The new jersey state library in partnership with the montana state library, the hawai'i state public library system, and innovateus, a project of the governance lab (the govlab), will implement a…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Thomas Edison State University $598,500 on September 1, 2026, under the National Leadership Grants for Libraries program (CFDA 45.312) to develop a replicable and scalable model for public AI education and civic engagement.

The New Jersey State Library, in partnership with the Montana State Library, the Hawai'i State Public Library System, and InnovateUS (a project of the Governance Lab), will implement the project through August 31, 2029. The initiative addresses the gap in practical education and training on artificial intelligence for the public by creating training tools that demystify AI while positioning public libraries as community hubs for civic engagement and digital learning. The project aims to encourage librarians to engage with AI, collaborate with local government officials, and help younger people reconnect with their communities in support of local government priorities.

Place of performance is Trenton, New Jersey. Thomas Edison State University, the award recipient, is a state-controlled New Jersey public institution of higher learning that administers library services and higher education programming. The National Leadership Grants program supports projects that address critical needs in the museum and library fields with the potential to generate results—models, tools, research findings, services, practices, and alliances—that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated.

The new jersey state library in partnership with the montana state library, the hawai'i state public library system, and innovateus, a project of the governance lab (the govlab), will implement a project to address the GAP in practical education and training on artificial intelligence (AI) for the public. This project will develop a replicable and scalable model for educating and engaging members of the public about AI while also bolstering civic engagement in selected communities. As a result, the status of public libraries as community hubs for civic engagement and digital learning will be strengthened, and more residents will benefit from an easy-to-use set of training tools that demystify AI. This project will position residents to leverage the strengths of AI to improve communities and hopes to encourage librarians to learn about AI, work with local government officials, and to help younger people RE-connect with their communities in a way that furthers the work of local governments.