Nearly $4.2 million in grant funds distributed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will create artificial intelligence (AI) projects across the nation to support K-12 AI learning.
The fiscal year 2025 grants will support AI literacy and the integration of AI tools in museums and libraries nationwide across eight projects, according to an IMLS press release.
“As AI reshapes our economy, museums and libraries have a critical role to play in ensuring every American has access to AI literacy,” said Keith Sonderling, deputy secretary of labor. “These grants will help institutions across the country, from small libraries in rural communities to large museums in major cities, build the foundational AI skills that Americans need to succeed in the AI era.”
IMLS tied the funding backs goals to an executive order issued last year by President Donald Trump, which directed federal agencies to bolster AI literacy and skills for American youth. The agency also said the order aligns with the administration’s AI Action Plan.
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said the IMLS awards are designed to extend AI education beyond traditional school settings.
“President Trump has made clear that American leadership in AI depends on ensuring every American has the opportunity to develop AI skills,” Kratsios said. “These IMLS grants are an important step in expanding AI education beyond traditional classrooms and into the community institutions that reach Americans in every corner of our country.”
Among the efforts highlighted by IMLS, the University of Oklahoma will integrate generative AI into children’s maker-based learning experiences in public libraries, providing curriculum and training intended to strengthen informal STEM learning and build AI literacy.
The University of South Carolina will develop a national, open-access curriculum aimed at helping secondary school librarians integrate AI literacy instruction and equip students to better understand and evaluate AI technologies.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host a national forum and launch the Artificial Intelligence Catalyst Institute, which IMLS described as an online community of practice intended to support the professional development of library professionals working with AI.
Purdue University will create online training modules for librarians covering what the agency described as the full AI project lifecycle, including planning, data preparation, model training, and evaluation. The modules will include both coding and no-code options, the agency said, to accommodate varying technical skill levels.
In addition, the Museum of Science will launch “Advancing AI in America,” which IMLS said will use exhibitions, programs, and digital resources to expand K-12 understanding of AI, increase teacher confidence, and foster student interest in AI careers.
IMLS did not outline three of the eight projects that received awards under the grants.