eBooks, Collection Development Policies & AI

As we know from Library Future's work on Hoopla, AI-generated work is making its way into library purchasing platforms and collections, prompting discussion at many libraries about how to respond. The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) based in Port Angeles, Washington has taken a lead, adapting its Collection Development Policy to address AI. Sarah Morrison, a NOLS librarian and digital book selector, shares the NOLS addition and the thought behind it in Alki, the Washington Library Association's journal. The article discusses:

• The ethical question of author compensation with AI-generated content trained on pirated copies of authors' eBooks and eAudiobooks

• Questions about the quality of AI without the authenticity and intentionality an author provides

• The challenges of writing a policy given how new the technology is and how much it might change

Is your library considering AI-generated or AI-narrated content in its Collection Development Policy or selection procedures? Let Readers First know if this is something you’d like us to explore more.