The university of south carolina will enhance artificial intelligence literacy education within the context of school libraries

The University of South Carolina received a $192,844 Project Grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (CFDA 45.313) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. The project will develop and deliver an open-access artificial intelligence literacy (AIL) curriculum and ready-to-implement teaching materials designed specifically for secondary school librarians. These deliverables will enable school librarians to integrate AI literacy education effectively and sustainably into their existing library programs and educational offerings.

The initiative addresses the critical need to equip secondary students with essential skills in understanding, critically evaluating, and interacting with artificial intelligence technologies. By providing secondary school librarians with comprehensive resources and curriculum frameworks, the project aims to build institutional capacity within the library profession to support AI literacy education as a foundational competency in an increasingly AI-driven educational landscape. The curriculum and teaching materials will be disseminated nationally to maximize impact across the library and information science field.

This national initiative will produce an open-access curriculum and ready-to-implement teaching materials, empowering secondary school librarians to integrate AIL effectively and sustainably into their curriculum. By equipping secondary school librarians with resources to incorporate artificial intelligence literacy into their library programs, the project aims to develop students' abilities to understand, critically evaluate, and interact with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies-an essential skill set in our increasingly AI-driven future.