Shaping the Conversation: Enriching Collection Access and Use with Generative AI

Northwestern University Libraries will leverage the power of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to revolutionize the way libraries provide access to knowledge. First, the project will build an installable, open-source, semantic discovery product that allows users to chat with library and archival collections. Second, the project will test and validate a toolkit to augment metadata for digitized collections. The project will implement the semantic chat-based discovery tool and an automated metadata tool using existing GenAI models in Northwestern’s Digital Collections. To expand impact nationally, the team will develop toolkits comprising research methods, examples, detailed documentation, and open-source software packages so library professionals and researchers across the country can implement the tools in their own contexts. By exponentially expanding access to, and providing interpretation of, information from primary resources, this project will increase library access to knowledge around AI tools, allowing libraries across the country to adapt and meet rapidly changing expectations.

Supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. National Leadership Grant LG-256703-OLS-24, Awarded 2024.