PLA and Microsoft Launch Free Library AI Skills Training

What did the Public Library Association and Microsoft announce? A collaboration to expand resources and no-cost AI skills training for public library workers and their patrons. The American Library Association published the release on October 22, 2026, datelined Chicago.

The initiative is called Building AI Skills and Agency Through Libraries. The release says it is meant to build practical skills, critical awareness, and the judgment to use AI safely and appropriately, while leaving decisions about whether and how to use these technologies to individual libraries and their communities. It will pair Microsoft's AI skilling resources with PLA's national network of expert practitioners, for library workers and for patrons.

The release frames the work as a response to demand from library professionals and community members who want the knowledge, skills, and resources to understand AI, use it confidently and responsibly, and apply it to learning, career readiness, and opportunity.

What the initiative will offer

The release lists three lines of work:

• Free AI learning resources and toolkits for library staff, community members, and patrons. The stated uses are everyday tasks, learning, and career goals, with guidance on protecting privacy, checking accuracy, and recognizing potential risks.
• A webinar series and a Community of Practice, so library professionals can learn from peers and from AI thought leaders, share approaches, and work through common challenges.
• Case studies and communications that present libraries as AI literacy hubs and point the public to AI learning opportunities.

PLA President Jamar O. Rahming said: "Libraries have long helped people make sense of emerging technology, and AI is no exception. This collaboration will help library workers access practical resources, learn from peers, and support community members in asking questions about how AI can be used responsibly and thoughtfully."

The release says public libraries nationwide are already taking measures to build AI literacy. It says that even three years ago, a majority of public libraries reported in a PLA survey that they were developing or considering developing AI digital assistance or training, and that patron interest in AI learning continues to grow. The release does not name that survey, and it does not give a share beyond "a majority."

Building AI Skills and Agency Through Libraries builds on PLA's Transformative Technology Task Force, and on the association's digital literacy and information literacy work. The stated aim is to expand what public libraries and library workers can offer as community needs change.

Skills, and the choice not to use a tool

The release describes AI literacy as more than instructions for using tools. It says people also need the knowledge and judgment to decide whether, when, and how those tools should be used. The training, it says, will help library workers and patrons understand how AI works and expand their skills, and also evaluate potential risks, protect personal and confidential information, critically evaluate AI-generated claims and sources, and understand considerations related to safety and bias.

Justin Spelhaug, President of Microsoft Elevate, said: "AI will create opportunity if people have the skills, confidence and the judgment to use it responsibly. Public libraries are among America's most trusted and accessible institutions, making them essential partners in helping communities navigate this moment. Together, we can help library workers empower people from every background to make informed choices about the use of AI."

When the sessions start

A free webinar series and virtual training workshops will run from December 2026 through spring 2027. Webinars, led by library workers, will focus on how public libraries are addressing AI literacy and will share lessons learned. The workshops will be interactive. The release says they will give a practical introduction to generative AI, plus patron training resources and guidance.

Materials will be posted on PLA's Building AI Skills and Agency Through Libraries page. The release points readers to that page to register and learn more. The first webinar, Building AI Agency with Libraries, is set for December 3, 2026, at 1:00 pm CST. PLA's trainings page is the page the release links for that session. Library workers are invited to look at the materials and decide whether they fit their own libraries.

Who PLA is

The release describes the Public Library Association as the largest association dedicated to the needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, it serves nearly 9,000 members in public libraries large and small in the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA is a division of the American Library Association. The release's press contact is the Communications and Media Relations Office at cmomedia@ala.org.

Why it matters for libraries

The release does not tell a library which AI product to adopt. It says the decision of whether and how to use the technology stays with each library and its community. What it is putting on offer, starting in December, is free training, a peer group, and case studies, with privacy, accuracy, safety, and bias named in the description of the curriculum. For authors, the setting is the public library: the training is for library workers and for the patrons who ask them how these tools work.

Sources

• American Library Association, October 22, 2026: Public Library Association and Microsoft announcement
• Public Library Association: Building AI Skills and Agency Through Libraries
• Public Library Association: trainings page linked for the December 3 webinar
• Public Library Association: Transformative Technology Task Force
• Public Library Association: digital literacy
• Public Library Association: information literacy