FEATURE: Application of Intelligence on Knife-edge

ＡUTHOR：Yvonne Yu

ILLUSTRATION：Puchi

PHOTOS：The Seattle Public Library/CES Asia/A*STAR

Amid the rapid development of science and technology, a large number of articles have emerged discussing the possibility of intelligent libraries eventually replacing traditional ones. Behind all the heated debates is the pressing need to find the balance between the application of intelligence and human resources in modern public libraries. A smart library should fulfil the concept and implementation of the innovative development of a modern library, with digitized, networked and intelligent information technology as the technical basis; interconnection, high efficiency and convenience as the main characteristics; green development and user-friendly service as the core objectives. A smart library is different from an intelligent library and a digital library in terms of their definitions. In addition to embracing the new generation of information technology, smart libraries focus even more on service management, intelligent technology and convenience as well as maintaining a friendly reading environment. 

Just as Rem Koolhaas, Lead Designer for the Seattle Public Library - an acclaimed smart library, has said: ‘A library may derive numerous variations in its development by adhering to the same concept, and turns the invariables and conventions from the past become an enormous unpredictability’. The application of intelligence and the balance between human resources and intelligence are both major development directions of the Macao Public Library. In this feature, we will delve into this irreversible trend of development from the inside out.

‘RFID technology’ (Radio Frequency Identification technology), a buzzword in the course of smart library evolution, is mainly used for reader identification, security and anti-theft, book positioning and accessible guidance, self-check in and out of books, self-service sorting and inventory check of books, among other functions.

Among other advantages, ‘RFID technology’ features quick identification, efficient check in and out, and convenient installation and maintenance. Among other aspects, it provides accurate statistics on operating volume, operating type and success and failure of the operation. The technology also allows users to print receipts after performing tasks such as check-in, check-out, renewal and enquiry. However, its application in public libraries is not flawless. Errors may occur during the check-in and check-out processes, due to misreading, overlooking or even failure to recognize the data, which relies on the technical stability of the electronic tags and the communication environment. Misunderstanding and confusion may also arise when library staffs are unable to check the integrity of the items in time.

Conclusion: RFID is not perfect in every way and therefore, still need to be assisted with manual labour, to ensure a smooth management process of the entire library. Only by using the RFID technology correctly can it truly complement the library staff’s day-to-day work.

24-Hour Book Drop

In the United States, an interesting website entitled ‘Will Robots Take My Job?’(www.willrobotstakemyjob.com) has caught the attention of many library insiders. The website has calculated the probability of jobs being taken over by computers with a new methodology, which was developed based on the criteria mentioned in the report ‘The Future of Employment: How susceptible are jobs to computerization?’ published by US scholars Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne in 2013. So far, a total of 702 occupations are listed on the website. When inputting ‘Librarians’ in the search bar, it shows that the automation risk of the job is 65%, which is medium to high level. We can’t help but wonder: will human resources become completely unnecessary in the era of the smart library?

Last year, the Department of Computer Science and Technology of Nanjing University and the State Key Laboratory for Novel Software Technology of China launched a robotic librarian, which is an important part of the second phase of smart library development. The robot, named ‘Tubao’ and incorporating RFID, AI, Internet, Internet of Things and other technologies, is currently being applied at the Nanjing Library in two aspects: 1) automatic inventory: scanning 10,000 books per hour; 2) instant update on item location.  The book undetected rate scores less than 1% and position accuracy reaches 97%. The numbers seem incredible at first glance but what are equally hard to miss are the robot’s shortcomings. On the technical level, its speech recognition ability is still falling short of expectation. For example, it is not able to overcome the ‘cocktail-party effect’ – the ability to recognize speech significantly diminishes in a noisy environment. That is to say, robots are unable to replace humans comprehensively, and are only used in certain areas in library management, such as inventory and reception.

Conclusion:  At the moment, humans cannot be comprehensively replaced by library robots in every aspect of their job, but the two can undoubtedly work side by side and complement each other. On the other hand, more observation and study is required on whether these technologies can one day overcome current shortcomings.

Why don’t we take a look beyond the border at the two cutting-edge smart libraries and see what we can learn from them? Considering both cases, human resources and intelligence are equally indispensable and must work together.  Integration of the two is the way forward for future smart libraries.

US: Seattle Public Library

Keywords: multi-functional, friendly ambience, cool design

Being a prominent local landmark, the Seattle Public Library is one of the best smart libraries in the world. It is no longer an institution that only relates to books, nor has it merely become a cold building put together by smart technologies. It is where information is stored, all forms of media are showcased, and all types of activities take place. It works simultaneously as an art gallery – sculptures created by various contemporary artists are displayed here, such as the famous ‘Fountain of Wisdom’, while ‘cream puff’ chairs are specially designed for children at the Faye G. Allen Children's Centre, which stresses the importance of early childhood education. There is a centre for learning multiple languages as well as auditoriums for associations to host events. Also, to give it a more humanistic touch, arrangements have been made such as separating Starbucks from the novels and magazines reading area. The Seattle Public Library has broken free from the simple definition of a smart library and made its technologies and environment genuinely serve the people. Because it emits such a rock-and-roll vibe, it is not surprising that young users now joke about spending more time at the library.

Singapore: Pasir Ris Public Library and other public libraries

Keywords: robots, RFID, efficient inventory, accurate report

In 2016, the National Library and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) of Singapore, developed the robotic librarian AuRoSS (short for ‘autonomous robotic shelf scanning system’). Its ability to memorize the layouts of the library and locations of the bookshelves enables it to self-navigate down aisle after aisle during closing hours, scanning RFID tags to produce reports to be delivered onto the hands of human librarians the following day. The robot can finish scanning 20,000 books in an hour with an accuracy rate reaching as high as 99%, which has dramatically improved efficiency in library management and immensely reduced the workload of the library staff. 

TEXT：Yan Lam

Photos：Leslie

The current smart facilities of the Macao Public Library include self check machines, book drops, book scanners, self-service photocopiers and the mobile application BookMyne. The latest Library data reveals that, as of September, the number of readers using self check machines has increased by 47% from early this year and accounts for 68% of the total number of library service users. This indicates that more readers are willing to use the convenient self-services. From the viewpoint of frontline staff, what changes have the smart services brought to the Library?

More accurate data can be obtained in smart libraries

Lam Io Hou, Functional Head of the Islands District, has been working at the frontline and experienced the changes in the library system over the years since he joined the Macao Public Library in 2000. Before self-check services became available, he mainly handled the counter services. Every day he manually checked in and out the books one by one, sensitized and desensitized the books, stamped the date of return and put them back onto the shelves. The introduction of self-check services has changed the way he works and he now offers proactive services instead of reactive services. In Lam’s opinion, smart machines have reduced the staff’s repetitive workload, and self-services have provided a large number of useful data which enables them to manage the Library more efficiently, such as which types of books are popular and the peak periods of self-service usage. ‘As compared with the past, our frontline staff have more time to think how to provide a wider variety of library services. We also have more time to communicate with readers, which allows us to keep enhancing the current self-services and provide more personalised services to them. By performing more in-depth analysis of readers’ needs based on the data provided by the machines, such as the favourite books of different age groups, we can better manage the books and arrange our manpower,’ he added.

He also mentioned that smart services always give many people a misunderstanding that now library staff have less workload, but in fact, to a very large extent, the successful launch of smart services depends on their hard work and dedication. Self-services have brought a more convenient experience to library users. For example, the check-in and check-out of books, which was previously completed at the counter, now only take a few seconds via a self check machine. Books are now circulated more quickly, but the checked-in books each still need to be manually shelved. Therefore, the quicker circulation of books means more shelving workload for staff.

What smart services will be enhanced in future?

Smart libraries do not mean unstaffed libraries but libraries providing more reader-oriented and personalized services. Hoi Hoi Po, a library staff who is familiar with the library frontline operations and information technology techniques, told us: ‘This means we will extend our services from the basics of checking in and out books, we will continue to make enhancements and cater to readers’ needs with more convenient services. For instance, self check machines are already available at the Library, but readers who have placed their orders still cannot pick up the books if they visit the Library outside our staff’s working hours. This is the service we should find a way to enhance in future.’ In addition, the Macao Public Library will enhance its users’ experience by developing e-payment services, allowing readers more methods to pay overdue charges.