Technology enhances new Society of Mary digital platform

The digital library has a wide range of Marist resources divided into sections: Colin (founder of the Society of Mary), Constitution, Education, History, Marists and Spirituality.

In each of these sections, users can find titles of Marist publications and an author search is also provided.

The library is overseen by a small group of Marists: Society of Mary New Zealand provincial Fr Merv Duffy SM, New Zealand provincial council member Fr Frank Bird SM and Rome-based Fr Tony Kennedy SM.

The innovation is that the website – www.maristresources.org – has an AI tool that enables users to ask specific questions of the texts and get authentic Marist responses because the AI tool is restricted to the digital library only and cannot access the wider internet.

Responses always give references to the actual texts, which can then be downloaded for further research.

It is hoped that the site can support Marist educators, Marist formation staff, Marist laity and anyone interested in learning more about Marist spirituality.

The library currently consists of 350 books and articles and is expected to grow to include more than 1500 items.

The website is provided with an automatic translation system, and material can be provided in several languages.

Fr Bird is the creator of the website. The New Zealand province also launched its own new website, www.sm.org.nz, recently. 

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