10 minute read
ATG Interviews Marjorie M K Hlava
President, Access Innovations
By Tom Gilson (Associate Editor, Against the Grain) <gilsont@cofc.edu>
and Katina Strauch (Editor, Against the Grain) <kstrauch@comcast.net>
ATG: Margie, for those readers who are unfamiliar with Access Innovations, can you tell us what you and your team do as it relates to the information industry?
MH: We change search to found. What does that mean? Studies have shown that knowledge workers spend a third of their time looking for information. That information could be in house only or from external sources such as libraries or discovery platforms. And half of that time they spend looking, they do not find what they need. The value of a collection is worthless to patrons, if they cannot find what they need. We solve that challenge by adding conceptually appropriate words from controlled vocabularies. The control is needed so that words with many synonyms or that are ambiguous can be clearly delineated to the user.
ATG: What inspired you to start Access Innovations? Was there something about the market for knowledge management and information services in 1978 that made you think, now is the time? Did you ever think that over 40 years later, you would still be on the cutting edge of technological innovation?
MH: Databases were just beginning to be built. The combination of newly available budding technology and the clear need for broader distribution seemed like an excellent thing to become involved in. We were searching a few databases but many people were asking how to build ones for their own collections and put them up online for broader access. Some 600 databases later and thousands of engagements have proven that to be a good model.
ATG: The Data Harmony (DH) software is at the core of Access Innovation and its services. Your website describes Data Harmony as “a suite of software modules designed to maximize precise, efficient information management and retrieval.” What does that mean exactly? What do these software modules do, and how do they interact?
MH: Big question! Solving knowledge workers’ frustrations with finding what they need requires enriching the article of record with additional metadata beyond what is typically found in, for example, book or article metadata from publishers. DH analyzes what the content is about using “explainable AI.” It starts with DH analyzing an existing corpus in order to develop a thesaurus that conceptually describes the content. DH provides for human review. Next, each digital object in the corpus is automatically labeled (tagged) with the most conceptually appropriate thesaurus terms using DH’s M.A.I. module. Another DH module identifies entities (people, places, and things) and other metadata elements. Together, this value-add metadata improves the search and discovery experience. Search results are more precise meaning there is fewer items retrieved that are not of interest to the searcher.
ATG: You also describe Data Harmony as an “artificial intelligence suite that leverages explainable AI for efficient, innovative and precise semantic discovery.” That sounds complicated to the uninitiated. Can you clarify how it works and why it’s important? And more broadly speaking, what is your view of the overall potential of AI as it relates to information management and services?
MH: “Explainable AI” isn’t to difficult to get your head around, but getting there is not easy. All AI/ML/ DL platforms split out results — good, bad, indifferent. Explainable AI is the ability to explain how the AI platform generated its output. This can be critical when the AI output is used to make decisions. As mentioned, DH provides a human friendly window into its workings. These GUIs also provide the ability to intervene and correct. Such interventions do not require IT experience. AI is already having an impact on information management and it will only grow in importance. AI based content services such as DH provides “future proofs” of your information assets. It will improve the flow of information from producers to users. It will facilitate “information finding you.” When it is only a Black box, that is you do not know how the presented answer was derived, it is not safe to implement that information. Again, this is already happening and will only get more pervasive and, hopefully, better.
ATG: Can you tell us how you developed Data Harmony and how you keep it updated to meet the everchanging needs of the information industry?
MH: With the increase in database creation work, we needed something that would aid the editor and make them faster. Our intention has never been to replace the editor or the librarian but rather to aid their work and ensure that their time is spent doing the intellectual things humans do best and automate everything that is repetitive or clerical. Over time we found more things that could be automated. We built it first for our own use in house but over time customers wanted to use it as well. We did not start out to be a software firm. Our most critical users are still our inhouse editorial team and the software grows by responding to user needs rather than trendy industry unicorns.
ATG: Margie - you have said that there are way too many “black boxes “ that don’t explain what they do, are not very accurate, and are too expensive. Can you elaborate?
MH: This gets back to explainable AI. If you don’t know how it is happening, then you cannot explain the results. Let me answer in context; libraries have huge collections that are
very valuable. Beyond their very valuable archival mission, these collections aren’t very valuable to information seekers, if they can’t find what they need. If the OPAC does not serve the patron, well, they go to Google to find the result and then pick it up at the library or JSTOR site. Libraries spend a lot of money adding three LCSH headings which more likely cover the type of information than the content so more terms are needed to give the user enough information to mine and find content. If the library uses an AI platform that is opaque (not explainable AI) to fix the discovery problem, then if the discovery problem doesn’t get much better, they will not be able to determine why and won’t be able to fix it. The AI platform vendor won’t be able to explain what is happening either. Their answer is always that the system needs more training data. This gets prohibitively expensive and doesn’t guarantee a solution. The likelihood that the same search executed a few days or a month later will give the same results plus the newly added information is low which is also very frustrating to the user. Actually, the problems usually get worse as the AI algorithms become increasingly more complex, compounding the problems and can result in very embarrassing and potentially libelous results.
ATG: We know that you are a frequent attendee and presenter at the Charleston Conference. How does your work at Access Innovations intersect with the library and publishing world? And what is it about the Charleston Conference that keeps you coming back?
MH: Access Innovations DH solutions make collections discoverable. When they are discoverable, they are valuable. Even little used content that is maintained for archival purposes, for example, gets much better usage when enriched with metadata, especially subject metadata. Several years ago, Judy Russell, dean of the libraries at University of Florida, gave a presentation at the Charleston Conference that demonstrated the impact on discoverability of previously little used special collections. This was a challenging but fun project for Florida and us. I continue to attend the Charleston Conference to be able to meet with colleagues; these conversations are as enriching as the program is. The Charleston Conference brings together such a marvelous collection of minds. There are two audiences at Charleston, the librarians and the vendors. For us the mixture is the benefit. Talking to both and the differing needs of the two groups well expressed throughout the meeting keeps our attention and interest.
ATG: You are a big proponent of being active in professional organizations and conferences. What would you say to those new to the information professions who might question the value of investing time and resources in such activities?
MH: I am active in both organizations and their conference as well as standards organizations. One points out the needs, the other ensures that interoperability of information happens at all levels. You don’t learn while talking, you learn while listening. Attending builds your network faster than any other way. It is far better than just social media. Social media is great for staying connected post conference, but it is not as rewarding nor as long lasting by itself. You are also much more focused and less distracted at a conference — you’ll learn more. The serendipitous conversations are priceless. It is an opportunity to learn and to contribute to the profession. And as a bonus, Charleston is a great place to visit. You really do need to get out of the office (assuming you’re back in the office!) once in a while.
ATG: You have also been intimately involved in the standards process for much of your career. Why has that been so important to you? How has this involvement contributed to your career and to the success of Access Innovations?
MH: Again, answering in context, standards are critical for discoverability. Where would we be without MARC? AACRII? I learned a great deal by being involved in standards. This has helped inform the development of DH. I have made many great friends; some have become clients, and all have remained great colleagues. While I have served on many standards development committees and been a voting member of NISO in some capacity for most of my working life, I am proudest of my involvement in the Dublin Core, the DOI Syntax, the DOI Contributed Metadata Set, The controlled vocabulary (Previously Thesaurus) Standard for both NISO and ISO, Credit (Author contributor roles) and now the SSOS (Standards Specific Ontology Standard)
ATG: What new technologies and services can current and potential customers expect from Access Innovations?
MH: So far ontologies and knowledge graphs have over promised and underperformed but I think there must be ways to leverage those ideas into much improved search and information connectivity. We are working on that. The search system must be able to work seamlessly with the data and its metadata. Too often the system is built and then nature of the information in the database and how to best search it is thought of as an addon. I would like to flip that to users and data first, technology just used to enable their needs.
ATG: Margie, before we let you go; we were wondering how you maintain the energy level needed to run a company like Access Innovations? Are there any fun activities that help reenergize and get ready to tackle the next big challenge?
MH: Having a great staff is essential. What energizes me is getting to tackle and solve interesting challenges I encounter in providing intelligent content services. I love solving those puzzles! I was brought up with a strong work ethic — “idle hands are the devils plaything.” The best relaxation for me is doing something completely different to clear my head. Like digging in dusty archives for snippets of information on the past or traveling to new places digging into what’s there from the local perspective, watching birds or creating a new item from cloth. I do not watch TV. I would rather read the news from many sources and then make up my own mind on issues than listen to the talking heads. I am not very good at sitting around. Patience may be a virtue but it is not one of mine!
