All posts by Julia, Librarian

April AI SIG Notes

  • Show & Tell
  • Ethics and Privacy Issues
  • Accuracy
      • Large language models deal in probability, not truth.  Outputs must be checked for accuracy.
      • Ask the AI to cite sources – and check that they are real
  • Training Data
  • Large language models are only as good as training data.
  • Biased data leads to biased outputs: article
    • Did the company have rights to use training data?
      • Google – uses search, web, etc
      • Facebook – uses posts on FB.  Also used a database of pirated books: article
      • Beginning to sign contracts: article
  • Confidential Data
    • When you go to, say, chatgpt.com, everything you input may get added to training data, eventually.  Don’t include confidential or sensitive information.  (AI is actually good at helping to anonymize data, such as generating lists of names to substitute for the real names.)Assume everything that you type on the public internet is added to training data.New downloadable models run on your personal device.  Your interactions are not necessarily uploaded as training data. 
    • Check the terms of use!
  • Copyright, Trademarks & Privacy
    • Purely AI-generated content cannot be copyrighted in the US. AI makes it really easy to generate illegal derivatives of copyrighted content.
    • May you use AI to create images using Coke cans, Lady Gaga’s face  or graphic violence?
      • Most products have restrictions and guidelines.  Grok (the X product) does not.
  • Authorship
    • When and how do we disclose the assistance of AI?  If it is being used as a tool in a way similar to a dictionary or word processor – ie, as a tool whose results get filtered through a human brain – probably not.  If it is doing unaudited work, probably.
    • How to make sure future AI products can be distinguished from “original” products… such as images, letters?
  • Environmental Issues
    • Running a new machine learning model on a huge training dataset, and offering it to millions of users, requires huge amounts of electricity and water.  Article
  • Resources
    • The Family History AI Show, by Mark Thompson & Steve LittleGenealogy and Artificial Intelligence Facebook Group
    • University of South Florida has written a very useful LibGuide on using AI: website
  • Articles Recommended by ChapGPT

Accuracy: Synthetic Heritage: Online platforms, deceptive genealogy and the ethics of algorithmically generated memory

Bias:  Ethical Challenges and Solutions of Generative AI

Respect for the Deceased:  AI Developments in Genealogy and How They Impact You

Copyright:  Generative AI in Focus: Copyright Office’s Latest Report

Terms of Use:  Navigating the Legal Landscape: Generative AI and Copyright Law

Data Sharing:  Privacy Challenges and Research Opportunities for Genomic Data

Living Relatives:  Ethical Considerations: Navigating Privacy and AI in Family History

Citation/Disclosure:  Disclosing Use of AI for Writing Assistance in Genealogy

Ethical Research: AI Developments in Genealogy and How They Impact You

March AI SIG Notes

  • Show & Tell
  • Basic technique – ChatGPT and custom GPTs
    • Go to chatgpt.com and create an account
    • Click on Explore GPTs and search or browse
    • Once you’ve used it, a custom GPT should come up in your sidebar every time you log in to chatgpt.com
    • The free account has limits on some activities, like uploading photos for analysis.

New Books February 2025

Call Number Title Info Author Date
R-669 017 Sioux Code Talkers of World War II Page, Andrea M. 2017
R-667 013 The First Code Talkers: Native American Communicators in World War I Meadows, William C. 2021
I-200 040 Tax Records: A Common Source with an Uncommon Value Eakle, Arlene Haslam 1978
I-200 024 U.S. Military Records: A Guide to Federal and State Sources, Colonial America to the Present Neagles, James C. 1994
A-620 010 The New Reference Atlas of the World 1921
online — link in catalog An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Putnam County, Missouri Edwards Brothers 1877
online — link in catalog Yearbook of German-American Studies German-American Studies
online — link in catalog Yearbook of German-American Studies Journal of German-American Studies
online — link in catalog Yearbook of German-American Studies Yearbook of German-American Studies

New Books January 2025

Call Number Title Info Author Date
R-665 054C Echoes of Glory C: Arms and Equipment of The Confederacy 1998
R-665 054B Echoes of Glory B: Arms and Equipment of The Union 1998
R-665 054A Echoes of Glory A: Illustrated Atlas of The Civil War 1998
R-665 053 V3 The Civil War V3: The Blockade: Runners and Raiders Simons, Gerald 1983
R-665 053 V2 The Civil War V2: First Blood: Fort Sumter to Bull Run Simons, Gerald 1983
R-600 114 The Visual Dictionary of Ships and Sailing 1991
Online – link in catalog Index to Mennonite Immigrants on United States Passenger Lists 1872-1904 Haury, David A. 1986

New Books December 2024

Call Number Title Info Author Date
R-671 001 The Cutting Edge Heatley, C.J. 1986
R-669 007 Steichen at War Phillips, Christopher 1987
R-669 006 195th Field Artillery Battalion Reunions
R-669 005 Ploughshares in Swords: How Civilians and Caltech Helped Win WWII Fiske, Thomas S. 2009
R-669 004 Return to Midway Ballard, Robert D. 1999
R-669 003 Slide Rules and Submarines: American Scientists and Subsurface Warfare in World War II Meigs, Montgomery C. 1990
R-669 002 Flags of our Fathers Bradley, James 2000
R-669 001 4139 Fascinating Facts About WWII McCombs, Don 1983
R-660 006 United States Submarines Hinkle, David Randall 2004
R-660 005 D Warships Aircraft Carriers Preston, Antony 1982
R-660 005 C Warships Submarines Preston, Antony 1982
R-660 005 B Warships Battleships Preston, Antony 1982
R-660 005 A Warships Destoyers Preston, Antony 1982
R-660 004 Brave Men…Dark Waters: The Untold Story of the Navy Seals Kelly, Orr 1992
R-630 074 Osage Indian Customs and Myths Burns, Louis F. 1984
R-630 073 Osage Indian Bands and Clans Burns, Louis F. 2001
R-600 111 Beta Sigma Phi Comfort Foods Cookbook Blount, Mary Jane | Beta Sigma Phi 1989
R-600 110 The Illustrated History of NASA Groman, Jeff 1988
R-210 SG 319 Gems from the Wheat State First Church of the Nazarene 1978
R-210 SG 318 Coloring Wichita Corle, Ronda 2023
R-210 SG 317 Sedgwick, Kansas Through the Years Loyd, Jim 2023
R-210 SG 316 Color Wright: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Allen House Corle, Ronda 2024
R-210 320 1964 Zoning Ordinance — City of Wichita City of Wichita 1964
Online — link in catalog Strawn, Kansas, USA, 1872-1963 : 91 Years Worth Remembering Keith, Verla I. 1969
Online — link in catalog The Crow Indians Lowrie, Robert H. 1935

New Books September 2024

Call Number Title Author Date
R-210 SG 205 1999 Wichita Suburban Directory R L Polk & Company 1996-1999
R-210 SG 019 2013 Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church Directory Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2013
R-210 RN 21 1996 Hutchinson City Directory 1991, 1993-5, 1996
R-210 RN 21 1995 Hutchinson City Directory 1995
R-210 MP 09 1987 Yearbook of the First Mennonite Church of Christian 1965, 1969, 1970, 1978, 1979, 1987
R-210 BU 31 Augusta, Kansas 1868-1990 Allison, Burl Jr 1993
R-210 BU 30 Scrapbook of ‘Haverhill News’ from the Augusta Daily Gazette 1958 – 1961
R-210 BB 10 History of Devon, Kansas Harlow, Wayne
Online International Review of Scottish Studies