Amplifying AI: Lucy M.

 

Welcoming a high school English class to the school library sounds like something out of the movies, especially when the library looks nothing short of a university-level facility like at NHS. The scenario sounds dreamy, but then there’s reality. Matching twenty-some students to books that ignite their interests quickly is a formidable challenge, even for the most skilled librarian. 

Lucy Misetic, Teacher Librarian at Noblesville High School, recently turned to artificial intelligence to help juniors select memoirs for a unit in their Literature & Composition classes. First, she downloaded a list of titles from​​ the NHS Library memoir collection through Follett Destiny, our online library catalog. She then logged into her MagicSchool educator account to create a virtual room for students to interact with Raina, MagicSchool’s AI chatbot. Lucy used the following prompt to train Raina, “You are an experienced librarian who can recommend memoirs to students based on search criteria and student interests.” She then uploaded a PDF of the memoir titles. So far, Raina has successfully generated what Lucy has described as “solid suggestions.”

“I used to think AI was cheating and cutting corners. Why not put in the work? Now I think it’s a way to build and stretch what I already know.” *

Lucy has used the Google Gemini AI tool to plan a two-day trip to San Diego. AI has also been helpful with starting letters of recommendation for her library assistants. She lets AI create a template, which she personalizes with anecdotes and examples.  

While AI can help us find information, it will never replace the heart, expertise, and human connection that librarians bring to their work—guiding us not just to answers, but to understanding.

Kristin Patrick

Blended Learning Coach

* I Used to Think … Now I Think is a core routine within the Harvard Graduate School of Education Project Zero Thinking Routines Toolbox.