UNC-Chapel Hill launches statewide study on libraries and generative AI in local communities

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has launched a new state-wide 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 Thursday 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 Data and Information Sciences, 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. Researchers will work closely with participating libraries to better understand local needs, institutional capacity and community perspectives surrounding AI technologies. The project prioritizes collaboration with libraries to ensure future AI literacy efforts are grounded in the realities and strengths of local institutions.

"People have always turned to libraries to make sense of new technologies, and today that technology is AI," said María R. Estorino, vice provost for University Library and university librarian. "Participation in an AI-shaped world starts at the local level. By partnering with our public library colleagues, we can build a foundation for AI proficiency in our communities driven by trust and local realities. We're eager to learn together with them and identify models that empower all North Carolinians to access and engage with AI in informed and responsible ways."

According to project leaders, the study is designed not only to explore how libraries can respond to generative AI, but also to help ensure that local communities are included in conversations shaping the future of information access and digital literacy.

"Generative AI is changing how people seek, evaluate and use information, and communities are experiencing these technologies in very different ways," said Diane Kelly, professor and interim dean in the School of Data and Information Sciences. "This project is about understanding those differences and working collaboratively with libraries to identify approaches that are realistic, sustainable and matched to local needs."

The initiative contributes to broader efforts to advance equitable participation in an AI-shaped information environment by grounding future AI literacy work in evidence, trust and community partnership. Through iterative learning and collaboration across participating cohorts, the study aims to generate actionable insights while respecting the unique challenges and strengths of local North Carolina communities.

"The Library of North Carolina connects our state's 437 library branches in all 100 counties to trustworthy and accessible information," said N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. "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."