Libfocus Link-out for September 2024

Welcome to the September edition of the Libfocus link-out, an assemblage of library-related things we have found informative, educational, thought-provoking and insightful on the Web over the past while.

Images featured in this month's link-out articles

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Academic Libraries: A Leadership Perspective).
In this article for College and Research Libraries, Jeehyun Davis explores the opportunities AI technology presents to libraries. If libraries stay ahead of emerging technologies, they can transform them into avenues for growth and enhanced service delivery.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats: A Comprehensive SWOT Analysis of AI and Human Expertise in Peer Review.
Roohi Ghosh considers whether peer reviewers should be responsible for detecting the use of AI. Ghosh argues that “AI should be seen as a tool to ease the workload of peer reviewers, NOT to add to it.” Ghosh suggested using AI to detect issues prior to peer review and providing clear guidelines for reviewers. Ghosh also provided a helpful Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) chart comparing human and AI capabilities, illustrating how both can work together to complement the peer review process. 

The review mills, not just (self-)plagiarism in review reports, but a step further.
Speaking of reviewer strain, Maria Ángeles Oviedo‑García, a researcher at the University of Seville, conducted an analysis of journals’ peer reviews and “identified 263 suspicious reviews prepared for 37 journals in multiple disciplines between 2021 and this year.” Specifically, Oviedo‑García reported that reviews continually used “vague, generic phrases,” signifying the potential use of review templates. Several reviewers also cited their own work, and many journals were published by MDPI. Science’s Jeffrey Brainard further addressed the use of AI in reviews, increased retractions, and concerns that the entire peer review system needs to be improved.

The value of libraries from Roskilde to Toronto.
Blog post from Danish librarian Christian Lauersen about how we should think about the impact of libraries beyond the number of books we loan or footfall in libraries.

This Election Will Determine the Fate of Libraries.
Many US librarians fear the upcoming presidential election will have a great impact, with more attacks on libraries to follow.

Old books can be loaded with poison. To some collectors, that’s part of the thrill.
Ashlee Stimpson speaks to Melissa Tedone, founder of The Poison Book Project, as well as the owners of some dangerous tomes.

A shell of the place it used to be.
In this Guardian article, Alfie Packham speaks to UK readers on the importance of libraries - and their fragile future.

Why are librarians up in arms over ebooks?
Cathal McCauley, Martin Bradley and Stuart Hamilton explain why ebooks currently offer poor value for readers and libraries in this article for RTE Brainstorm.

Censorship throughout the centuries.
Cara S. Bertram's article for the American Library Magazines traces the history of book bans and threats to intellectual freedom in the U.S.A.

Library Faculty Eliminated Amid ‘Fiscal Insanity’ at Western Illinois.
In this article for Inside Higher Ed, Kathryn Palmer describes how the university laid off all its library faculty as part of massive cuts, leaving employees and supporters to wonder how the library will serve campus constituents.

AI in Libraries - first pulse of the libraries report published.
A global survey of academic, public and national libraries by Clarivate that assesses trends and measures the impact of technologies such as AI.

Academic libraries help shape global citizens.
An insight by the Pressreader team into ways that academic libraries support users to become increasingly aware of global issues and develop into competent digital citizens.