Introduction library patrons in accessing materials, rather than an automated system.

As a
place holds and completing other result, libraries must carefully consider
Academic libraries have grown to
tasks at any time of day without the benefits and potential drawbacks of
become an essential component of
having to wait for a librarian to be these systems, as well as strike the
tertiary institutions due to the nature of
available. This is especially valuable proper balance between automated and
the informational services they provide,
for users who are unable to visit the human assistance.
which is at the heart of the tertiary
education system. Some of these library due to time limits or mobility
services include circulation, references, Artificial intelligence chatbots and
concerns. It might also be useful for types
serial and electronic services. Behind users who need to access library
the scene, they render technical information late at night. AI chatbots Chatbots are goal-driven computer
services such as cataloguing,
benefit not only patrons but also programs that use a variety of
classification and collection
library staff by reducing workload appropriate computing technologies to
development. All of these services are
and freeing up time for more mimic and effect intelligent
designed to provide library users with
conversational behavior similar to
easy access to information that meets complex tasks. Chatbots, by handling humans. AI entails implementing
their everyday educational needs. simple inquiries and tasks concepts and algorithms from AI sub-
However, librarians who are entrusted automatically, can free up librarians’ arenas (such as Machine Learning,
with providing these services are time to focus on providing more in- Knowledge Representation and so on) to
constrained in what they can
depth assistance to patrons who achieve a certain level of learning
accomplish. They may not be able to
require it. capability and intelligence to achieve
work 24 h a day and may become
Language translation is another certain stated goal(s) with significant
fatigued at times, leaving a gap to fill
potential application for AI chatbots in autonomy (Bagchi, 2020). As a result,
when they are not available. As a
libraries. Libraries can make their an AI chatbot is a chat robot that has
result, intelligent assistants are required
services more accessible to a wider been programmed using AI, specifically
to supplement their efforts in providing
audience by allowing patrons to natural language processing, to interact
library services. One such intelligent
communicate with the chatbot in their with humans via text format.
assistant in modern times is artificial
preferred language. This is especially There are several types of chatbots,
intelligence (AI) chatbots.
important for libraries serving diverse including rule-based chatbots, self-
Chatbots in libraries are not a new
communities or patrons who may not learning chatbots and hybrid chatbots.
concept. They have been around for a
speak the local language fluently. Rule-based chatbots respond to
long time at libraries, with “Emma the
Rodriguez and Mune (2022) discovered questions by following a set of rules.
Catbot” from Mentor Public Library in
that a university library can use Conversations are flowcharted,
Ohio and “Pixel” from the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries being existing tools to deploy a chatbot. An allowing for few topic deviations but
two notable examples (McNeal and existing tool making waves today is faster resolutions. They are frequently
Newyear, 2013). AI chatbots have the ChatGPT (generative pretrained used as FAQ or knowledge base
potential to transform how libraries transformer), a type of self-learning chatbots (Leah, 2022). Self-learning
serve their patrons. These automated chatbot, which was recently released chatbots, on the other hand, are
systems, which can simulate human- and has attracted more than 1 million designed to improve their performance
user conversations, may deliver rapid users in just one week after it was over time by learning from their
and correct answers to a wide range of launched, leaving behind other popular interactions with users. Hybrids
topics, making them a useful assets for online platforms such as Netflix, chatbots combine aspects of rule-based
academic libraries wanting to improve Facebook and Instagram in terms of and self-learning strategies. To
the quality and efficiency of their adoption rates (Sler, 2022) and could recognize particular user information
services. potentially revolutionize the library. kinds and create appropriate responses,
AI chatbots could assist to perform a This is especially important given the they may use rules. However, they
variety of services, which would limited use of chatbots in libraries might also use Machine Learning to
benefit research and scholarly (Sanji et al., 2022). improve their performance over time
communication (Kaushal and Yadav, Despite the plethora of potential and adapt to shifting user requirements
2022). It can assist benefits of AI chatbots, such as (Weetech, 2023).
ChatGPT in libraries, there are some
issues to consider, which this paper will
explore. In some cases, patrons may
prefer to interact with a human
librarian

18 LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 3 2023, pp. 18-21, VC Emerald Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/LHTN-01-2023-
0007
ChatGPT: understanding the library, so ChatGPT can be useful in experts predict that ChatGPT will soon
technology assisting users in such situations. One replace Google (Friedman, 2022).
of the main ways ChatGPT can be used ChatGPT contains a variety of
ChatGPT is a cutting-edge language in academic libraries is through the additional essential capabilities for
processing AI developed by OpenAI in creation of virtual assistants. These chatbot creators in addition to the
November 2022, with a focus on virtual assistants are capable of ability to generate responses. These
usability and conversation (OpenAI, performing a wide range of functions, capabilities include the ability to
2022). It is based on GPT-3.5, an including guiding users through the modify the model’s answer style and
improvement of GPT-3, one of the library’s website and even helping with tone, as well as its ability to conduct
biggest models of this kind, trained research. Academic libraries that use standard chatbot duties like recognizing
with ChatGPT to enable these virtual and reacting to user intent or controlling
175 billion parameters (Knox and assistants can assist patrons around-the- the conversation flow. By responding
Stone, 2011; Korngiebel and Mooney, clock even when the physical library is to user enquiries in a more believable
2021). It has been used in a number of closed. Overall, ChatGPT has the way, ChatGPT has the potential to
applications, including chatbots and potential to assist academic libraries in improve the user experience for library
language translation, and it can produce providing fundamental services such as reference services. It might also be used
writing that sounds like it was written reference, collection development and to handle a lot of straightforward
by a human. The human-like text cataloguing. reference requests, reducing the burden
generated appears coherent and fluent, The reference service is one of the of human librarians. A further service
which makes it difficult to distinguish it services provided by libraries. provided by reference librarians is the
from text written by humans (Clark Reference librarians provide reference selective dissemination of information,
et al., 2021). services by instructing users how to use which is a crucial value-added service
The ability of ChatGPT to provide the library catalog to seek information because it allows librarians to inform
very cohesive and authentic-sounding resources on the library shelves, how to users about the most recent research on
responses to user input is one of its use online databases and how to apply specific topics, assisting them in staying
main advantages. This makes it a great the best information search technique on top of the so-called information
option for chatbot programs that need for getting relevant and reliable explosion. In fact, it also allows
to be able to converse with people in a information on the internet (Adetayo, librarians to stay current on their topics
manner that resembles that of a human. 2021). In other words, reference (UiTM, 2022). By recommending
ChatGPT can be used to create full librarians respond to inquiries from relevant content to users based on their
conversations from scratch in addition users. A recent study, however, found profiles, ChatGPT might be used in the
to producing responses to user input. that AI Chatbots may complement the selective dissemination of information.
This enables it to be used in a variety of reference service by providing a Collection development is described
chatbot applications, such as virtual reliable option for libraries to by the International Federation of
assistants and customer care bots, commence virtual assistance while also Library Associations as the ongoing
among others. ChatGPT has grown in bringing a new dimension to virtual evaluation of the information needs of
popularity as a tool for enhancing reference service (Panda and library patrons, using statistics, analysis
services and boosting productivity as it Chakravarty, 2022). and demographic predictions. This
enters the academic library sector. One of ChatGPT’s key features that entails weeding the collection,
enable this is its ability to produce very designing new collections, replacing
ChatGPT and academic libraries lifelike and diverse answers to user missing or damaged goods, reading
inputs. This is accomplished by using a reviews, keeping an eye out for the
Academic libraries are those found big, pretrained transformer model that demands of your users and researching
in higher education institutions, was trained on a vast data set of human fresh and well-known authors and books
including colleges of education, dialogue. ChatGPT can provide highly (North Dakota State Library, 2022). For
polytechnics, universities, colleges for relevant and interesting replies to user the development of library collections,
teacher preparation and the Institute of questions by exploiting a large amount ChatGPT might be applied in a number
Aviation, among many more too of knowledge stored within this data of ways. A data set of the library’s
numerous to list. They are intended to set. Students visiting academic libraries current holdings as well as details on its
support the academic staff and other can use it to solve problems, write users and their interests might be used
institution support staff in their roles as essays and receive formative comments to train ChatGPT. Then, it may produce
educators, learners, researchers and on their work (Qadir et al., 2020; suggestions for new books that patrons
community developers (IGI Global, Thunstrom, 2022). Although ChatGPT of the library would find interesting.
2022). It is one of the campus’s is not a search engine like Google ChatGPT could be used to generate
informal learning places, and because Scholar (Google, 2022), its answer type lists of materials that the library should
of its appealing interior design and an of unique narrative responses allows consider acquiring. This might be
array of useful areas, including caf for innovative use cases, such as determined by the user’s interests, the
´es, lounges, learning spaces and functioning as a simulated reference library’s present collections and the
conference rooms (Kim and Yang, librarian in a sort of reference general interests of the community.
2022), patrons find it appealing to visit. transaction. The response to inquiries is Overall, ChatGPT has the ability to
Due to various reasons, not everyone so positive that a growing number of save time and money while also giving
can visit the users

LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 3 2023 19

access to a greater selection of materials creation jobs, including programmers,
that are customized to their interests educators, playwrights and journalists
In the past, cataloging and (Lock, 2022).
classifying physical books and other Misuse of technology: If ChatGPT is
library items needed a time-consuming not adequately monitored and
and labor- intensive procedure that controlled, it has the potential to be
involved assigning topic headings and exploited to propagate misinformation
classification numbers to each item. This or participate in other undesirable
procedure aids in classifying and actions. Recently, it was discovered
organizing the resources so that users promoting misinformation about
may locate and use them more quickly. maritime law (Ruse, 2023).
However, the growing amount of digital Inaccurate query response: When
content and the need for more effective interacting with the ChatGPT, it seems
and precise cataloguing and like you are talking to a knowledgeable
classification methods have prompted the person who is not above making errors
exploration of novel strategies, (Sun, 2022). Although ChatGPT has
including the application of machine been trained on a vast data set of
learning technologies like ChatGPT. human dialogue, it may nevertheless
One possible use of ChatGPT in this produce incorrect query responses
context is copy cataloguing. Copy during reference transactions.
cataloging is the practice of modifying Limited comprehension: Because
an existing bibliographic record rather ChatGPT is a language model, it may
than producing a new one from the start. not be able to comprehend reference
OCLC is the principal source of queries during transactions like a
cataloging copy in the USA and human librarian. It may struggle to
increasingly across the world deliver useful information on issues
(Folgerpedia, 2017). However, rather outside of its training data. It may be
than having librarians review those unable to answer more sophisticated or
sources during copy cataloguing, nuanced questions and lacks the
ChatGPT can assist in automatically capacity to grasp human emotions/
creating subject headings and expressions.
classification numbers for library ChatGPT has the potential to
holdings. By providing ChatGPT with a considerably benefit academic libraries
library item’s title and other by assisting in the automation and
information, it may construct a list of simplification of some operations,
appropriate subject headings and allowing employees to focus on more
classification numbers based on its complicated and high-value jobs.
comprehension of the item’s content. In However, libraries must carefully assess
the process of copy cataloguing, the possible risks and take proactive steps
ChatGPT can be asked to explain the to limit the negative by developing clear
process, thereby serving also as a standards on permissible and
training tool. unacceptable usage of such
technologies.
Concluding remarks: challenges of
ChatGPT to academic libraries

New technologies do not come

without constraints or problems. This is
also true with ChatGPT, despite its
many advantages for academic
libraries. It has the potential to result in
the loss of library employment, misuse,
inaccurate query response and poor
comprehension.
Library job loss: One possible risk
of GPT for academic libraries is that it
may result in job loss and upheaval
within the library profession because it
can automate some functions now
handled by library workers, such as
cataloging and indexing. Some early
ChatGPT adopters anticipate that it will
eventually supplant various content-
LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 3 2023 21