Real-time virtual reference service based on applicable artificial intelligence technologies: The début of the robot Xiaotu at Tsinghua University Library

Abstract

<p align="justify">The adoption of applicable artificial intelligence technologies to library real-time virtual reference services is an innovative experimentation in one of the key areas of library services. Based on the open source software Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity (A.L.I.C.E.) and a combined application of several other relevant supporting technologies for facilitating the use of the current existing library resources, Tsinghua University Library has recently developed a real-time smart talking robot, named Xiaotu, for the enhancement of its various service functions, such as reference services, book searching, Baidu Baike searching, self-directed learning, etc. The operation of Xiaotu is programmed into Renren website (a social networking website), which adds significantly an innovative feature to the modus operandi of the real-time virtual reference service at Tsinghua University Library.</p>