Library Databases and Chatbots

Abstract

This column considers challenges and opportunities AI generative chatbots pose to proprietary library databases. It briefly reviews evolution from paper library indices to Web-based databases then reasons why current chatbots pose greater challenges to database relevancy than when Web engines first emerged. Library databases and free chatbots are compared in terms of identifying information needs, and locating, evaluating, and using information. Q/A with EBSCO are collected on challenges and opportunities chatbots provide them. Discussion centering around questions intended for database vendors ensues, along with a conclusion on potential information literacy benefits if library databases adopt chatbot search platforms.

Keywords:

• AI
• chatbots
• databases
• EBSCO
• libraries

Acknowledgments

I thank EBSCO, particularly David Brickner, Ashleigh Faith, Steven Mikels, and Amy Thurlow, for their service and consideration: without answers EBSCO personnel provided, this article would be far less relevant.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).