Your library’s services, through conversation.
Navigator is a library chatbot that works alongside your OPAC, helping patrons find answers, check their accounts, and discover books they’ll actually want to read.
In soft launch with Kyyti libraries, official launch March 4th 2026. Tehty Suomessa. Built for public libraries everywhere.
GDPR-compliant
EU or US data residency
(Fully sovereign solutions on request)
Works with Koha, VuFind, and major ILS platforms
(Finna-integraatio valmis)
What a library chatbot can do for your patrons
Navigator handles the questions that otherwise queue at your desk or fill your inbox: opening hours, borrowing rules, events, how to access e-resources, what a status message means. Answers come from your own content — policies, FAQs, website pages — so they stay accurate and consistent.
For logged-in patrons, it goes further. Navigator can show loan status, flag approaching due dates, check hold queues, and guide renewals. No second login required — it uses the patron’s existing library session.
Current features
General helpdesk
- Answers from your library website, policies, and FAQs
- Real-time opening hours and event schedules via API
- Service explanations and how-to guidance
- Links to forms (feedback, purchase requests, etc.)
- Multilingual support — patrons ask in their language.
Account services
- Loan status with due dates and renewability
- Hold queue position and pickup notifications
- Overdue alerts with clear next steps
- Guided renewals and hold placement (links to action pages).
Book recommendations
- Loan history analysis with patron consent
- Conversation-based suggestions (no history needed)
- Real-time availability and location checking
- Cover images and direct links to records
- Understands mood and taste, not just genre.
Navigator speaks your patrons’ languages. Ask in Finnish, English, Swedish, Russian, Somali, Ukrainian — the response comes back in the same language. No separate “English version” to maintain. This matters for diverse communities, new residents, and anyone more comfortable in their first language. Multilingual support is built in, not bolted on.
Book recommendations that actually know your patrons
This is where Navigator does something your OPAC can’t.
When a patron grants permission, Navigator reads their loan history and recognises patterns — not just titles, but taste. It understands the difference between “I liked that thriller” and “I want something with the same atmosphere but slower paced.”
From loan history to perfect match
Here’s a transcript from this video.
Your reading profile reveals an eclectic taste that spans cozy fantasy, literary fiction, psychological thrillers, and travel guides—with a particular interest in Austria right now! You balance lighter reads like Jenny Colgan’s comfort fiction with more challenging works from authors like Rachel Kushner and Édouard Louis, and you’re drawn to both contemporary issues and escapist storytelling.
Given your love of Kirjakauppoja ja kirouksia—that gentle fantasy where a bookshop becomes a refuge—I think you’ll be enchanted by Piranesi, though it takes a very different approach to wonder.
[A 200 words book description follows]
This is perfect for readers who appreciate atmospheric, literary fantasy that trusts its audience. It’s short (under 250 pages), immersive, and deeply moving—the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page. After your Austria travel guides, you might especially appreciate the House’s architecture, which becomes a character in its own right.
Available at: Haminan pääkirjasto, Iitin kirjasto, Karhuvuoren kirjasto, Kotkan pääkirjasto, Korian kirjasto, Myllykosken kirjasto, Kouvolan pääkirjasto, Kuusankosken kirjasto
- Place a hold on FINNA
- Get another recommendation?
See the library chatbot in action
“Lainaushistoriasi paljastaa monipuolisen maun! Näen paljon kotimaista nykykirjallisuutta (Satu Rämö, Enni Mustonen, Virpi Hämeen-Anttila), lämpimiä tarinoita (Jenny Colgan), pohjoismaista jännitystä (Ragnar Jónasson) sekä lastenkirjoja (Ella, Heinähattu & Vilttitossu). Tykkäät selvästi tunnelmallisista, ihmisläheisistä tarinoista, joissa on ripaus nostalgiaa tai pohjoista tunnelmaa.
Ehdotan sinulle ‘Talvipalatsi’ – Eva Frantzin uutuusromaani, joka yhdistää historiallisen kerronnan, vahvat naishahmot ja koskettavan tarinan. Se sopii täydellisesti makuusi!
Huomaan, että sinulla on tällä hetkellä 8 lainaa – ja osa niistä on jo erääntynyt (vanhin eräpäivä oli 11.9.). Voit tarkistaa lainat ja uusia ne tarvittaessa Finna-tilisi kautta.”
— Oikea keskustelu Kyytin kirjastoista
Recommendations check real-time availability, show cover images, and link directly to the record. Patrons who prefer not to share loan history can still get suggestions through conversation, describing what they’re in the mood for.
Surfacing your back catalogue
New releases sell themselves. The hold queues prove it. But what about the thousands of excellent books already on your shelves, the ones librarians loved five years ago, the award winners from last decade, the hidden gems that never found their readers?
Navigator solves the long tail problem. Because it understands taste rather than just tracking popularity, it recommends books patrons will actually enjoy — including older titles that are available right now, no queue required. Your collection works harder. Patrons leave satisfied. Circulation improves where it matters most.
Worried about GDPR?
We understand.
Navigator now offers a spectrum of privacy configurations — from minimal logging, no PII retention to stricter modes that satisfy the most cautious DPO.
Privacy concerns stopped some libraries from moving forward, and we’ve learned from every conversation.
Current setup
- Your library remains data controller
- We act as processor under a DPA
- Full GDPR compliance support
- All data stays in the EU
- Encrypted in transit and at rest
- No AI training on conversations
Under the EU AI Act, Navigator is classified as “limited risk” — meaning it must inform users they’re interacting with an AI (which it does), but it doesn’t fall under the strict requirements applied to high-risk systems. This classification reflects what Navigator actually is: a helpful assistant, not a decision-maker.
Currently used in Kyyti
Navigator evolved from the Library Helpdesk we launched with Kyyti in late 2024.
The new Navigator adds book recommendations, deeper account integration speed and smarts — with voice interaction on the roadmap.
The case for AI in libraries, from a library director
On why libraries shouldn’t fear AI assistants:
“I believe AI will free us up to
focus more on meaningful work.”
–Mikko Vainio, Library Director at Kotka
He notes that Kotka uses the chatbot to reduce pressure on live services during off-hours, and finds it reassuring that the system runs in a secure, internal environment, not “somewhere vaguely on the internet.”
Read an interview on Kirjastolehti.
Who built this
Biblioworks.ai is a Finland-based team with over 60 years of combined experience in library systems and IT. We specialise in practical AI implementation for public libraries — open-source foundations, privacy-first design, and tools that actually get used.
Navigator is the product of 29 years building internet systems and close collaboration with library professionals who know what patrons actually need.
What’s coming next
Navigator’s current capabilities are just the beginning.
Our roadmap includes:
- Direct renewals and hold placement within the conversation
- Librarians’ curated suggestions alongside AI recommendations
- Integration with book community trends
- Voice conversation as an accessibility-first option
- Latest acquisitions surfaced automatically
We build in partnership with our pilot libraries — your feedback shapes what comes next.
Ready to experience it?
Book a 30-minute demo and we’ll show you Navigator working with real library data.
We’ll discuss your setup, answer GDPR questions, and talk through what a pilot would look like.
Or try it yourself. Ask us the credentials of fictitious patron A.I. Virtanen.
FAQs
Why use a chatbot in a library?
A library chatbot handles the questions that otherwise queue at your desk: opening hours, borrowing rules, “what does this status mean?” It’s available 24/7, speaks multiple languages, and frees staff for the work that requires human judgment.
What’s included in the subscription?
Setup, hosting, maintenance, updates, and Premium AI model costs. We also provide a control panel for usage statistics and support for knowledge base updates. Pricing is based on your service area population — contact us for a quote.
Are there usage limits? What happens if we exceed them?
Your subscription includes a monthly message quota based on your library’s size. If you exceed it (which is rare), additional messages are billed at cost — no surprises, no markup. We’ll alert you before you approach the limit.
Does the AI train on our patrons’ conversations?
No. We use the AI model via API under terms that explicitly prohibit using conversation data for training. Your patrons’ conversations stay private and are never used to improve the underlying model.
We don’t use Koha/Finna — can you still work with us?
Yes. Navigator is designed to integrate with major ILS and discovery platforms. We’ll need to discuss your specific setup, but we’ve built the system to be adaptable. Book a demo and we can talk through what integration would look like for you.
How much IT involvement do we need for setup?
Minimal. We handle the technical work. From your side, we typically need: a list of your knowledge base materials (website URLs, FAQs, policies), a module setup in your OPAC, and an API user account in your ILS. Our Finna/VuFind integration is already in the main codebase.
Can our librarians see what patrons are asking?
Yes. Appointed staff get access to a control panel with conversation logs and aggregated statistics — what topics patrons ask about, where they get stuck, which questions come up most. This helps you improve services and spot gaps in your website content. Privacy settings determine the level of detail available.
How long does setup take?
Typically 1–3 weeks from signed agreement to live service!
Is Navigator the same for every library, or is it customised?
Every Navigator deployment is tailored to your library. The knowledge base draws from your policies, your FAQs, your website content — not generic library information. Branch names, opening hours, local services, and borrowing rules all come from your sources.
Beyond content, you can also customise the look and feel: interface colours, welcome messages, and the bot’s personality and tone. Want it warmer? More formal? Bilingual greetings? We configure it to feel like an extension of your team, not a generic chatbot with your logo on top.
Questions?
Contact Andrea Balzarini at loading…