Core Collection Management in Public Libraries Interest Group

Hello everyone, I hope you've had a good summer!

Our library is currently talking a lot about AI. Some of my colleagues along with our IT folks have developed a training for staff on the benefits and risks of using generative AI, and many staff are experimenting with Copilot to see how it might benefit them and help with their work. However, I'm curious about AI as it relates to self-publishing. There are more and more books popping up that were clearly written utilizing a generative AI tool - and I've even seen self-published authors put a statement in their books stating that AI was not used in the creation of their work. We are doing our best to avoid purchasing anything that seems dubious, especially from Amazon.

Have any of your libraries developed policies or practices around AI when it comes to materials selection? if not, are you considering it? I'd love to hear what your library is doing or talking about on this topic!

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Erica Cherup
Collection Development Manager
Columbus Metropolitan Library
She/Her/Hers
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As a follow up to my question about AI content, I wanted to share this article that's making the rounds: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2024/10/ai-audiobook-narrators-in-overdrive-and-the-issue-of-library-ai-circulation-policy/

It's a good (if not slightly distressing) read, and the comments are fascinating too. It really drove home for me the need for all of us to be thinking about the impact of AI on our collections, and on what our users are asking for!

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Erica Cherup
Collection Development Manager
Columbus Metropolitan Library
She/Her/Hers
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That's fascinating, Erica! It seems like OverDrive could do more to make this transparent to libraries, including by requiring the metadata instead of requesting it, and auditing suppliers. 

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Shari Laster
Head, Open Collections Curation & Access
ASU Library
She/Her/Hers
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Original Message:
Sent: Oct 23, 2024 10:41 AM
From: Erica Cherup
Subject: AI in Collection Development Policies

As a follow up to my question about AI content, I wanted to share this article that's making the rounds: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2024/10/ai-audiobook-narrators-in-overdrive-and-the-issue-of-library-ai-circulation-policy/

It's a good (if not slightly distressing) read, and the comments are fascinating too. It really drove home for me the need for all of us to be thinking about the impact of AI on our collections, and on what our users are asking for!

------------------------------
Erica Cherup
Collection Development Manager
Columbus Metropolitan Library
She/Her/Hers
------------------------------

As a follow-up on this thread, here's another good article on the issue of AI content in libraries and the need for transparency from eBook vendors. This article focuses mostly on Hoopla: https://www.404media.co/ai-generated-slop-is-already-in-your-public-library-3/

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Erica Cherup
Collection Development Manager
Columbus Metropolitan Library
She/Her/Hers
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Original Message:
Sent: Oct 25, 2024 05:27 PM
From: Shari Laster
Subject: AI in Collection Development Policies

That's fascinating, Erica! It seems like OverDrive could do more to make this transparent to libraries, including by requiring the metadata instead of requesting it, and auditing suppliers. 

------------------------------
Shari Laster
Head, Open Collections Curation & Access
ASU Library
She/Her/Hers
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Oct 23, 2024 10:41 AM
From: Erica Cherup
Subject: AI in Collection Development Policies

As a follow up to my question about AI content, I wanted to share this article that's making the rounds: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2024/10/ai-audiobook-narrators-in-overdrive-and-the-issue-of-library-ai-circulation-policy/

It's a good (if not slightly distressing) read, and the comments are fascinating too. It really drove home for me the need for all of us to be thinking about the impact of AI on our collections, and on what our users are asking for!

------------------------------
Erica Cherup
Collection Development Manager
Columbus Metropolitan Library
She/Her/Hers

thanks for sharing this. We are also actively working to avoid AI generated content in OverDrive and physical materials but haven't addressed the issue in our collection development policy. We see more purchase suggestions from patrons for titles they discover on Amazon that are clearly AI generated when selectors evaluate. Whether we address through policy or not, it's definitely another factor that adds time to wade through nonsensical/junky titles and hope we don't accidentally purchase something because it looks okay from the available metadata. We'll see what comes of hoopla's recent response of 'we hear you and we are working on it.'  I'm not sure it will be addressed as comprehensively or thoughtfully as we would like. 

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Thais Rousseau
Collection Development Director
Capital Area District Library
She/Her/Hers
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Original Message:
Sent: Feb 04, 2025 01:16 PM
From: Erica Cherup
Subject: AI in Collection Development Policies

As a follow-up on this thread, here's another good article on the issue of AI content in libraries and the need for transparency from eBook vendors. This article focuses mostly on Hoopla: https://www.404media.co/ai-generated-slop-is-already-in-your-public-library-3/

------------------------------
Erica Cherup
Collection Development Manager
Columbus Metropolitan Library
She/Her/Hers
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Oct 25, 2024 05:27 PM
From: Shari Laster
Subject: AI in Collection Development Policies

That's fascinating, Erica! It seems like OverDrive could do more to make this transparent to libraries, including by requiring the metadata instead of requesting it, and auditing suppliers. 

------------------------------
Shari Laster
Head, Open Collections Curation & Access
ASU Library
She/Her/Hers


Original Message:
Sent: Oct 23, 2024 10:41 AM
From: Erica Cherup
Subject: AI in Collection Development Policies

As a follow up to my question about AI content, I wanted to share this article that's making the rounds: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2024/10/ai-audiobook-narrators-in-overdrive-and-the-issue-of-library-ai-circulation-policy/

It's a good (if not slightly distressing) read, and the comments are fascinating too. It really drove home for me the need for all of us to be thinking about the impact of AI on our collections, and on what our users are asking for!

------------------------------
Erica Cherup
Collection Development Manager
Columbus Metropolitan Library
She/Her/Hers