Thanks for sharing this, Eric!

I thought you might be interested in a few tests I tried out- they reveal
some interesting hallucinations and misalignment of expectations. Of
course, I don't know the content of the 136 articles you used, so this
might also demonstrate how the chatbot attempts to answer questions that
fall outside of scope.

My input:

> Please recommend three recent articles that discuss how to catalog musical
> scores.
>

 It confidently gave me three articles that don't exist (that is, based on
searching my own library catalog and Google Scholar), from three authors
that don't exist (as far as I could tell), then provided four references
that have nothing to do with cataloging musical scores.

Rewrite: Sure, I'd be happy to help! Here are three recent articles that
> discuss how to catalog musical scores:
> "Cataloging Musical Scores: A Guide for Librarians" by Sarah M. Chase and
> published in the Journal of Library Metadata and Technology in 2018. This
> article provides an overview of the unique challenges and considerations
> involved in cataloging musical scores, including the use of specialized
> vocabularies and the need for detailed metadata.
> "Musical Score Cataloging: A Study on the Use of FRBR and BIBFRAME" by
> Mariachiara Di Michele and published in the Journal of Librarianship and
> Information Science in 2017. This article explores the use of the
> Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Resources (FRBR) and the
> Bibliographic Framework for the Digital Representation of Audio-Visual
> Media (BIBFRAME) in cataloging musical scores, with a focus on their
> application to different types of scores.
> "Cataloging Music Scores: A Review of the Literature" by Emily J. Hodge
> and published in the Journal of Academic Librarianship in 2016. This
> article reviews the existing literature on cataloging musical scores,
> including the use of standardized vocabularies, the challenges of
> representing musical notation in digital formats, and the importance of
> providing access to musical scores through online catalogs.
> References:
> The Classified Ads / Library Association, American (1985.0) in
> crln-18233.txt (1)
> Automating Cataloging Workflow of Library Traditional Materials / Dong,
> Elaine (2021.0) in ijol-183.txt (1)
> Understanding FRBR: What It Is, and How It Will Affect Our Retrieval
> Tools. Ed. Arlene G. Taylor. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
> 186p. alk. paper, $45 (ISBN 9781591585091). LC 2007-13558. / DeGeorge,
> Deborah (2008.0) in crl-15964.txt (1)
> The Preservation and Restoration of Sound Recordings (Book Review) /
> Garten, Edward D. (1980.0) in crl-13512.txt (1)
>

In a new session, I tried a more controversial topic:

> List the ways that current classification systems reflect a culture of
> white supremacy
>

The answer suggests that it self-censored due to the sensitive topic (I
assume there are guardrails behind the scenes). The titles and publication
dates of the references, while real, suggest to me that they aren't likely
to contain much information on the topic of white supremacy in
classification systems (though again, without knowing the sources you used,
they might represent the closest matches).

In light of the new context provided, here is a rewritten answer that
> avoids directly referencing the original answer or context:
> The current classification systems, particularly the Dewey Decimal
> Classification and the Library of Congress Classification, have been
> criticized for perpetuating a culture of white supremacy. One way this is
> reflected is in the underrepresentation or absence of classifications
> related to non-Western cultures, histories, and languages. This lack of
> representation can be seen as a manifestation of the dominant cultural
> narrative that prioritizes Western perspectives and marginalizes
> non-Western voices. Furthermore, the use of terminology and subject
> headings that reflect outdated colonialist attitudes can contribute to a
> broader systemic erasure of marginalized voices. By acknowledging and
> addressing these issues, classification systems can work towards a more
> inclusive and equitable representation of knowledge.
> References:
> Some Prerequisites to Cooperative Cataloging / Bregzis, Ritvars (1964.0)
> in crl-11734.txt (1)
> Introduction to Cataloging and Classification with 58 Exhibits; Sample
> cataloguing Forms: Illustrations of Solutions to Problems of Description
> (Book Review) / John, Nancy R. (1981.0) in crl-13742.txt (1)
> Cataloging Theory in Search of Graph Theory and Other Ivory Towers /
> Murray, Ronald J. (2011.0) in ital-1868.txt (1)
> From Cutter to Computer: Technical Services in Academic and Research
> Libraries, 1876-1976 / Tuttle, Helen W. (1976.0) in crl-12879.txt (1)
>

Finally, as a follow-up in the same session, I asked

> What are the most recent articles on the topic of classification and white
> supremacy?
>

Like the first answer, the reply is decent, but if the articles referenced
below it actually discuss what the answer claims, the titles sure don't
suggest it. The bot also loves the article *Cataloging Theory in Search of
Graph Theory and Other Ivory Towers* -- it also referenced that in a
colleague's question about subject headings.

The most recent articles on the topic of classification and white supremacy
> can be found in reputable academic journals such as the Journal of Critical
> Library and Information Studies. These articles provide valuable insights
> into the ways in which classification systems have been used to perpetuate
> systemic racism, both historically and contemporary.
> One article examines the use of the Dewey Decimal Classification system
> during the Jim Crow era, highlighting how it was used to segregate library
> materials and reinforce racial hierarchies. Another article explores the
> ongoing legacy of white supremacy in contemporary classification systems,
> demonstrating how they continue to reflect and perpetuate systemic racism.
> These articles offer important perspectives on the intersections of race,
> power, and knowledge organization, highlighting the need for critical
> reflection and action in the field of library and information science. By
> engaging with these issues, scholars and practitioners can work towards
> creating more equitable and inclusive classification systems that promote
> social justice and challenge white supremacy.
> References:
> Cataloging Theory in Search of Graph Theory and Other Ivory Towers /
> Murray, Ronald J. (2011.0) in ital-1868.txt (1)
> An Empirical Examination of Subject Headings for Women’s Studies Core
> Materials / Gerhard, Kristin H. (1998.0) in crl-15191.txt (1)
> Education for Cataloging and the Organization of Information: Pitfalls and
> the Pendulum. Ed. Janet Swan Hill. Binghamton, N.Y.: Haworth (published
> simultaneously as Cataloging and Classification Quarterly, v.34, nos. 1–3,
> 2002), 2002. 398p. alk. paper, cloth $79.95 (ISBN 0789020289); paper $49.95
> (ISBN 0789020297). LC 2002-15053. / Quintana, Isabel del Carmen (2004.0) in
> crl-15689.txt (1)
> From Cutter to Computer: Technical Services in Academic and Research
> Libraries, 1876-1976 / Tuttle, Helen W. (1976.0) in crl-12879.txt (1)
>

In short, it seems like the effect RAG is having is to provide real
articles as references, but it isn't clear how/if those articles have any
content that lines up with the chatbot's output.

Thanks,
Simon Hunt
Director, Automation, Indexing & Metadata
Library Information Technology
University of Michigan Library
he/him



On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 12:01 PM Eric Lease Morgan <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>
>
> On Mar 1, 2024, at 4:01 PM, Eric Lease Morgan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) -- as one way to implement
> generative AI -- is something easy for us libraries to get our heads around
> because the process is very much like the implementation of our discovery
> systems: 1) create content, 2) index content, 3) query content, 4) return
> response... For example, I collected about 136 journal articles on the
> topic of cataloging...
>
>
> I have temporarily implemented a public interface to a generative-AI
> chatbot, as outline above:
>
>   https://6a147d360a3fc1d7df.gradio.live
>
> Attached is a screen shot of what it looks like.
>
> In short, I curated a collection of 136 articles on the topic of
> cataloging. I used a model called "all-minilm" to index/vectorize the
> collection, and I am using LLama2 to generate the responses.
>
> One thing that is different from this chatbot and others is that this one
> returns references whence the responses were generated.
>
> The implementation is generously supported by folks working for Amazon Web
> Services, and its purpose is to learn and explore how generative AI can be
> used effectively in Library Land.
>
> --
> Eric Morgan
> Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship
> University of Notre Dame
>
>
>
>
>