I thought I'd share some of the links that we're reading in this week's PLAID workshops...
This week's "AI in the News" roundup:
Pew says "few have tried" ChatGPT -- but 1 in 7 doesn't sound too "few" to me. Good article on the spread of ChatGPT in the US:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/05/24/a-majority-of-america...
In our Library AI workshops, we mention the potential of AI-based tools like ChatGPT to assist with library services like Readers Advisory ("RA"). However, until recently, we only had anecdotal examples of how ChatGPT performed at this task.
So, we've spent some time lately figuring out how to methodically explore ChatGPT's capability as an RA tool. It's slow going -- we've just dipped our toe in the water, so to speak -- but we see some great potential!
Hey, everyone! So let's chat about ChatGPT. It's a handy little tool, right? But it does have a couple of quirks that can be annoying. First off, you may have heard of the "training cutoff". In simple terms, it means ChatGPT knows a bunch of stuff...up until the autumn of 2021. After that? It's kinda like it slept through the past year and a half and missed everything post-2021. Another big bummer: it can't browse the web either, so it's stuck with its 2021 knowledge.
ChatGPT and other AI systems are becoming more popular, but they have drawbacks such as outdated knowledge and a tendency to provide false information, or "hallucinate" in AI terms. Using the "retrieval" technique in AI-based apps can give you the benefits of a chat interface along with more relevant and timely information.
Have you seen one or two articles about Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the news lately? Or maybe one or two thousand? AI is already changing how people work, and that includes library staff. That's why we're kicking off our summer 2023 training season with a deep dive on AI in the library.
The Galecia Group is excited to sponsor PLAID3, a free virtual summit dedicated to exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in public libraries. This groundbreaking event, taking place on March 28th, aims to bring library leaders together to discuss and discover how AI can enhance library services, collections, and operations.
As a leader in library technology and innovation, The Galecia Group's mission has always been to empower public libraries with the tools and knowledge needed to adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. PLAID3 is a natural extension of this vision, as it provides an opportunity for library professionals to learn about AI, its applications, and its ethical implications in a supportive and interactive environment.
Library funding can be a challenge in the best of times -- and that's why EveryLibrary's Library Advocacy and Funding Conference in September is going to be so important! (Disclosure: we've been proud partners and supporters of EveryLibrary for quite some time!)
As a kid, one of my favorite stories was O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief," about a ransom plot gone awry: the kidnappers are so overwhelmed by the young "victim's" mischievous antics that they end up paying the child's parents to take him back. And readers of a certain age might associate ransom with a comedy of errors, perhaps John Goodman's character throwing a satchel of dirty laundry during a fake ransom drop gone awry in "The Great Lebowski."
Followers of our blog know that we're big fans of the Institute for Museum and Library Science (IMLS) library survey data releases -- these are the most comprehensive sources of data about public libraries in the United States. So we were very excited this week to see that the FY2017 survey results have been released on the IMLS.gov website!
Not sure how to get started analyzing PLS data? Check out this video where we introduce the data included in the survey and associated documentation.
When a disaster strikes, information can be just as valuable as water, power, or critical supplies! Learn more about how your library can provide information and access following a disaster.
Providing Public Internet Access At The Library
One of the most critical requirements after a disaster is the restoration of communications with the outside world, and these days, that means the Internet. While first responders, whether at the local, state, or federal level, may have their own data and communications infrastructure, libraries can still provide access for responders, volunteers, and survivors. Internet access is critical after a disaster for:
Because Internet access is so important during a disaster, it may be necessary to expand opportunities for leveraging the library’s connectivity.