BiebBot

Project description

The main design challenge of the BiebBot project is to explore how artificial intelligence can support public libraries in engaging young adults in a meaningful and accessible way. Many young people are unaware of the full range of library services or find existing systems difficult to navigate.

The project investigates how an AI powered chatbot can help users discover books, events, and activities through natural conversation. A key focus is balancing personalization with privacy, ensuring that users can benefit from AI recommendations without mandatory accounts or sensitive data collection. The core research question is how AI can enhance the library experience as a supportive tool, rather than replacing human interaction, while remaining transparent, ethical, and user-friendly.

Context

Biebbot is a project made together with Brainport Libraries. Its goal is to help people, especially young adults, use the library more easily. Many young people do not know all the services a library offers or feel that library systems are difficult to use.
Biebbot is an AI chatbot that people can talk to like in a normal chat. Users can ask about books, events, or activities in the library and get quick and clear answers, instead of searching through complex websites.

Biebbot was tested with real users during Dutch Design Week. People tried the prototype and shared their opinions about how easy it was to use and how they feel about AI in libraries. The project focuses on simplicity, privacy, and clarity. The goal is not to replace library staff, but to support libraries and make their services more accessible.

Results

The main design challenge of the BiebBot project is to explore how artificial intelligence can support public libraries in engaging young adults in a meaningful and accessible way. Many young people are unaware of the full range of library services or find existing systems difficult to navigate.

The project investigates how an AI-powered chatbot can help users discover books, events, and activities through natural conversation. A key focus is balancing personalization with privacy, ensuring that users can benefit from AI recommendations without mandatory accounts or sensitive data collection.

The core research question is how AI can The main outcome of the Biebbot project is a working AI chatbot prototype that helps library visitors discover books, events, and activities in an easy and conversational way.

The prototype was tested with real users during Dutch Design Week, where 44 participants interacted with the system and shared their experiences and opinions.The results show that users mainly value convenience, guidance, and discovery when using an AI assistant in a library context. Many participants indicated that they visit libraries for studying or a pleasant environment, but only a small part of the target group had an active library membership. This highlights an opportunity for tools like Biebbot to lower the barrier to library services and attract new users.During the prototype testing, users evaluated different aspects of the system, such as response quality, response time, and overall experience.

The overall score of the prototype was 3.7 out of 5. Based on the feedback, several clear improvement points were identified, including making answers more relevant, improving consistency, enhancing readability, and clearly communicating the benefits and data safety of optional account creation.

Overall, the project demonstrates that Biebbot is more than just an idea. It is a functional prototype that has been tested with real users in a realistic setting. The results show clear potential for further development and future use within public libraries, where AI can support accessibility and engagement without replacing human interactionenhance the library experience as a supportive tool, rather than replacing human interaction, while remaining transparent, ethical, and user friendly