Carnegie mellon university libraries will train 140 academic library professionals across seven intensive, week-long cohorts hosted at institutions across the united states

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Carnegie Mellon University $453,722 on September 1, 2026, under the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (CFDA 45.313) to train 140 academic library professionals in coding and generative AI literacy.

Carnegie Mellon University Libraries will deliver seven intensive, week-long training cohorts hosted at institutions across the United States. Each cohort will receive structured instruction in coding and responsible integration of generative AI, followed by mentored team-based application development addressing real-world library operational or workflow challenges. Participants will progress through a complete development cycle—from identifying an operational problem through scoping, building, testing, and documenting a working application—within a structured, mentored environment. The project addresses a documented skill gap between the technical needs of modern library services and the coding and AI literacy skills present in the academic library workforce.

Performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029, with place of performance at Carnegie Mellon University Libraries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

This project addresses a documented and expanding skill GAP between the technical needs of modern library services and the coding and AI literacy skills found in the academic library workforce. Each cohort will participate in structured instruction in coding and responsible integration of generative AI, as well as mentored team-based application development to address real-world library operational or workflow challenges. The project will build on existing training methodologies by guiding participants through a complete development cycle, from identifying a real operational problem, through scoping, building, testing, and documenting a working application, within a structured, mentored environment.