On 22 October 2026, Microsoft announced a new programme with the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association, to provide free artificial intelligence literacy and skills training for public library staff and visitors in the United States. The initiative is called Building AI Skills and Agency Through Libraries.
The company said the programme is intended to help people develop practical abilities, critical awareness and the judgment needed to use AI safely. It combines Microsoft's training materials with the Public Library Association's national network of specialists. Through the initiative, library staff will have access to a shared learning group called a Community of Practice, along with free webinars and practical guidance to help them assist library visitors.