Southwest Center for Educational Excellence

The Southwest Center for Educational Excellence in Missouri will develop a project to strengthen rural school librarian workforce capacity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness. The project will convene rural librarians, subject matter experts, and education partners through a structured forum model to address professional isolation and emerging technology integration. Through four forums, structured peer exchange, and collaborative model documentation, the project will develop a Rural Librarian AI Readiness Forum Model, instructional toolkit, and facilitator guide for national replication. The primary beneficiaries of this project will be rural school librarians who currently lack sustained, role-specific professional learning networks and structured guidance in emerging technology integration. By strengthening librarian capacity in instructional leadership, ethical AI implementation, and collaborative problem-solving, the project seeks to enhance the quality and consistency of library services in high-need rural communities.