Carolina launches study on libraries and generative AI in local communities
Carolina launches study on libraries and generative AI in local communities
Publish Date: 2026-06-04 14:27:00
Source Domain: www.unc.edu
UNC-Chapel Hill has launched a statewide two-year collaborative planning and pilot study aimed at understanding how North Carolina communities are encountering generative artificial intelligence and how local libraries can support AI literacy in meaningful, locally relevant and sustainable ways.
The announcement was made June 4 at the New Bern-Craven County Public Library as part of Chancellor Lee H. Roberts’ tour of eastern North Carolina.
The project, “Local Libraries and Generative AI,” emphasizes listening, assessment and co-design as the foundation for equitable engagement with emerging technologies. The study is led by Diane Kelly, professor and interim dean in the School of Information and Library Science, in collaboration with María R. Estorino, vice provost for University Library and university librarian, and in partnership with Michelle Underhill, state librarian with the Library of North Carolina.
As generative AI tools continue to shape education, work and everyday information practices, many communities across North Carolina face challenges related to infrastructure, training and access. Public libraries and community college libraries often serve as trusted community anchors in these areas, yet there is limited research available to guide responsible, sustainable approaches to AI literacy in community settings.
“Generative AI is reshaping how people access and use information, and Carolina has both the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure that transformation reaches every corner of our state,” said UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “This partnership brings together Carolina’s research strength and the deep community knowledge of local librarians to develop practical, sustainable approaches to AI literacy that serve the needs of North Carolinians.”
The project runs from summer 2026 through 2028 and is organized into five phases with two sequential cohorts of public libraries participating over the course of the study….
