Everyone is talking about AI, and it’s no different here at the USF Libraries. In addition to offering workshops on AI-related topics, we have some new AI-backed resources to boost student and faculty research.
The USF Libraries catalog, powered by Primo and hosted by the Florida Virtual Campus Library Services, has been upgraded with an AI research assistant. When searching with the Primo Research Assistant, your keywords or question will now be turned into a complex Boolean search string across library collections, excluding newspapers and retracted documents. There’s much more to it that you can read about in this recent Digital Dialogs post.
We have also launched the LINK chatbot on our website. LINK is an ethics-focused AI-powered chat reference bot. LINK enhances the availability, discoverability, and efficiency of Library services while ensuring that the AI seamlessly coexists with in-person patron support, reference services like Ask-A-Librarian, and traditional research support provided by library professionals.
LINK is the result of an internal AI challenge grant presented by Todd Chavez, Dean of the USF Libraries, to actively engage the Libraries’ internal professional, technological, and leadership development, and support our tradition of innovative solutions that bring value to our USF community.
If you’ve used any of these tools, or attended one of our AI-focused workshops, we’d love to hear your feedback!