Automated Literature by Machines
In the realm of libraries, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by staff and patrons is becoming more common, yet establishing clear policies for AI in library collections remains a challenge.
Recent developments have highlighted this issue. For instance, the White House dismissed the USCO Register of Copyrights, Shira Perlmutter, who has since filed a lawsuit in response. Meanwhile, some librarians have reservations about AI-generated material belonging in a library, viewing it as a form of plagiarism.
One such librarian, Manning, questions the place of AI-generated material in libraries, fearing it could undermine the integrity of the collection. On the other hand, Noah Lukeman, President of Lukeman Literary Management, argues that digital narrations, including those generated by AI, have been openly accepted and carried by major libraries and e-tailers for decades.
The American Library Association (ALA) has taken steps to address this issue. At its 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia, a resolution to create an artificial intelligence cross-divisional working group passed. The goal is to develop a unified, critically informed ALA position on AI and libraries.
However, challenges persist. For example, Hoopla, a digital content provider, relies on accurate metadata from its vendor partners to flag low-quality, AI-generated content. Yet, trouble arises because the industry standards necessary for this AI detector aren't in place yet.
Recent incidents have raised concerns about the quality and accuracy of AI-generated content. For instance, more than 100 audiobook titles on Bradford's library's collection had the same narrator, all of them thrillers from Lukeman Literary Management. One book even had a page inexplicably appear twice, and another incorrectly stated that rabbits reproduce by living in the wild.
To head off AI content, librarians can exercise caution regarding self-published books, small presses, or platforms such as Amazon. They can also check if there is mention of AI use in the Library of Congress record associated with the book, and consider whether the book is capitalizing on the chance that a reader will confuse it with another, more popular book.
However, transparency about the authors behind AI-generated books remains an issue. There is no publicly available information about specific authors behind books offered by Lukeman Literary Management that are created by AI. The authors associated with these books have little to no social-media presence and only bare-bones websites with no substantive author bios.
A recent report by the US Copyright Office (USCO) sheds light on the copyright aspect of AI-generated content. The report states that the output of generative AI can be protected by copyright if a human author has determined sufficient expressive elements. However, the courts will provide further guidance on how much human input is required. The report also warns that making commercial use of vast troves of copyrighted works to produce expressive content that competes with them in existing markets goes beyond established fair use boundaries.
In the face of these challenges, librarians must navigate the complexities of AI in libraries, balancing the potential benefits with the need for quality and transparency. As AI continues to evolve, it is likely that these issues will remain at the forefront of discussions within the library community.
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