Pulse of the library

Odd title perhaps but Clarivate’s report “Pulse of the Library” draws on responses from over 2,000 libraries from 103 countries. You can download the report at that link. They report that 67% of the libraries responding are exploring or implementing artificial intelligence, but the USA lags. (Let us note also that a third of respondents were doing nothing about AI.) It’s early days but the comparison with last year’s survey shows libraries are moving in the “right” direction. Surely AI has to be helpful at least with queries like “It’s got a green cover, and it’s about food policy in Africa”. The main library AI usage reported involved support for student learning. The Book Industry Study Group also has a survey of libraries and AI-use. The picture they show is broadly similar to Clarivate’s. The BISG report is linked to in a piece by Jane Friedman entitled AI and Libraries. Almost simultaneously comes a report from the British Government about AI and copyright. Publishing…