Library News

Congratulations to our Metadata Librarian, Stephanie Sussmeier and her co-author Joshua A. Henry on the publication of their article "Mind the Gap!: How Do we Ethically Bridge the Divide Between the Cataloging/Metadata Community and the World of AI?" in Journal of Library Metadata. The article discusses generative artificial intelligence (GAI) and cataloging/metadata creation in academic libraries, focusing on recent research and recommendations. It also explores the following questions: How can cataloging/metadata professionals at academic institutions incorporate general frameworks and standards about ethical AI implementation into policies for AI use in their workflows? How can technical services/cataloging departments promote their skills to provide accurate and culturally sensitive metadata? More importantly, how do cataloging/metadata professionals ethically fill the gap between the cataloging/metadata profession and the new world of AI without sacrificing job security?

If you are interested in learning more, please email Stephanie for access to the article or to ask any questions you may have.

On Sunday, June 29, at the American Library Association Conference in Philadelphia, our Assistant Supervisor Access & Information Tiffiny Gipson and Sr. Librarian Assistant Shekhania Demosthenes presented "Empower Your Digital Future: The Benefits of AI Literacy,” a poster about their innovative approach to enhancing information literacy instruction as part of an MAIT capstone project. The initiative focused on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into the educational program to equip our academic community with essential AI literacy skills. Given AI's growing influence on various aspects of life, work, and learning, it is critical to understand both the opportunities and challenges that AI presents. The curriculum focused on responsible Al usage, covering key topics such as prompt engineering, ethical considerations, and adherence to copyright laws when working with Al-generated content. Additionally, with the increasing prevalence of deepfakes and manipulated media, they raised awareness and equip the academic community to detect altered media and safeguard against misinformation.

The goal is to develop tutorials and guides that are accessible on the library site, providing users with the tools to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape. This initiative aims to empower individuals to use Al tools effectively, engage in critical thinking, and make ethical decisions by embedding Al literacy into the broader digital literacy curriculum.

On Sunday, June 29, at the American Library Association Conference in Philadelphia, our User Experience Librarian Eric Jeitner, along with Temple's English & Communication Librarian, Kristina De Voe, co-presented a poster entitled "Leveling Up Information Literacy: Library Instruction & Tabletop RPGs in Conversation." The poster explored relationships between one-shot library instruction and tabletop role-playing games (RPGs), based on a qualitative content analysis of professional literature and community-generated content (blogs, videos, podcasts, etc.) from the past ten years. Focusing on concepts of identity, agency, communication, and reflection, the presenters offered a “character sheet” of collected tips and best practices for enhancing one-shot library instruction. Foundational knowledge covering RPG definitions, critical discourses from RPG player-critics, and performance theory were included, as well as novel ideas for incorporating an RPG ethos into the library classroom.

This poster shared preliminary findings from Eric's research. He and his co-author will continue their research and draw more connections and conclusions in their upcoming article. Stay tuned!