San Jose State University Creates 'AI Librarian' Position
Thinking ahead at what artificial intelligence (AI) means for academic assets and services, San Jose State University (SJSU) last week announced a new job title: AI librarian.
One of the first dedicated AI librarians at any university, according to a news release last week, Sharesly Rodriguez, who has worked at the university library since 2020, will be responsible for integrating and developing AI technology for the university's academic library. According to SJSU, librarians typically collaborate with faculty and IT staff to provide information, resources and instruction both online and in person. They also manage digital assets, develop technology resources and promote library services. Within these duties, academic librarians often have one or more subject matter specialty, such as chemistry, history, or in Rodriguez's case, AI.
"In this rapidly changing environment, the AI librarian will lead and advance our conversations as we tackle issues about AI and AI literacy, ethics, creativity, bias, content, academic integrity and workforce preparation," Michael Meth, dean of the SJSU Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, said in a public statement.
At SJSU, Rodriguez and the King Library have already contributed to the AI conversation in a variety of ways. The library's AI@SJSU page lists teaching resources, events, news and course offerings related to AI.
Last year, Rodriguez also created a digital guide for instructors on teaching with ChatGPT. The guide covers technical basics, like defining generative AI and ChatGPT, their capabilities, limitations and differences between models. It also delves into more ethical and application-oriented questions, like whether or not to adopt ChatGPT in the classroom and what to do if a student uses the tool to cheat.
"Libraries are information hubs, and AI is affecting how we access and search for information, which is why libraries need to be a part of the AI conversation, while ensuring also responsible implementation," Rodriguez said in a public statement.
Implementation includes integrating AI technologies at the library itself. Along those lines, Rodriguez helped create and launch KingbotGPT, a chatbot that supplements the library website's live chat feature. During library hours, a chat box connects users with a human librarian, but after hours it connects them to an AI chatbot trained on library resources.
Rodriguez is also the principal investigator on a project researching responsible AI policies and initiatives across California colleges and universities.
"The analysis of AI use amongst higher ed [institutions] in California will help move AI education, research and workforce preparedness forward," she said.
To date, university libraries have taken different approaches to AI integration. Virginia Tech received a grant last year to train their librarians in generative AI skills. According to the news release, SJSU will be among the first to have a dedicated AI librarian, though the University of Chicago is also looking to hire one, according to a job posting on its website. Whether AI becomes a more commonplace specialty for university librarians remains to be seen.
"We look to lead and guide our campus, across the CSU [California State University system] libraries and in the library and information profession," Meth said in a public statement.