CILIP Rewired Conference 2024 Reflection #3

Digital transformation was the topic of discussion at CILIP Libraries Rewired 2024. Inevitably there was a big focus on application of AI but also consideration of issues such as the digital divide and using tech to streamline processes. This took place at CodeNode, London on 1 November 2024.

The next couple of posts share a collection of reflections and learning from colleagues who attended: 

I was grateful to get a bursary to attend the Rewired conference on 1st November, which was my first proper conference experience. It was really interesting to attend a technology-related event because it's an aspect of our sector that I usually have very little time to reflect on and explore. 

So far in my current role, all the training events or wider meetings have been within health libraries. So it made a change to have insight into wider work going on across the information sector. There were contributors from public libraries, academic libraries and organisations related to data management like the Open Data Institute. 

A key theme that emerged was the importance of partnerships, for example the collaboration between digital access charities and public libraries, to support digital inclusion. One example of this is public library involvement in the National Databank. It made me reflect on the potential role of NHS libraries in digital inclusion, even if only to signpost to digital literacy support available in public libraries (from my previous role as an NHS library assistant I met a lot of internationally-recruited staff who would have benefitted from this extra support). 

The talk about the Digital Divide, featuring Dr Emma Stone from Good Things Foundation, provided a timely reminder that many people are excluded from full digital participation through lack of access to devices, internet or necessary skills. Crucially, 25% of people with a disability or health condition suffer from this exclusion. These are the sort of people who, as patients and service users, require help from health professionals. Could NHS libraries have a part to play, through their health literacy activities, in making health professionals more aware of the impact of digital poverty? (I think this is something already touched upon in some librarians' health literacy training, but I'm not sure of the extent…)

In fact, another key theme was the importance of skills and literacies in navigating evolving technologies. This was highlighted as an area that library professionals are naturally strong in supporting. It was also mentioned that there are often assumptions made about people's existing digital skills, such as young people being savvy with tech. But this isn't always the case. In particular, many people need support with critical thinking skills in relation to digital media. AI literacy is perhaps something for library staff to incorporate into the training that they deliver.

Despite there not being many NHS representatives in attendance, there was a great AI Use Case Study in one of the afternoon sessions, presented by Sam Thomas (Knowledge and Library Services Manager at University Hospitals Dorset). He highlighted the need to ask clinicians which sources they are already using to gain their information, and if they are using AI, to make sure they are aware of the limitations.

He echoed many NHS librarians' struggles in making all professionals aware of the high-quality resources already available to them for quick information, especially clinical decision tools such as BMJ Best Practice. These are currently much more reliable than AI for obtaining information to support clinical decision making. However, he did also talk about the usefulness of AI to librarians in streamlining tasks, like creating marketing materials, bulletins and summaries of evidence. Similarly, he mentioned that AI could help clinicians to simplify the language they use, for example when explaining diagnoses to patients.

It may take time for librarians to get to grips with the implications of AI, but it’s something that NHS information professionals should be aware of. In her keynote speech, Emma Thwaites from the Open Data Institute spoke about the plans for a National Data Library, which was referenced in the Labour Party’s Manifesto. The National Data Library is envisaged as a vehicle for establishing more effective and secure sharing of data for use in public services such as the NHS. This would be developed with an “AI-ready approach”. But to what extent, in future, library professionals would be involved in curation of data, alongside textual information collections, remains to be seen. It will be interesting to follow digital developments as they unfold in the library sphere...