We are posting today to provide an important update regarding a significant development in the resources we provide to support teaching and learning. Our library resource vendors—the companies that supply us with databases, search interfaces, and other key research platforms—are beginning to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools directly into their products.
These new features range from AI-powered search enhancements and article summaries to sophisticated research assistants. This integration is happening on the vendor side, which means we as a library do not always have the ability to control whether these features are made available or not to users. However, users will likely retain control of choosing whether to use the feature or not. Like any tool promising new opportunities for efficiency and discovery, their performance and potential to reshape the research landscape will need to be carefully evaluated, which will require time. We will also begin devising a communication process regarding how best to provide updated information with the campus community as this work continues to progress and change.
Given this development, we want to bring this to everyone’s attention - students, faculty and staff - as you consider your AI usage and any related policies and guidelines for courses and other tasks that may apply.
This will be a learning curve for library staff as well, but we are committed to staying abreast of these new features as best we can as they are released. We will be working to learn more about these tools to better assist everyone; whether curious or concerned about use.
Thank you for your understanding as we navigate this evolving landscape together.
Dee Peterson
Director of Libraries
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