Deadline: 21 March 2025
The Association of College & Research Libraries in partnership with the Elsevier Foundation are pleased to announce a pilot community of practice, “Bridging the Gap: An AI Community of Practice Program” to build a community of practice through a train-the-trainer model, enabling participants to extend AI knowledge and skills within their institutions and communities.
The program addresses the growing need for AI literacy training among early-career librarians, who are uniquely positioned as future leaders and change-makers. Using a “train-the-trainer” model, participants will gain foundational AI literacy skills and learn how to lead and train others in implementing AI initiatives within their own institutions. Participants will leverage resources from the emerging ACRL AI Competencies for Librarians, network with peers, and become part of a growing and sustainable community of practice.
The program includes a hands-on workshop at the 2025 ALA Annual Conference, as well as follow-up activities and webinars designed to support ongoing engagement and knowledge sharing. A key component of the program is the development of an individual plan for implementing AI literacy programs within each participant’s institution.
Focus Areas
- Specific content areas:
- AI and Academic Librarianship: Training on how AI tools can be used to support academic research and library services.
- AI Ethics and Best Practices: Ensuring that participants are equipped to handle ethical considerations when integrating AI into their work.
- Community Building and Train the Trainer Model: Empowering participants to disseminate AI literacy within their institutions.
Funding Information
- Participants will receive complimentary registration to the 2025 ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia and a $1,650 travel stipend, provided by a grant from the Elsevier Foundation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be early-career librarians from under-resourced institutions across North America who are passionate about advancing AI literacy. Under-resourced institutions are defined as those meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Professional Development Budget: Libraries with less than $1,000 allocated annually per librarian for professional development.
- Access to AI Tools and Technologies: Libraries that do not subscribe to or have access to advanced AI tools.
- Institutional AI Initiatives: Institutions without ongoing or planned initiatives to integrate AI tools or literacy programs.
- Demographic Indicators: Libraries serving underserved or low-income student populations (e.g., institutions where more than 50% of students receive Pell Grants).
- Geographic Considerations: Institutions in rural or remote areas with limited access to collaborative networks.
For more information, visit ACRL.
