Libby’s New AI Feature Sparks Debate Among Readers
▼ Summary
– Libby is adding an AI feature called “Inspire Me” that provides book recommendations based on user prompts or saved titles.
– The feature allows users to filter suggestions by factors like genre, age range, and content type, such as “spine-tingling” or specific scenarios.
– Overdrive states the AI uses each library’s digital collection and prioritizes immediately available titles for borrowing.
– Some users and librarians oppose the AI integration, citing concerns about privacy and preferring non-AI recommendations.
– Overdrive clarifies that it avoids collecting inessential personal information and does not share user data with third parties or AI models.
The popular library app Libby has introduced a new AI-powered recommendation tool called “Inspire Me,” sparking mixed reactions among its user base. While the feature aims to help readers discover titles from their local library’s digital collection, some librarians and patrons have expressed reservations about the integration of artificial intelligence into the reading experience.
To use the new tool, readers simply tap the “Inspire Me” button on Libby’s home screen. From there, they can request fiction or nonfiction suggestions and further refine their search using descriptive tags like “spine-tingling” or “amusing.” Users can even input specific scenarios, such as “dark humor about modern family dysfunction”, to receive tailored recommendations.
The app then displays up to five book titles that match the user’s request, drawing exclusively from the library’s available digital catalog. Overdrive, the company behind Libby, emphasizes that the feature prioritizes titles that are immediately available for borrowing, making it easier for users to access books without wait times.
Despite these practical benefits, the update has not been universally welcomed. Some librarians and readers have taken to social media to voice concerns, arguing that AI should not replace human-curated book recommendations. Privacy issues also emerged as a recurring worry, with users questioning how their data might be used in conjunction with AI systems.
In response, Overdrive has clarified its stance on data handling. According to the company’s policy, Libby does not collect “inessential personal information” and does not share user details or activity with third-party AI models. Even when a user shares a saved tag to generate suggestions, the AI receives only the book titles, not any identifying information about the user or their device.
Anticipating some skepticism, Overdrive has been careful to position “Inspire Me” as a complement rather than a replacement for human expertise. Jen Leitman, OverDrive’s chief marketing officer, stated that the feature is designed to help patrons explore their library’s existing catalog more effectively. “It’s not about replacing human insight,” she noted, “it’s about making discovery easier, smarter, and more intuitive.”
The feature was soft-launched earlier this month and is now rolling out to all Libby users, with full availability expected by September. Whether it will win over skeptics remains to be seen, but the discussion highlights growing tensions between technological convenience and traditional library values.
(Source: TechCrunch)
