The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill launched a two-year statewide study on June 4 to examine how North Carolina communities are experiencing generative artificial intelligence (AI) and how local libraries can support AI literacy.
The “Local Libraries and Generative AI” project will run from summer 2026 through 2028. The study includes five phases with two sequential cohorts of public libraries, according to a UNC-Chapel Hill press release. The announcement did not specify funding levels or the number of participating libraries.
UNC-Chapel Hill announced the effort at the New Bern-Craven County Public Library in New Bern, N.C., as part of Chancellor Lee H. Roberts’ tour of eastern North Carolina. The project is led by Diane Kelly, professor and interim dean in the School of Data and Information Sciences, in collaboration with María R. Estorino, vice provost for University Library and university librarian, and Michelle Underhill, state librarian with the Library of North Carolina.
“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,” Roberts said in a statement. “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 role of libraries
Many North Carolina communities face challenges tied to infrastructure, training, and access as generative AI tools increasingly affect education, work, and information practices, the university said.
Public libraries and community college libraries often serve as trusted community anchors in those areas. However, limited research exists to guide responsible and sustainable AI literacy work in community settings, according to the university.
“As we all navigate this complex and formidable technology, this project ensures that local libraries are not only part of the AI conversation, but a gateway to understanding it for the people of our state,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The study design
Researchers will work with participating libraries to assess local needs, institutional capacity, and community perspectives around AI technologies. The university said the project will prioritize collaboration with libraries and iterative learning across participating cohorts so that future AI literacy efforts reflect the realities and strengths of local institutions.
“Generative AI is changing how people seek, evaluate and use information, and communities are experiencing these technologies in very different ways,” Kelly said. “This project is about understanding those differences and working collaboratively with libraries to identify approaches that are realistic, sustainable and matched to local needs.”
