Libraries Connected has called for stronger national coordination and investment in community AI literacy, arguing public libraries are uniquely placed to help people engage critically with artificial intelligence.
The call comes in a letter to Kanishka Narayan MP, newly reappointed as Minister for Artificial Intelligence, a role now elevated to Cabinet under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Chief executive Isobel Hunter MBE welcomed the Government's AI ambitions but warned that public confidence, not just technological progress, will determine success.
‘People need practical opportunities to understand how AI shapes their daily lives, how to use it productively and how to recognise potential risks,’ she continued.
‘Public libraries are one of the few national networks able to provide that support at community level.’
The organisation identified four priorities for the Government: stronger coordination, sustained local investment, help navigating misinformation, and continued frontline staff training.
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