I grew up in the analog-age when we didn’t have quick access to information. Learning something meant a trip to the library. Or we had to ask around to find an expert. Mostly, we learned through reading books, articles, newspapers, etc. Basically anything paper-based, or sometimes the odd VHS tape or audio option, provided us with what we needed. Researching something, or learning something new, could take time and effort. Even going to the library meant thumbing through card catalogs or browsing through the shelves hoping to get lucky. In library school this practice was often referred to as “serendipity.” Though not a technical library term, it flashed through our first-year class at school as a primary argument on the benefits of shelf browsing.
By my last year in library school, in the early 2000’s, I could comfortably search for whatever I needed without leaving my home. All I needed was an internet connection and some good search queries. However, even though Google and other search engines were available, this was not a good substitute for what the library offered if I needed to do serious research. Rather Google, and other search engines, remained great options to find out about restaurants, events, movies, or for shopping. The library, however, remained a place to search a collection of carefully curated and quality assured resources.
The library offers a wealth of information, all vetted and sourced by qualified information professionals. I feel confident about resources I find in the library that they are factual, high quality, and legitimate. I don’t feel this same sense of reassurance when I search on the internet. This feeling is amplified now that most sites offer a regurgitated, bulleted list of mish-mashed AI-generated jumbles. Usually this is the “top” search result.
I feel concerned about how people receive information today. It was already difficult to navigate the murkiness of disinformation and misinformation. This intensified with the introduction of generative AI, which adds doubts about the credibility of photos and videos. We’re being lulled into a void of complacency and false narratives by believing what we see and read in those first few AI-generated points when we search. Instead, we should be reinforcing our attention and focus towards the libraries. In today’s world, the services offered by a library feel even more critical and relevant, especially if we need solid footing on information we can trust.