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sdu.dk Biblioteket The essence of being a librarian in disruptive times Evgenios Vlachos, Anne Faber Hansen and Jakob Povl Holck Introduction Today, librarians are faced with speedy developments in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and similar disruptive technologies. Some (often larger) libraries have already embraced the new trends and implemented robot assisted patron guidance, virtual frequently asked questions management, pick-and- place-machinery or automated material handling operations, not to mention educational initiatives for students (e.g., information literacy training). Background The transformation of libraries into technological playgrounds where patrons, especially students and young people, have a chance to interact directly with robots is a part of the new trends. One can imagine that many librarians are afraid of the new possibilities. Purpose The purpose of this poster is to draw attention to and discuss the current trends – and ponder the interfaces between the librarian’s core competencies and the new technologies. For what makes a great librarian? Are the machines and the online features truly going to replace the human librarians eventually? What should the libraries do in these disruptive times? Never before has the role of the librarian been more critical. Method To address these issues, we performed a literature search in four databases: IEEE, LISTA, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies were included if they used the components robot (the intervention) and library (the context); if they were published in 2016, 2017 or 2018; and if they were in English. After the removal of duplicates and screening on title and abstract level, 51 publications remained. Reading through the filtered corpus, we ended up with three major, equally important aspects, which may describe the essence of today’s librarianship. Perspectives We point out where libraries should shift their focus to stop harboring fears about being replaced by technology. Results I. Librarians are democratizers of data access and providers of equal access to technology, information, actionable intelligence, and continuing education (by offering courses and educating the public on the future balance of the human and the digital, along with the ethical implications that follow). II. Librarians are mediators between diverse communities and reliable, understanding, empathetic guides. As long as humans continue to visit libraries, these traits will always be essential in interpersonal communication. Fortunately, these traits still lie within the bounds of the human realm. III. Even though machines offer a great variety of possibilities and superior information literacy, a human librarian will always be needed in the loop to clarify the input, ensure copyright clearance and licensing, and filter the output of the AI system. University Library of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark (evl ; annefaber; holck) @bib.sdu.dk

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sdu.dk

Biblioteket

The essence of being a librarian in disruptive timesEvgenios Vlachos, Anne Faber Hansen and Jakob Povl Holck

IntroductionToday, librarians are faced with speedy developments in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and similardisruptive technologies. Some (often larger) libraries have already embraced the new trends andimplemented robot assisted patron guidance, virtual frequently asked questions management, pick-and-place-machinery or automated material handling operations, not to mention educational initiatives forstudents (e.g., information literacy training).

Background

The transformation of librariesinto technological playgroundswhere patrons, especially studentsand young people, have a chanceto interact directly with robots is apart of the new trends. One canimagine that many librarians areafraid of the new possibilities.

Purpose

The purpose of this poster is todraw attention to and discuss thecurrent trends – and ponder theinterfaces between the librarian’score competencies and the newtechnologies. For what makes agreat librarian? Are the machinesand the online features truly goingto replace the human librarianseventually? What should thelibraries do in these disruptivetimes? Never before has the role ofthe librarian been more critical.

Method

To address these issues, weperformed a literature search infour databases: IEEE, LISTA,Scopus, and Web of Science.Studies were included if they usedthe components robot (theintervention) and library (thecontext); if they were published in2016, 2017 or 2018; and if they werein English. After the removal ofduplicates and screening on titleand abstract level, 51 publicationsremained. Reading through thefiltered corpus, we ended up withthree major, equally importantaspects, which may describe theessence of today’s librarianship.

Perspectives

We point out where librariesshould shift their focus to stopharboring fears about beingreplaced by technology.

Results

I. Librarians aredemocratizers of data accessand providers of equal accessto technology, information,actionable intelligence, andcontinuing education (byoffering courses andeducating the public on thefuture balance of the humanand the digital, along withthe ethical implications thatfollow).

II. Librarians aremediators between diversecommunities and reliable,understanding, empatheticguides. As long as humanscontinue to visit libraries,these traits will always beessential in interpersonalcommunication. Fortunately,these traits still lie within thebounds of the human realm.

III. Even thoughmachines offer a great varietyof possibilities and superiorinformation literacy, ahuman librarian will alwaysbe needed in the loop toclarify the input, ensurecopyright clearance andlicensing, and filter theoutput of the AI system.

University Library of Southern Denmark,Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark

(evl; annefaber; holck)@bib.sdu.dk
mailto:[email protected]