Abstract
Should libraries use virtual personal assistants (VPAs), such as Siri and Alexa, within the physical library? VPAs are interfaces that support users with information retrieval and task performance. They are largely proprietary software and hardware that exist in numerous, consumer-driven fields. They function as powerful tools for data aggregation that combine speed, user experience, and accuracy, making them of interest to libraries. These technologies are mainly unregulated and face issues of interoperability outside their own ecosystems, or system of compatibility. As a result, VPAs rely on a number of other digital and mechanical components to function, making their infrastructure fragile and their ability to parse and understand language unreliable or slow. While VPAs have the potential to enhance library search experiences, they also have the capacity to record and profit off patron data, calling into question issues surrounding privacy, confidentiality, and ethics.
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