The “AI Insights: Revolutionizing Metadata Management” eForum, held on October 22-23, 2024, brought library professionals together to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing metadata management. Moderated by Presley Dyer, Mary Beth Weber, and Wilhelmina Randtke, the forum focused on AI’s practical uses, impact on workflows, and ethical concerns. Participants also shared their experiences with AI tools, discussing how to improve metadata efficiency while ensuring privacy and human oversight.
Day 1: AI’s Role in Metadata Creation
The first day began with introductions, where participants shared surprising examples of AI in their everyday lives. They discussed various applications of AI, including automated phone systems, chatbots for food orders, and translation tools such as Google Lens and Google Translate. While these tools have made tasks easier, concerns were raised about the growing presence of AI in everyday activities and the associated privacy risks. The conversation then shifted to how AI is transforming metadata workflows in libraries. Many participants highlighted their use of tools like the AI Metadata Assistant in Ex Libris’ Alma and generative AI for data cleaning, which help automate routine tasks and improve accuracy.
Despite the enthusiasm for AI’s potential, participants agreed that human oversight remains crucial. AI-generated metadata can introduce biases and errors that require librarian review to ensure quality and inclusivity. There was a consensus that while AI can streamline workflows, it should not replace the human judgment needed to address complex metadata challenges. The group discussed the balance between AI efficiency and the need for continued professional engagement in the metadata process. Toward the end of the day, the environmental impact of AI, particularly its high energy and water use, sparked further debate about responsible implementation.
Day 2: AI’s Impact on Staffing, Workflows, and Ethics
On the second day, participants focused on AI’s role in addressing staffing shortages and improving library workflows. They shared how AI has been used to manage large-scale metadata clean-up projects and batch processing, especially in libraries with limited staff. Although AI’s ability to handle repetitive tasks was praised, concerns emerged about the risk of deskilling staff members. Participants debated maintaining librarians’ expertise while adopting AI tools that take over routine duties. The group agreed that it is important to balance using AI for efficiency and preserving the valuable skills librarians bring to metadata management.
Ethical concerns were also a major topic of discussion. Participants expressed concerns about how AI might be using library metadata without proper consent, especially in training large language models. Intellectual property issues were raised, particularly regarding the use of metadata in ways that may not align with library values. The risk of AI-generated misinformation also arose, prompting the group to stress the need for transparency in AI’s use. While there wasn’t a clear answer, participants recognized the ethical challenges of implementing AI in libraries.
As the forum concluded, participants voiced both apprehension and slight optimism about the future of AI in metadata management. While they recognized AI’s potential to improve workflows and manage large-scale tasks more efficiently, they stressed the importance of thoughtful and responsible implementation. The discussions consistently emphasized the need for strong ethical standards and ongoing human oversight. Participants agreed that AI should support, not replace, library professionals’ expertise, emphasizing the importance of human judgment in maintaining quality and integrity. The forum wrapped up with a cautious commitment to using AI responsibly while preserving the core values of librarianship.
AI Resources
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Software,” PCC Standing Committee on Standards, February 8, 2024, https://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/scs/documents/FAQ-Cataloging-of-Resources-Generated-by-Artificial-Intelligence.
Deng, Sai, “AI, Cataloging & Metadata” (2023). Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 1251, https://stars.library.ucf.edu/ucfscholar/1251.
Deng, S., et al. “Leveraging AI for Workflow Enhancement in Technical Services: Case Studies from US and Hong Kong Libraries.” Teaching & Learning with AI Conference, 23 July 2024, Orlando, Florida, https://ir.cala-web.org/items/show/1428.
Heng, Greta, Kate Holvoet, and Nerissa Lindsey, “Can OpenAI Be Taught to Catalog?,” June 25, 2023, https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/presentations/sq87c223n.
Lowagie, Hannes. “From Bias to Transparency: Ethical Imperatives in AI-Based Library Cataloging.” (2023). https://repository.ifla.org/bitstream/123456789/2841/1/s22-2023-lowagie-en.pdf.
Program for Cooperative Cataloging. “PCC FAQ: Cataloging of Resources Generated Using Artificial Intelligence.” Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/scs/documents/FAQ-Cataloging-of-Resources-Generated-by-Artificial-Intelligence.
“Research Libraries Guiding Principles for Artificial Intelligence.” Association of Research Libraries, April 2024. https://doi.org/10.29242/principles.ai2024.
Revolutionizing Library Cataloging with Artificial Intelligence (AI), December 4, 2023, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/revolutionizing-library-cataloging-artificial-intelligence-ai-coo9c/
Saccucci, Caroline, and Athena Salaba. 2021. “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automated Processes for Subject Access.” Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 59 (8): 699–701. doi:10.1080/01639374.2021.2022058.
Schreur, Philip E. 2020. “The Use of Linked Data and Artificial Intelligence as Key Elements in the Transformation of Technical Services.” Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 58 (5): 473–85. doi:10.1080/01639374.2020.1772434.
