Category: Presentation

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Death, AI, and Librarianship

“Death, AI, and Librarianship” Plenary. 23º Seminário Nacional de Bibliotecas Universitárias. Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract: Em uma era marcada pelo isolamento social, desinformação e crescente desesperança, bibliotecários de todos os tipos devem evoluir de prestadores de serviço passivos para agentes ativos de resiliência comunitária e infraestrutura que salva vidas. Esta palestra desafia as definições tradicionais da Biblioteconomia, defendendo um modelo mais inclusivo e adaptável, que valorize missão, valores e engajamento comunitário acima de credenciais formais. Ao abraçar a alegria, o uso ético da IA e as narrativas locais, os bibliotecários podem fomentar a confiança, empoderar comunidades e liderar mudanças transformadoras em um mundo fragmentado.

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Death, AI, and Librarianship

“Death, AI, and Librarianship” Keynote. Internet Librarian 2025 Conference

Abstract: In a time of rising social isolation, ideological division, and technological upheaval, libraries stand at a crossroads. Lankes shares thoughts from his new book and delivers a bold, urgent, and deeply human call to action for the library profession. From confronting the rise of book bans and the erosion of intellectual freedom to navigating the ethical minefields of AI, he explores the evolving identity of librarianship in the 21st century and champions the power of storytelling, the necessity of joy in the face of adversity, and the radical inclusion of “feral librarians”—those who enter the profession through unconventional paths but embody its deepest values.

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Transcript

Transcript (AI generated):

00:00:01
Good morning. Thank you, Brian. Thank you, Jane. I really appreciate the opportunity to come speak to you today. I am always thrilled to be part of this conference. It’s a great group of people getting to know them and working on a regular basis. So, without further ado, because hearing me mutter on is not necessarily that helpful, I’m going to do the infamous look at my slides for the next 45 minutes or so, and hopefully then we’ll have time for a conversation over on feed loops. So, let’s make sure everything is having a good moment. There we go.

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Building a Great Library

“Building a Great Library,” Jesup Memorial Library, Bar Harbor, Me.

Abstract: Bad libraries focus on building collections, while good libraries provide services, including collections. Great libraries, however, are defined by their ability to build communities. These libraries serve as co-owned, community-centric spaces that focus on fostering learning, knowledge, and social connection. They are not neutral but are committed to the community’s well-being and growth. Ultimately, a great library’s narrative is shaped by the community it serves.

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Not Done Yet

“Not Done Yet” Jesup Memorial Library, Bar Harbor, Me.

Abstract: In a talk about the evolving role of libraries, the speaker argues that they must shift from simply “serving” communities to actively “saving” them. This involves reimagining libraries not as static repositories of books, but as dynamic platforms that address community needs like literacy, digital access, and social connection. Drawing on examples from South Korea and Texas, the speaker illustrates how successful libraries are deeply ingrained in their communities, tackling issues like childhood literacy and social isolation. The core message is that libraries can, and should, play a critical role in increasing community well-being and literally lengthening lifespans by fostering connection and empowerment.

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Demons, Determinism, and Divining the Future of Information Science

“Demons, Determinism, and Divining the Future of Information Science,” ASIS&T Inaugural President’s Lecture

Abstract: A demon in science is a conceptual device used to illustrate a theory or pose a question for interrogation. For example, Laplace’s Demon was a creature that could know every action occurring across the universe in an instant and thus perfectly predict the future and divine the past. Laplace used this construct as the basis of what would come to be known as determinism-a logical, causal, clockwork universe.

Let us posit an information demon. A creature that could reach out and hold the entirety of information science in its hands. Would information science have soft or hard edges? Would the shape and inner forms be fixed or constantly moving? How big of a factor is AI in this whole? Of course, the biggest question might be why would a demon do this in the first place? What could one learn from grasping the whole of the field versus picking up components one by one?

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Demons, Determinism, and Divining the Future of Information Science

R. David Lankes

September 19, 2024

Let me start by thanking Crystal and ASIS&T for inviting me to give the inaugural President’s Lecture. I’ve prepared about 30-40 minutes of remarks that should leave us plenty of time for questions, disagreements, and conversation.

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