The southwest center for educational excellence in missouri will develop a project to strengthen rural school librarian workforce capacity and artificial intelligence (AI) readiness

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded $397,720 to the Southwest Center for Educational Excellence on September 1, 2026, under the National Leadership Grants program (CFDA 45.312) to develop a Rural Librarian AI Readiness Forum Model and supporting resources for national replication.

The Southwest Center will convene rural school librarians, subject matter experts, and education partners through four structured forums to address professional isolation and emerging technology integration. The project will produce a Rural Librarian AI Readiness Forum Model, an instructional toolkit, and a facilitator guide designed for replication across rural library systems. Activities include structured peer exchange and collaborative model documentation focused on strengthening librarian capacity in instructional leadership, ethical AI implementation, and collaborative problem-solving.

The primary beneficiaries are rural school librarians who currently lack sustained, role-specific professional learning networks and structured guidance in emerging technology integration. The project targets high-need rural communities to enhance the quality and consistency of library services. Performance occurs in Webb City, Missouri, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

The project will convene rural librarians, subject matter experts, and education partners through a structured forum model to address professional isolation and emerging technology integration. Through four forums, structured peer exchange, and collaborative model documentation, the project will develop a rural librarian AI readiness forum model, instructional toolkit, and facilitator guide for national replication. The primary beneficiaries of this project will be rural school librarians who currently lack sustained, role-specific professional learning networks and structured guidance in emerging technology integration. By strengthening librarian capacity in instructional leadership, ethical AI implementation, and collaborative problem-solving, the project seeks to enhance the quality and consistency of library services in high-need rural communities.