Libraries Lead!

In the beginning … of our dot com digital age (roughly from the late 1970s) … there was a expectation that information and computer technology (ICT) would be a boon to society. Technology could be liberating rather than oppressing. The hope was that new products and services (e.g., personal computers, the Internet, the WWW, search engines, smart phones, social media)  would lead to a more equitable, open, and free society. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Instead, the pervasive goal in ICT became monetization—to make a buck and to maximize profits as much and as quickly as possible.

 In this episode we’re not going to argue whether this is good or bad thing. We accept that the dominant characteristic in ICT was and still is the drive for commercial triumph. And with an information economy estimated to be around $5.5 trillion today (and growing), there is success beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.

 Instead, we want to examine the implications of all this profit-seeking in the information sector. We’ve become aware of a disturbing trend: the decline of the quality in online products and services over time. This phenomenon is described in a Wikipedia entry as “Enshittification” where vendors and entrepreneurs initially “create high-quality offerings to attract users, then they degrade those offerings to better serve business customers, and finally degrade their services to users and business customers to maximize profits for shareholders.” 

 How big of a concern is enshittification in relation to the nature and quality of information resources and services in the commercial and public sectors? And of course, do we see this trend in the library world as well?

Dave explores NotebookLM’s podcasting feature. NotebookLM is an AI system from Google that lets you create a workspace around documents that summarizes, creates study guides, and much more. One of the features is creating an “Audio Overview” that transforms your notes and documents into a two person podcast. Dave was impressed, see what you think.  And let us know!!

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The election is over, and the reactions are emotional and raw. Some people are cheering; others crying. America is still as divided politically and socially as the day before. Putting those things aside, let’s look ahead from an information & library perspective. What’s in store for us as individuals, families and communities? Are there lessons learned from the campaigns and result from an information perspective? What might the next few years look like for libraries and librarians and those who use and rely on library resources and service? Are there opportunities for libraries to serve and thrive or will it require us to play defense in order to simply survive?

Natural and human-made crises, disasters, emergencies, and catastrophes. Whatever the cause (climate change, poverty, disease, overpopulation, war), it's undeniable that communities and individuals are continually facing daunting problems and challenges across the globe. In the first year of this podcast in Episode 11 (Nov 2021), we discussed how everyday people are just trying to survive, the roles and responsibilities of government and public service officials in dealing with crises, and of course, how library & information staff and institutions can provide essential services and resources.

 It's 3 years later, and in the face of even more severe hurricanes, fires, wars, and more chaos globally, we again focus on this crucial topic. Three years ago, Beth Patin was our guest speaker. She was a leading "crisis informatics" expert due to her work after Hurricane Katrina and her PhD studies. Now, as a tri-host of this podcast, she leads us through an update on this topic--the current status, how we've progressed or declined in our collective ability to deal with crises, and how the library & information field can play an even more active and visible role in preparing for, during, and recovering from these disasters.

“A mom. A public servant. A librarian. A defender against book banning and censorship. Utahns will be well served by Rebekah’s leadership through her advocacy for intellectual freedom and commitment to empowering families.”

Rebekah is the Director of Digital Matters and Associate Librarian at the University of Utah Marriott Library. In 2018 – 2019, Rebekah served as the Utah Library Association President, and she currently serves as the Utah State Library Board Chair. Since 2019, Rebekah has championed library issues and funding as Co-Chair of the Utah Library Association Advocacy Committee. In this role, she and her advocacy partners have won multiple awards, including the 2019 American Library Association Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Award, 2021 Utah Library Association Legislative Award for Excellence in Political Affairs and Library Advocacy, and 2023 ACLU Utah Torch of Freedom Award for the Let Utah Read coalition.

NOTE: THIS INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE AS A VIDEO ON THE LIBRARY JOURNAL YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/kHrNVvyQD_g 

Corrosive AI: Effects On and Expanded Roles Of Libraries and the Information Field

Sigh. It’s not enough that our instantly and continually connected information environment has eroded trust everywhere—including in our public institutions. The Internet, World Wide Web, and social media have been super-spreaders for misinformation (unintended misleading or false information) and dis-information (purposeful spreading of lies or deceptive information). But now, there is an even more powerful force at everyone’s fingertips-Artificial Intelligence. AI  now offers a set of multimedia tools and techniques to turbo-charge the creation and communication of false or misleading information. Referred to as “corrosive AI” by our colleague Riley Lankes, AI provides a new level of capability to undermine trust, particularly in government and public institutions, and unfortunately yes, even in libraries. 

 In this first podcast of our 5th season, and our first season in partnership with Library Journal, we try out some of these new AI tools, focus on the corrosive effects, and conclude with ways that libraries and librarians can help to repair or even avoid the damage.

Also - check out our BONUS VIDEO INTERVIEW - Rebekah Cummings is interviewed by Dave Lankes. Rebekah was chosen to run with Gubernatorial candidate, Brian King. He described Rebekah as: “A mom. A public servant. A librarian. A defender against book banning and censorship. Utahns will be well served by Rebekah’s leadership through her advocacy for intellectual freedom and commitment to empowering families.” Rebekah is the Director of Digital Matters and Associate Librarian at the University of Utah Marriott Library. In 2018 – 2019, Rebekah served as the Utah Library Association President, and she currently serves as the Utah State Library Board Chair.

NOTE: THIS INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE AS A VIDEO ON THE LIBRARY JOURNAL YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/kHrNVvyQD_g

For References & Resources for this episode visit us at
 https://librarieslead.libraryjournal.com/2024/10/01/episode-34-october-2024-corrosion-and-repair-of-trust-in-public-institutions/

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https://librarieslead.libraryjournal.com/ 

TikTok! Used regularly by over half the US population, why do so many either love or loathe TikTok? Is it simply a fun and terrific platform for creating, sharing, and consuming content? Is it an addictive, mental health hazard destroying America’s youth? Is it a major national security threat of Chinese infiltration? Is it all of the above…and more?

 We first discussed TikTok two years ago in Episode 15 (Feb 2022): Life, the Universe and Everything Social Media. But now it demands a closer look as use continues to skyrocket, its impact on US culture is undeniable, and federal and state governments seek to control or ban its use. So, hickory dickory dock. Join us as we run up (and down) the TikTok clock. 

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For References & Resources for this episode visit us at
https://1n2.b2c.myftpupload.com/episode-33-may-june-2024-tiktok-is-the-clock-really-ticking-for-tiktok/

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In this episode, we return to one of our favorite topics– the new AI. But rather than focus on the latest “gee whiz” or OMG capabilities, we turn to the societal implications and impact side of the topic. Dave raised this topic wondering if it’s another case of, “this is why we can't have nice things anymore.” Why is it that for world-changing technologies over the past half-century that held great promise for the betterment of humanity (e.g., personal computers, the Internet, the World Wide Web, search, mobile devices, social media) instead wound up adding stress to personal and professional lives, widening economic and social inequality, and became new tools for scams and crime. Is Dave right or is it possible that we can be realistic but optimistic about AI, that is, to be good information people with a necessary critical view - not a tech bro nor a Luddite.

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For References & Resources for this episode visit us at
https://1n2.b2c.myftpupload.com/episode-32-april-2024-optimistically-realistic-or-realistically-optimistic-about-ai

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What could be less controversial than school libraries? School libraries - dedicated to children and American values. School libraries- keeping school information collections & technology up-to-date and secure. School librarians - seeking to  promoting literacy and ensuring that students gain essential information & technology skills. Mom, apple pie, and school libraries, right?

 Wrong. School libraries are being challenged across the country with politically-motivated, organized book bans in the thousands along with efforts to demonize libraries and librarians (including the American Library Association). At the same time, we see significant declines in the number of schools that have professional school librarians and libraries. But, school librarians are one of the the only group of educators directly charged with addressing the serious information & technology issues facing children and their parents and teachers; issues like social media use, mis/dis-information, information access & use, AI, and critical information & technology skills. What gives? As Scooby would say, “Ruh roh!!”

In this episode we take a look at the current and future situation of school library programs and school librarians. Beth and Mike both come from a school library background, and Dave has been involved with K-12 education for much of his professional career. Listen in as we seek to better understand what’s going on, why, and what can be done about it.

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For References & Resources for this episode visit us at
https://1n2.b2c.myftpupload.com/episode-31-march-2024-ack-school-libraries-under-attack/

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Information and technology are a ubiquitous part of our lives. We cannot escape. Many of us walk around with multiple devices, receiving hundreds of notifications, emails, alerts, texts each day. Much like the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once  we are all navigating a multiverse of devices and information sources. We used to talk about and experience the world in real life (IRL) through our digital presences. But is it now the opposite? Do we experience our lives digitally more than in the real world? Does real life exist without the digital nowadays? 

 According to Truelist, in 2023, the average US smartphone user receives 46 app push notifications per day.* Collectively, an estimated 333 billion emails and 34 billion texts are sent and received today the average person is spending 2 hours and 24 minutes on social media while for teens in the US, the average is double that - 4.8 hours. 

 iExhausted? iOverwhelmed and scared as hell? We are too. So, In this episode we are going to take a deep breath, reflect on the situation and share our own practices and strategies, life hacks if you will, for developing healthier habits around our technology use. And of course, we emphasize how libraries can help too.

 *NOTE: The sources for any statistics, facts, or quotes offered are listed on the Libraries Lead Resources Website.

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For References & Resources for this episode visit us at
https://1n2.b2c.myftpupload.com/episode-30-february-2024-information-everywhere-all-at-once/

For References & Resources  of All Episodes Visit us at
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