Indiana university bloomington will partner with several institutions to address a critical GAP in library and archival education and workforce preparation, identified through the professional…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Trustees of Indiana University $1,342,738 on September 1, 2026, through the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (CFDA 45.313) to conduct a mixed-methods applied research study determining what library and archival professionals must understand about artificial intelligence data to make responsible stewardship decisions.

Indiana University will lead the project in partnership with several institutions to address a critical gap in library and archival education and workforce preparation. AI systems leave behind artifacts that institutions are already accumulating without guidance for assessing their evidential value, risks, or stewardship implications. The project will produce a conceptual framework, pilot a graduate curriculum module across four partner institutions, and adapt it for national use.

Performance occurs in Bloomington, Indiana from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029.

Indiana university bloomington will partner with several institutions to address a critical GAP in library and archival education and workforce preparation, identified through the professional literature and practitioner consultation. Artificial intelligence (AI) systems leave behind artifacts, and institutions are already accumulating these data without guidance for assessing their evidential value, risks, or stewardship implications. This applied research project will conduct a mixed-methods study to determine what library and archival professionals must understand about AI data to make responsible stewardship decisions. The project will lead to a conceptual framework, pilot a graduate curriculum module across four partner institutions, and adapt IT for national use.