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I väntan på flodvågen. Folkbibliotekariers inställningar till AI-genererad litteratur

Sjöstedt, Beata LU (2025) ABMM54 20251
Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
Abstract
This thesis explores public librarians' views on and approaches to AI-generated fiction. The aim is to increase understanding of how the use of generative AI impacts the cultural sector from a library perspective. Generative AI is used to create text and image content, often through so-called large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT. The growing use of generative AI within the cultural sector has raised many questions, including those related to copyright, creativity, and the definition of culture. Through qualitative interviews with seven public librarians, the study examines how the mission of libraries shapes librarians' attitudes towards AI-generated fiction. The analysis uses a two-part theoretical framework, combining... (More)
This thesis explores public librarians' views on and approaches to AI-generated fiction. The aim is to increase understanding of how the use of generative AI impacts the cultural sector from a library perspective. Generative AI is used to create text and image content, often through so-called large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT. The growing use of generative AI within the cultural sector has raised many questions, including those related to copyright, creativity, and the definition of culture. Through qualitative interviews with seven public librarians, the study examines how the mission of libraries shapes librarians' attitudes towards AI-generated fiction. The analysis uses a two-part theoretical framework, combining perspectives from critical AI studies and library studies, with a focus on the role and mission of the public library. Based on the empirical material, three overarching themes have been identified that frame the analysis: the library’s selection process, the librarian's role, and the library's media and information literacy (MIL) mission. The thesis shows that the librarians’ approach to AI-generated fiction is strongly influenced by their commitment to safeguarding users’ access to the literature they request, even though they consider the quality of that literature to be low. In other words, they adopt a librarian role in which the mission to uphold freedom of information is a guiding principle, resulting in a liberal attitude towards collection development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sjöstedt, Beata LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Waiting for the tidal wave. Public librarians’ attitudes toward AI-generated literature
course
ABMM54 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
public library, creative AI, generative AI, culture sector, selection, librarian profession, AI-generated literature
language
Swedish
id
9194210
date added to LUP
2025-06-24 10:44:01
date last changed
2025-06-24 10:44:01
@misc{9194210,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores public librarians' views on and approaches to AI-generated fiction. The aim is to increase understanding of how the use of generative AI impacts the cultural sector from a library perspective. Generative AI is used to create text and image content, often through so-called large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT. The growing use of generative AI within the cultural sector has raised many questions, including those related to copyright, creativity, and the definition of culture. Through qualitative interviews with seven public librarians, the study examines how the mission of libraries shapes librarians' attitudes towards AI-generated fiction. The analysis uses a two-part theoretical framework, combining perspectives from critical AI studies and library studies, with a focus on the role and mission of the public library. Based on the empirical material, three overarching themes have been identified that frame the analysis: the library’s selection process, the librarian's role, and the library's media and information literacy (MIL) mission. The thesis shows that the librarians’ approach to AI-generated fiction is strongly influenced by their commitment to safeguarding users’ access to the literature they request, even though they consider the quality of that literature to be low. In other words, they adopt a librarian role in which the mission to uphold freedom of information is a guiding principle, resulting in a liberal attitude towards collection development.}},
  author       = {{Sjöstedt, Beata}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{I väntan på flodvågen. Folkbibliotekariers inställningar till AI-genererad litteratur}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}