The new “Inspire Me” tool offers AI-powered recommendations from local library collections, but raises concerns among librarians and privacy-conscious users
AI Comes to the Library Stack
Libby, the beloved library e-book and audiobook app from OverDrive, is rolling out a new AI-powered feature called “Inspire Me”—and reactions from its community are mixed.
- The tool helps readers discover book suggestions using prompts and personal reading tags.
- It’s designed to tap into each library’s digital catalog, prioritizing available titles for borrowing.
While meant to complement librarians and aid discovery, some users feel the feature introduces unwanted technology into a space known for human curation and privacy.
How “Inspire Me” Works
From the Libby home page, users can now tap Inspire Me to explore personalized recommendations.
- Choose fiction or nonfiction
- Narrow results by age range, tone (e.g., “spine-tingling” or “amusing”), or scenario-based prompts like:
- “Time travelers rescue dragons from medieval knights”
- “Dark humor about modern family dysfunction”
- Libby then displays five curated book titles that match the request
- The suggestions are pulled only from the library’s existing collection, focusing on what’s immediately borrowable
It’s a relatively simple AI use case, but for some, it’s a step too far.
Reader Backlash: AI Unwelcome in the Stacks
Though the feature aims to enhance user experience, a wave of reader and librarian pushback has surfaced on social media.
- Critics argue that AI feels out of place in a tool built on community libraries and human recommendation.
- Some fear the creeping use of AI could undermine librarian expertise or compromise user trust.
- Others raise privacy concerns, wary of how their data might be used or stored.
This reaction reflects a broader cultural tension: AI as convenience vs. AI as intrusion.
OverDrive’s Response: “Responsible AI”
OverDrive anticipated the concern. In its announcement, the company emphasized that Inspire Me is not a replacement for librarians.
“It’s not about replacing human insight, it’s about making discovery easier, smarter, and more intuitive,” said Jen Leitman, OverDrive’s Chief Marketing Officer.
The company also published a privacy statement clarifying:
- The AI does not receive your personal data, device info, or tag descriptions.
- If you use saved tags to get recommendations, only the titles themselves are shared.
- Personal activity is not used to train AI models or shared with third parties.
A Gentle Rollout Ahead
The #InspireMe feature was soft-launched earlier this month, allowing curious users to try it out.
- The full rollout is planned for September
- It will be available to all Libby users on iOS and Android
- Users can choose whether to engage with the tool or ignore it entirely
OverDrive’s hope is that the tool becomes a helpful supplement, not a distraction.
A Balancing Act for Libraries and Tech
This rollout reflects a larger debate about AI in public services:
- Can AI coexist with human expertise without eroding trust?
- Should user-first platforms like Libby stay AI-free by default?
- How do we preserve privacy while improving personalization?
As AI quietly integrates into everyday tools, the library community’s reaction to Inspire Me may influence how tech companies approach AI in public digital spaces going forward.
