Libby introduced an "Inspire Me" feature that generates five book suggestions based on user prompts or previously saved titles. Readers can refine recommendations by fiction or nonfiction, age range, content type, and thematic prompts such as "spine-tingling" or specific scenarios. The feature pulls only from each library's digital collection and prioritizes titles that are immediately available to borrow. Some users and librarians object to AI integration and raise privacy concerns. Overdrive states that it avoids collecting inessential personal information and does not share users' details or activity with third parties or AI models. When shared tags are used, only titles are provided to the AI, not user or device details.
The new feature, "Inspire Me," allows users to get book recommendations by using prompts or from their previously saved titles in Libby. To use the feature, readers tap on the "Inspire Me" options on Libby's home page, where they can ask for fiction or nonfiction, then narrow down the suggestions by other factors, like age range, type of content, and more.
While a fairly basic use case for AI, some Libby users and librarians are pushing back at the addition via posts on social media sites, saying they'd prefer to get book recommendations without the use of AI technology. Others are worried about the potential privacy issues that come with some AI experiences. Overdrive, however, clarifies in a policy document about Libby's use of AI that it avoids collecting "inessential personal information,"
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