UNC-Chapel Hill Launches Statewide Study on Libraries and Generative AI in Local Communities

UNC-Chapel Hill Launches Statewide Study on Libraries and Generative AI in Local Communities

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From UNC-Chapel Hill:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has launched a new state-wide two-year collaborative planning and pilot study aimed at understanding how North Carolina communities are encountering generative artificial intelligence and how local libraries can support AI literacy in meaningful, locally relevant and sustainable ways.

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The project, “Local Libraries and Generative AI,” emphasizes listening, assessment and co-design as the foundation for equitable engagement with emerging technologies. The study is led by Diane Kelly, professor and interim dean in the School of Data and Information Sciences, in collaboration with María R. Estorino, vice provost for University Library and university librarian, and in partnership with Michelle Underhill, state librarian with the Library of North Carolina.

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The project runs from summer 2026 through 2028 and is organized into five phases with two sequential cohorts of public libraries participating over the course of the study. Researchers will work closely with participating libraries to better understand local needs, institutional capacity and community perspectives surrounding AI technologies. The project prioritizes collaboration with libraries to ensure future AI literacy efforts are grounded in the realities and strengths of local institutions.

“People have always turned to libraries to make sense of new technologies, and today that technology is AI,” said María R. Estorino, vice provost for University Library and university librarian. “Participation in an AI-shaped world starts at the local level. By partnering with our public library colleagues, we can build a foundation for AI proficiency in our communities driven by trust and local realities. We’re eager to learn together with them and identify models that empower all North Carolinians to access and engage with AI in informed and responsible ways.”

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“The Library of North Carolina connects our state’s 437 library branches in all 100 counties to trustworthy and accessible information,” said N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “As we all navigate this complex and formidable technology, this project ensures that local libraries are not only part of the AI conversation, but a gateway to understanding it for the people of our state.”

Learn More, Read the Complete Announcement

Scholarly Publishing: Wiley Acquires Emerald For $452 Million in All-Cash Transaction

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Here’s the Full Text of the Wiley News Release:

Wiley today announced it has acquired Emerald Publishing Limited (“Emerald”) from Cambridge Information Group (CIG) in an all-cash transaction valued at £337 million, or USD 452 million. The acquisition expands Wiley’s journal portfolio to approximately 2,500 titles and establishes it as a leader in the social sciences — particularly economics, business, and finance.

In addition to strengthening Wiley’s scale advantage in Research, the acquisition deepens Wiley’s proprietary content position for use in AI and data analytics, at a moment when demand for trusted peer-reviewed research content is accelerating rapidly as corporations build out AI models and applications.

“Emerald represents an outstanding strategic fit for Wiley – a complementary portfolio, a compatible culture, and decades of specialized content that will meaningfully expand our scale and portfolio depth in both research publishing and research intelligence,” said Matthew Kissner, Wiley President and CEO. “This transaction reflects our conviction that research and AI are mutually reinforcing: our proprietary content and data fuels AI, and AI accelerates the pace of publishing. Emerald materially strengthens both — expanding our peer-reviewed content base and adding a high-margin, recurring revenue stream that we expect to drive meaningful shareholder value.”

Founded in 1967 and headquartered in the UK, Emerald is a highly regarded scholarly publisher globally with nearly 500 journal brands, 8,000 book titles, and an extensive archive of case studies and backfile content. The addition of its portfolio strengthens Wiley’s position across multiple disciplines, notably economics, business, finance, accounting, management, strategy, education, engineering, information and knowledge management, operations, public policy and environmental management.

“Wiley is the ideal home for Emerald and the global communities we serve,” said Vicky Williams, CEO of Emerald. “For almost 60 years, we have been dedicated to publishing the highest-quality peer-reviewed research that bridges the gap between academic discovery and practical application, as well as developing an internal and external-facing culture that promotes inclusion and belonging. Joining Wiley gives us the best-in-class platform, an extended global footprint, and further reach into academic and corporate markets to drive real-world impact, which aligns with our founding mission. We are excited to join Wiley and build on their exceptional foundation for growth, innovation, and integrity.”

“Emerald has built an exceptional reputation in academic publishing through its commitment to quality, innovation, and global impact. We are incredibly proud of the business the Emerald team has built and the value created over the years,” said Andy Snyder, CEO, Cambridge Information Group. “Wiley is the ideal partner for Emerald’s next chapter, with the scale, capabilities, and strategic vision to further expand its reach and influence across the global research community.”

Financial Highlights

In its fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, Emerald is expected to generate over USD 85 million of revenue with mid-single-digit revenue growth, 92% recurring subscription revenue, and 85% of revenue generated outside North America. Wiley expects to realize approximately USD 30 million of annual run-rate cost synergies by year three, with meaningful cost synergy realization by year two. The acquisition unlocks a meaningful growth opportunity in the U.S. and creates multiple avenues for cross selling across academic and corporate audiences.

Learn More: Investor Presentation Slide Deck : Acquisition of Emerald Publishing Supplemental

Source

ALA, ARL, COSLA, EveryLibrary, SAA, ULC, and Others Call on Congress to Fund IMLS

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Via the American Library Association (ALA):

Today, ten cultural organizations, including the American Library Association (ALA),  called on Congress to expand federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in its fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills, which are scheduled for markup by a House Appropriations Subcommittee later this week.

Addressed to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Labor-Health and Human Services-Education and Related Agencies Subcommittees, who will decide funding levels for IMLS, the coalition letter states:

Museums, libraries, and archives form the bedrock of our nation and communities, long serving as gateways to knowledge, literacy, workforce skills, culture, and civic life in uniquely American ways. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, we should in turn celebrate and embrace the enduring, intrinsic contributions of these institutions to American history, society, and our economy.

Among the vital programs funded by IMLS is the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), which supports a range of services and technology to every community in the United States. The only federal program providing funds exclusively for libraries, LSTA supports state library agencies through formula grants as well as the work of public, school, academic and special libraries. LSTA competitive grants support academic research and the development of future librarians trained in 21st century information trends.

ALA President Sam Helmick said, “For many, the library is the only no-fee access to information, education and career development. For a modest investment of less than 0.01% of the federal budget, LSTA and IMLS support students, families, businesses and job seekers, military families, future librarians, professional research and so many more. Under-supporting IMLS leaves families behind.”

As in FY 2026, the Trump administration’s FY 2027 budget request targets IMLS for elimination. Last year, Congress rejected the White House proposal and provided funding increases for LSTA.

Signatories on the IMLS funding letter were the American Alliance of Museums, American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, Association for Rural & Small Libraries, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, Denver Public Library, EBSCO Information Services, EveryLibrary, Society of American Archivists and Urban Libraries Council.

Direct to Full Text Letter
3 pages; PDF. 

District of Columbia e-Book Fairness Act Signed by Mayor, Defying Corporate Pressure and Private Equity Lobbying (Statement From eBook Study Group)

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From the eBook Study Group:

The eBook Study Group (ESG) celebrates a historic milestone for public digital access as District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has officially signed B26-0490, the “Library E-book Pricing Fairness Amendment Act of 2025.” The legislation, which was drafted by the eBook Study Group, marks a decisive legislative victory for public libraries, school systems, and taxpayers over restrictive digital licensing models driven by major publishing houses and private equity interests.

The successful passage of the Act follows comprehensive written and oral testimony delivered by the eBook Study Group. ESG was deeply honored to participate directly in the public legislative hearings before the D.C. Council’s Committee on Human Services, working closely with lawmakers to outline the critical need for sustainable digital procurement standards.

“We were incredibly honored to participate in the legislative process and testify before the Committee on Human Services,” said Kyle K. Courtney, lawyer, librarian, and founder of the eBook Study Group. “Having drafted this legislation from the ground up, seeing it signed into law is a monumental victory. We are deeply grateful to Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin, his tireless legislative team, and Mayor Bowser for standing up for D.C. readers. This law establishes an enduring blueprint for states across the country, proving that public access to digital knowledge must be governed by the public mission of libraries rather than predatory, non-negotiable contract practices designed to maximize private leverage.”

D.C. Council Rejects OverDrive’s Scare Tactics

The enactment of B26-0490 represents a significant rebuke of a dense, multi-layered lobbying campaign mounted by OverDrive; the dominant digital library platform vendor owned by global private equity firm KKR & Co. Inc. In extensive written opposition, OverDrive aligned itself with major multinational publishers, attempting to persuade lawmakers to reject the consumer-protection measure through an array of corporate pressure tactics and legal warnings.

Furthermore, lawmakers looked past provocative rhetoric from corporate opponents who labeled the consumer protection bill a “Book Banning scheme” that would turn digital collections into “zombie” platforms. As ESG’s advocates demonstrated during the hearings, the legislation does not ban materials; rather, it prevents abusive contracts from effectively banning the core public service and preservation operations of libraries.

A Solid, Legally Grounded Standard for Digital Equity

The “Library E-book Pricing Fairness Amendment Act” succeeds due to the precise legal framework drafted by ESG, which directly addresses the structural vulnerabilities of previous state-level library eBook efforts.

The Act does not rewrite federal copyright law, interfere with exclusive rights, or compel any publisher to distribute or license their works. Instead, the statute is grounded firmly in the District of Columbia’s long-established authority to regulate public procurement, consumer protection, and state contract law. It stipulates that if a publisher voluntarily chooses to license electronic literary materials to a District library, the resulting contract cannot contain terms that unconscionably subvert the library’s public mission, such as placing discriminatory restrictions on loan frequency or contract durations.

To ensure stability and leverage collective market power, the Act features a collaborative, multi-state trigger mechanism built into ESG’s original draft. Its operational restrictions will formally take effect once a coordinated threshold of 10 or more states, representing an aggregate population of at least 50 million people, enact substantially similar eBook legislation. By passing this bill, the District of Columbia has positioned itself as a critical anchor in a growing, unified state-level response to digital market monopolies.

About the eBook Study Group

The eBook Study Group is a national coalition of library professionals, legal scholars, and digital rights advocates dedicated to ensuring equitable, sustainable public access to digital knowledge. ESG works with local, state, and federal lawmakers to draft, defend, and advance balanced information policies that protect the historical, educational, and democratic mission of libraries in the digital age.

Learn More, Additional Background: Read this Post From the eBook Study Group

See Also: Read the eBook Study Group’s Full Legal Breakdown of the Legislative Proceedings

Roundup: Federal Research Funding Proposed Rule: Media Coverage, Statements, and Submissions

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Ed. Note: Below find with links to media coverage, statements, etc. re: the Office of Management and Budget’s recently published PROPOSED Uniform Guidance Revisions.

We will update this roundup on a regular basis and will focus on materials of special interest to libraries, scholarly communications, higher education, and other areas we post about on infoDOCKET.  We will so share a selection of submissions as they become available in the coming weeks.

Last Updated: June 13, 2026; 1:15am

Recent Additions

Forbes
A New Trump Rule Threatens Research Behind Every American Industry

LSE Impact
New Rules For Federal Research Grants Will Limit Their Reach and Leave US Research Isolated

Analysis

Media Coverage

Proposed Rules

Statements/Comments

Preprint: “Synthetic Sources?: Auditing Generative Search Engine Citations for Evidence of AI-Generated Sources”

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The preprint linked below was recently shared on arXiv.

Title

Synthetic Sources?: Auditing Generative Search Engine Citations for Evidence of AI-Generated Sources

Authors

Mowafak Allaham
Northwestern University

Nicholas Diakopoulos
Northwestern University

Source

via arXiv
DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2605.23684

Abstract

The growing accessibility of Large Language Models via conversational interfaces capable of responding to users’ questions by drawing on, synthesizing, and citing information from the web (i.e., Generative Search Engines) has simplified the information-seeking process for users. However, with the proliferation of AI-generated content on the web, it is unclear whether these engines can reliably omit citing synthetic sources (i.e., AI-generated sources). Should these engines be unable to do so, this puts users at risk of harm by treating information from AI-generated sources synthesized in responses of generative search engines as equivalent to information from authoritative or official sources. In a step towards identifying whether AI-generated sources are being cited by these engines, this work presents an audit of four generative search engines (ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Perplexity) using a total of 712 real-world human-generated queries spanning domains of public importance: politics, health, and the environment. Our findings show evidence of AI-generated sources being cited across all four generative search engines (~16% of cited sources) and identifies key source web domains these sources belong to that are frequently cited across these engines and topics. In addition, we observed that generative search engines include a somewhat narrow set of repeatedly cited domains while predominantly surfacing a large number of minimally cited domains in responses to users’ queries. These findings contribute to the growing body of work on assessing the risks of generative search engines with the objective of increasing public awareness of their limitations and encouraging appropriate measures to improve information quality and governance of these systems.

Direct to Abstract + Link to Full Text