KIMRA CONVERSATIONS

KIMRA Conversations, Episode 9: Hal Kirkwood, Bodleian Business Librarian

KIMRA CONVERSATIONS

Show Notes

Bodleian Business Librarian, Said Business School, University of Oxford. President, Special Library Association. 2019

The conversation delves into the transition to business librarianship, the challenges and opportunities faced by information professionals, the evolving landscape of business information and data, and the impact of AI on the role of information professionals and business libraries. It also explores the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, its influence on academic reading and research, and the evolving role of libraries in the AI era. The conversation covers the role of AI in education, opportunities for AI in libraries, AI's impact on medical research, challenges of AI implementation, the impact of AI on information professionals, the role of business librarianship, the future of business librarianship, and the value of information professionals in the AI era. Key takeaways include the importance of AI supporting and improving human processes, rather than replacing them, and the recognition of AI's limitations in replacing human connection and empathy.

Takeaways Library professionals are adapting to the impact of AI on their roles and the information landscape. The evolving role of information professionals in the fourth industrial revolution is a topic of significant interest and concern. AI should not replace human connection and empathy AI should be used to support and improve, not replace

Chapters 00:00 Transition to Business Librarianship 01:49 Moving to Oxford and Professional Challenges 05:39 The Role of Information Professionals 10:24 Evolving Business Information and Data 15:55 The Impact of AI on Information Professionals 20:22 AI's Influence on Business Libraries 27:03 Challenges and Opportunities with AI 33:07 AI's Impact on Academic Reading and Research 39:20 The Role of Libraries in the AI Era 43:07 The Role of AI in Education 45:10 AI Opportunities in Libraries 46:47 AI in Medical Research 49:34 Challenges of AI Implementation 54:05 Impact of AI on Information Professionals 58:09 The Role of Business Librarianship 01:16:03 The Future of Business Librarianship 01:18:09 The Value of Information Professionals in the AI Era Hal Kirkwood

Hal is the Bodleian Business Librarian at the Said Business School, University of Oxford. He leads the team at the Sainsbury Library in providing support for teaching and research endeavours across the university. Previously he spent 20 years at the Roland G. Parrish Library of management & Economics at Purdue University. He served as President of the Special Libraries Association in 2019. Currently he is the regional coordinator for the UK & Ireland division of the European Business School Libraries Group. With over 30 years of experience in academic libraries, he is an award-winning instructor and author; becoming the first-ever librarian inducted into Purdue University’s Book of Great Teachers. Hal’s focus is on business information literacy instruction, concept-mapping, and competitive intelligence. He also is expanding his involvement into data management and the use of AI for research.

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