Federal agency directs $4M toward AI literacy in libraries and museums
Institute of Museum and Library Services funds eight projects aligned with White House AI education priorities.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded grants to eight projects focused on building AI literacy and integrating AI tools into museums and libraries across the United States.
More than $4 million has been allocated, according to a LinkedIn post by Keith Sonderling, Keith Sonderling, United States Deputy Secretary of Labor, signaling a federal push to position cultural institutions as entry points for AI education and workforce preparation.
The funding aligns with President Donald Trump’s 2025 Executive Order, Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth, and the White House AI strategy blueprint, Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan. The grants aim to expand access to AI learning beyond traditional classrooms, extending into public libraries and museums that already serve local communities.
Universities and museums receive awards
Sonderling wrote that the agency “awarded grants to eight projects to build AI literacy and integrate AI tools into museums and libraries nationwide.”
He added that the awards “support the goals outlined in President Trump’s 2025 Executive Order, 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, by leveraging the nation’s museums and libraries as catalysts for AI learning and workforce preparation.”
Among the institutions named:
University of Oklahoma will integrate generative AI into children’s maker-based learning experiences in public libraries, providing curriculum and training to improve informal STEM learning and AI literacy.
University of South Carolina will develop a national open-access curriculum to support secondary school librarians in teaching AI literacy.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host a national forum and launch the Artificial Intelligence Catalyst Institute, described as an online community of practice for library professionals.
Purdue University will create online AI training modules for librarians covering the AI project lifecycle, including planning, data preparation, model training, and evaluation, with both coding and no-code options.
Museum of Science will launch Advancing AI in America, a national initiative designed to expand K-12 understanding of AI through exhibitions, programs, and digital resources.
Sonderling wrote that the grants “advance the White House's AI strategy blueprint, 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘦: 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢’𝘴 𝘈𝘐 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯, by supporting AI education and skill development priorities that empower American workers in the age of AI.”
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary federal source of support for the nation’s museums and libraries. By directing AI-focused funding through these channels, the agency is expanding the footprint of AI education into informal and community-based learning environments.
Sonderling also noted that FY26 grant applications are open, with institutions encouraged to apply by March 13, 2026.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 are now open and recognize education technology organizations delivering measurable impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning. The awards are open to entries from the UK, the Americas, and internationally, with submissions assessed on evidence of outcomes and real-world application.
