The prompt engineering librarian

Abstract

Purpose In terms of training the public in prompt engineering skills, no single discipline or profession currently takes the lead, presenting an opportunity for professions like librarianship to step into this role. Librarians are already well-equipped to educate the public in a wide range of literacy skills and tasks, so prompt engineering may be a natural progression. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential role of prompt engineering for library professionals. Design/methodology/approach Prompt engineering is the process of optimizing the text that is provided to an artificial intelligence (A)I model to ensure proper interpretation and the generation of relevant, detailed results. The field of prompt engineering is relatively young, evolving alongside the growth of large language models like ChatGPT and BARD. This conceptual paper will explore prompt engineering as a possible domain of expertise for librarians. Findings This paper delves into the world of prompt engineering, its alignment with the existing roles and expertise of librarians, and the potential emergence of a new role known as the “prompt engineering librarian,” akin to the well-established “information literacy librarian” role that has gained prominence in recent decades. Originality/value The significance of this work lies in exploring the synergy between prompt engineering and the traditional roles of librarians, highlighting the potential for a new and valuable profession in the form of prompt engineering librarians. This innovative concept could bridge the gap in AI literacy and facilitate more effective interactions with AI systems, contributing to the broader goal of AI accessibility and understanding.