit: 189 responses
• NightCafe: 40 responses
• Other: 22 responses
• Consensus: 103 responses

Upcoming GAL Virtual Conference

The presenter is organizing an upcoming GAL (Generative AI in Libraries) virtual conference titled:

Prompter or Perish: Navigating Generative AI in Libraries

Dates: June 11th, 12th, and 13th

Time: 1 PM to 4 PM Eastern Time

Call for Proposals: Librarians are encouraged to submit proposals and participate in the conference. For more information, visit the conference website.

Contact Information

For further questions or to continue the conversation, you can contact the presenter at:

Email: brienne.dow@briarcliff.edu

Conclusion

Generative AI is a transformative technology with significant implications for libraries and higher education. By understanding and critically engaging with these tools, librarians can better support their patrons and prepare for the future.

Thank you for attending today's session. We look forward to continuing the conversation at the upcoming GAL Virtual Conference.

Overcoming Challenges: How NPR Digitized Their Music Collection with AI

Practical Application of AI: Evaluating Music to Build a Music Library

Presented by Jane Gilvin, NPR's Research Archives and Data Team

Introduction

Jane Gilvin delivered a presentation on how her team at NPR utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to automate the identification of instrumental and vocal music to build a digital music library more efficiently. The session focused on the practical application of AI in music cataloging, the challenges faced, and the solutions implemented.

About Jane Gilvin and the RAD Team

• Jane Gilvin:
  • Member of NPR's Research Archives and Data (RAD) Team for nearly 13 years.
  • Educational background in music and library science.
  • Alumna of San Jose State University's Information Science program.
  • Experience in radio since she was a teenager.
• The RAD Team:
  • Formerly known as the NPR Library, established in the 1970s.
  • Responsible for collecting NPR programming archives.
  • Provides resources for production, including a comprehensive music collection.

NPR's Music Collection Evolution

The NPR music collection has evolved alongside technological advancements:

• Vinyl Records: The initial collection comprised vinyl records across various genres.
• Transition to CDs: Shifted to compact discs (CDs) as CD players became standard in production.
• Digital Music Files: Moved towards digital files to meet the expectations of quick and remote access to music.

Challenges in Digitizing the Collection

The transition to digital presented several challenges:

• Converting thousands of physical CDs into digital files for immediate access.
• Ensuring metadata accuracy and consistency, especially for instrumental and vocal classification.
• Lack of resources for continuous large-scale ingestion and cataloging of new music.

Solution: Automation with AI

The Robot and ORRIS

• The Robot: A batch processing system capable of ripping CDs, identifying metadata from online databases, and delivering MP3 and WAV files with embedded ID3 tags.
• ORRIS (Open Resource and Research Information System): A new database developed to allow users to search, stream, and download songs for production.

Implementing Essentia

• Essentia: An open-source library and collection of tools used to analyze audio and music to produce descriptions and synthesis.
• Capabilities: Predicts genre, beats per minute, mood, and most importantly, classifies tracks as instrumental or vocal.
• Training the Algorithm: Used NPR's extensive archive of over 300,000 tracks with existing instrumental and vocal tags to train the algorithm.

Accuracy and Testing

• Human Cataloging Accuracy: Ranged from 90% to 98%, averaging around 90% due to human error and limitations.
• Algorithm Accuracy Goal: Set at 80% to balance the usefulness and the efficiency of the process.
• Results: The algorithm achieved an accuracy of 86%, meeting the team's criteria.

Integration and Quality Control

Building into the Ingest Process

• Automated the instrumental/vocal tagging during the ingest process of new tracks.
• Applied the algorithm to existing tracks that lacked instrumental/vocal classification.

User Feedback Mechanism

• Added a feature allowing users to report incorrectly tagged songs directly from the ORRIS interface.
• Provided a quick way for the RAD team to receive notifications and correct metadata errors.

Quality Control Measures

• Automated spreadsheets generated during the algorithm's run allowed for immediate review of results.
• Periodic checks to ensure the algorithm continues to perform within the acceptable accuracy range.
• Addressed any shifts in algorithm performance due to changes in the type of music being ingested or other factors.

Demonstration

Jane provided a live demonstration of how the process works:

1. Showed the ORRIS search interface and how users can search for and listen to tracks (e.g., Thelonious Monk, David Bowie).
2. Demonstrated the ingestion of new albums and how the algorithm processes them to classify tracks as instrumental or vocal.
3. Illustrated the use of the user feedback feature to report incorrect classifications.

Benefits and Outcomes

• Significantly reduced the time and resources required for music cataloging.
• Enabled continuous addition of new music to the library despite limited staff time.
• Improved user satisfaction by providing a reliable point of data for instrumental and vocal tracks.

Challenges and Considerations

• Training Data Limitations: Ensuring the training data was representative and free from bias or errors.
• Algorithm Bias: Addressing the overrepresentation of certain genres (e.g., jazz and classical) in the training data to avoid skewed results.
• Metadata Accuracy: Dealing with inconsistent or incorrect metadata from external sources.

Future Plans

Jane discussed potential future projects:

• Revisiting other algorithms from Essentia, such as those predicting timbre and mood.
• Implementing user testing and UX projects to improve data research and user experience.
• Continuing to refine the algorithm and processes to maintain or improve accuracy.

Questions and Answers

During the Q&A session, several topics were addressed:

Copyright and Licensing Considerations

• NPR has licenses with major performing rights organizations for the use of music in production.
• Other libraries considering building a music collection should review legal permissions and terms of use.

Data Labeling and Ongoing QA/QC

• The team performs periodic quality checks but does not engage extensively in data labeling projects.
• Emphasis on monitoring algorithm performance and making adjustments as needed.

User Testing and UX Improvements

• Future plans include conducting user testing to evaluate the effectiveness of additional algorithms (e.g., mood taxonomy).
• Goal is to enhance the search and discovery experience for users.

Conclusion

Jane concluded by emphasizing how the application of AI allowed the RAD team to develop a less time-consuming ingest and cataloging process. This enabled the continuous growth of the music library, providing valuable resources to production staff while efficiently managing limited staff time.

Contact Information

For further information or inquiries, you can reach out to Jane Gilvin through NPR's Research Archives and Data Team.

Protecting Your Privacy: The Risks of Sharing Sensitive Data with AI Tools

Deliberately Safeguarding Privacy and Confidentiality in the Era of Generative AI

Presented by Reed N. Hedges, Digital Initiatives Librarian at the College of Southern Idaho

Introduction

Reed N. Hedges delivered a presentation focusing on the critical importance of safeguarding privacy and confidentiality when using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The session highlighted the potential risks associated with sharing sensitive data with AI models and provided actionable recommendations for users and professionals in the library and information science fields.

Personal Anecdotes and the Need for Caution

Hedges began by sharing several personal anecdotes illustrating how individuals unknowingly compromise their privacy by inputting sensitive information into AI tools:

• A user who spends long hours chatting with GPT-4, sharing more personal information with the AI than with their own spouse.
• An individual who input all their grandchildren's data into an AI to generate gift ideas.
• A person who provided detailed demographic data of a local social group, including identifiable information, to plan activities and programs.
• A user who entered their entire family budget into an AI tool for financial management.

These examples underscore the pressing need for users to be more conscientious about the data they share with AI systems.

Main Point: Do Not Input Sensitive Data into AI Tools

The core message of the presentation is clear: Users should not input any sensitive or personal data into prompts for generative AI tools. This includes business information, personal identifiers, or any data that could compromise individual or organizational privacy.

Privacy Policies and Data Handling by AI Tools

Hedges highlighted specific concerns regarding popular AI tools:

• Google Bard: Explicitly notes that human supervisors may read user data, emphasizing the importance of anonymization.
• OpenAI's ChatGPT: Terms of use discuss the need for proprietary data protection. Users can have a more privacy-conscious session by using OpenAI's Playground or adjusting settings at privacy.openai.com/policies.
• Perplexity AI: Evades questions about data handling and extrapolation.

The Challenge of Legal Recourse and Privacy Harms

The presentation delved into the limitations of current privacy laws:

• Harm Requirement: Courts often require proof of harm, which is challenging when privacy violations involve intangible injuries like anxiety or frustration.
• Impediments to Enforcement: The need to establish harm impedes the effective enforcement of privacy violations, allowing wrongdoers to escape accountability.
• Lack of Adequate Legal Framework: The existing legal system lacks effective mechanisms to address privacy harms resulting from AI data handling.

Extrapolation and Inference by AI Tools

Generative AI models can infer additional information beyond what users explicitly provide:

• Data Extrapolation: AI tools can infer behaviors, engagement patterns, and personal attributes from minimal data inputs.
• Privacy Risks: Such extrapolation can inadvertently reveal sensitive information, including learning disabilities or mental health issues.
• Example: Even generic prompts can lead to AI inferring personal details that compromise privacy.

Recommendations for Safeguarding Privacy

1. Transparency in Data Collection

• Inform users about the data being collected and its intended use.
• Only OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude explicitly deny storing and extrapolating user data.

2. Informed Consent

• Obtain explicit consent before collecting or using personal information.
• Ensure users are aware of the implications of data sharing with AI tools.

3. Data Minimization

• Limit data collection to what is absolutely essential for the task.
• Avoid including unnecessary personal or demographic details in AI prompts.

4. Anonymization and Avoiding Sensitive Information

• Do not include individual attributes or identifiers in AI prompts.
• Use synthetic or generalized data where possible.
• Be cautious even with public data, as ethical considerations remain.

5. Implement Strict Access and Use Controls

• Enforce a "least privilege" access model, using tools that require minimal data access.
• Ensure staff and users are clear on what data can be input into AI tools.

6. Use Human Content Moderation

• Have prompts reviewed by multiple individuals to screen for privacy issues.
• This process can also enhance quality control.

7. Be Skeptical of "Secure" AI Tools

• Avoid promising or assuming that any AI tool is completely secure.
• Recognize that even custom AI models can be vulnerable to exploitation.

Understanding AI Terms of Service

Users should familiarize themselves with the terms of service of AI tools:

• Ownership of Content: OpenAI states that users own the input and, to the extent permitted by law, the output generated.
• Responsibility for Data: Users are responsible for ensuring that their content does not violate any laws or terms.
• Data Use: AI providers may use input data for training and improving models unless users opt out.

Final Thoughts on Privacy Practices

Hedges emphasized that traditional privacy protection principles remain relevant but must be applied more diligently in the context of AI:

• Extra Vigilance: Users must be proactive in safeguarding their data when interacting with AI tools.
• Data Breaches are Inevitable: Even with safeguards, data breaches can occur; therefore, minimizing shared data is crucial.
• Reassessing the Need for AI: Consider whether using AI is necessary for a given task, especially when handling sensitive information.

Conclusion

In the era of generative AI, safeguarding privacy and confidentiality requires deliberate and informed actions by users and professionals. By understanding the risks, adhering to best practices, and educating others, individuals can mitigate potential harms associated with AI data handling.

References and Further Reading

• Danielle Keats Citron and Daniel J. Solove: "Privacy Harms" - A comprehensive paper discussing the challenges in addressing privacy violations legally.
• Shantanu Sharma: "Artificial Intelligence and Privacy" - An exploration of AI's impact on privacy, available on SSRN.
• Nathan Hunter: "The Art of ChatGPT Prompting: A Guide to Crafting Clear and Effective Prompts" - A book providing insights into effective AI interactions.

Links to these resources were provided during the presentation for attendees interested in deepening their understanding of AI privacy concerns.

ridging the Gap: The Role of Librarians in Facilitating AI Integration in Library Instruction

Faculty Attitudes Toward Librarians Introducing AI in Library Instruction Sessions

Presented by Beth Evans, Associate Professor at Brooklyn College, City University of New York

Introduction

Beth Evans delivered a presentation discussing the role of librarians in introducing artificial intelligence (AI) tools in library instruction sessions. With over 30 years of experience at Brooklyn College's library, she explored faculty perspectives on the use of AI in academic settings and the potential implications for library instruction.

Background

Evans noted that AI technologies like ChatGPT have the potential to augment, support, or even replace certain library functions, such as reference services, instruction, and technical services. Recognizing the transformative impact of AI, she sought to understand faculty attitudes toward AI and whether they would welcome librarians incorporating AI tools into their instruction sessions.

Research Methodology

In the fall of 2023, Evans conducted a survey targeting faculty members at Brooklyn College. Key aspects of the survey included:

• Distributed to 199 faculty members.
• Received 74 responses, representing a response rate of approximately 37%.
• Respondents came from various departments, with the largest representation from English, History, and Sociology.
• Questions focused on faculty's introduction of AI in their courses, their attitudes toward AI, and their openness to librarians discussing AI in instruction sessions.

Survey Findings

Faculty Introduction of AI in Courses

Evans explored how faculty members addressed AI in their teaching:

• Proactive Introduction: Some faculty included AI tools in their syllabi, assignments, or class discussions.
• Student-Initiated Discussions: In a few cases, students brought up AI topics during classes.
• No Introduction: A portion of faculty did not introduce AI topics at all.

Methods of Introducing AI

Among faculty who addressed AI:

• Rule Setting in Syllabi: Establishing guidelines on AI usage in course policies.
• Class Discussions: Engaging students in conversations about AI's role and impact.
• Assignments Involving AI: Incorporating AI tools as part of coursework to critically evaluate their utility.

Faculty Attitudes Toward AI

Faculty responses reflected a spectrum of attitudes:

1. Prohibitive

Some faculty strictly prohibited the use of AI tools, expressing concerns about academic integrity and potential threats to human creativity and critical thinking.

2. Cautionary

Others cautioned students about relying on AI, highlighting limitations and encouraging transparency if AI tools were used.

3. Preventative

Certain faculty designed assignments that were difficult or impossible to complete using AI tools, thereby discouraging their use.

4. Proactive Utilization

A group of faculty embraced AI, integrating it into their teaching to enhance learning outcomes:

• Using AI for media literacy discussions.
• Employing AI to improve cover letters in business courses.
• Assigning comparative analyses between AI-generated content and traditional research tools like PubMed.

Faculty Concerns About Librarians Introducing AI

When asked whether they were concerned about librarians introducing AI in library instruction sessions:

• Majority Not Concerned: Most faculty members were open to librarians discussing AI tools.
• Supportive of Librarian Expertise: Many acknowledged librarians as information experts capable of providing balanced and ethical guidance on AI.
• Strong Opposition: A minority expressed strong opposition, fearing AI as a threat to human flourishing and academic integrity.

Additional Faculty Comments

Faculty provided further insights:

Ambivalence and Hesitation

• Some were uncertain about AI's role and expressed a need for more understanding before fully integrating it.
• Concerns about keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology and its implications for cheating and academic dishonesty.

Recognizing the Inevitable Presence of AI

• Acknowledgment that AI is prevalent and students need to be educated about its use.
• Emphasis on not burying heads in the sand and preparing students for real-world applications where AI is utilized.

Desire for Collaboration with Librarians

• Faculty expressed interest in workshops and collaborations led by librarians to explore AI tools constructively.
• Appreciation for librarians' efforts to assist both students and faculty in understanding AI's prevalence and uses.

Conclusion

Beth Evans concluded that while faculty attitudes toward AI vary widely, there is significant openness and even enthusiasm for librarians to take an active role in introducing and educating about AI tools in library instruction sessions. Librarians are viewed as information experts well-equipped to navigate the ethical, practical, and pedagogical aspects of AI in academic settings.

Implications for Librarians

Based on the survey findings:

• Librarians have an opportunity to lead in AI literacy education, providing balanced perspectives on AI tools.
• Collaboration with faculty is essential to ensure that AI integration aligns with course objectives and academic integrity policies.
• There is a need to address concerns and misconceptions about AI, tailoring approaches to different disciplines and faculty attitudes.

Contact Information

For further information or collaboration opportunities, you can contact Beth Evans:

• Email: bevans@brooklyn.cuny.edu
• Affiliation: Brooklyn College Library, City University of New York

Note: The final slide of the presentation included an AI-generated image using the tool "Tome" with the theme "Ocean."