Two Ohio libraries are integrating chatbots into their information and reference services. Both bots were featured in a presentation to the Eastern Great Lakes Innovative Users Group on Friday, October 15 in Akron, Ohio.
Targeting both the least and most proficient computer users, an artificial intelligence agent can offer instruction and assistance to users
unfamiliar with a library’s catalog, services, and resources. Two agents were presented at the recent EGL-IUG Conference in Akron, Ohio. David Newyear, Mentor Public Library, and Michele McNeal, Akron-Summit County Public Library, presented “The Intelligent WebPac: enhancing user experience with .aiml.” The session discussed the history and implementation of “Emma” at the Mentor Public Library and “Dewey” at the Akron-Summit County Public Library. The focus of this presentation was the integration of an AI interface into the library’s online catalog, or “WebPac.” Mentor Public Library has implemented such a catalog interface, along with a virtual agent on their website, and is working in partnership with the Akron-Summit County Public Library to further develop this technology. Slides from the presentation..
