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!

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!

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!

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. 

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!

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!

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/

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. 

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!

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!