Home → MSL AI Initiative MSL

Maine State Library AI Initiative – Maine’s AI Literacy and Safety Plan

As part of the Maine Artificial Intelligence Task Force Report (October 2025), the Maine State Library (MSL) has received $750,000 in FY27 from the FY27 State Supplemental Budget to create an AI literacy and safety campaign for Mainers. $250,000 will be used to assemble a team and create the plan itself; $250,000 will be used for sub-granting to organizations to pilot pieces of the program; and $250,000 will be used for publicizing and marketing the program statewide.

Why libraries for such a big endeavor? AI is not simply a technology to adopt. It is an evolving information environment that librarians are uniquely positioned to help communities navigate. In Maine, there are 256 public libraries that reach into every corner of the state, including our most rural and remote communities. Librarians have a strong history of helping individuals, families, and communities navigate all types of literacy challenges, such as media and digital literacy. There is no question that AI literacy is necessary given the rapidly changing AI environment and how it impacts every single human’s life. The question is how to facilitate AI literacy responsibly, in a way that expands access, strengthens community understanding, and reinforces the library’s long-standing role as a trusted guide in a fast-changing information landscape.

This AI literacy and safety plan will be rooted in the idea that an AI literate person understands what AI means, can identify AI applications in the real world, is aware of AI’s social implications, and can use AI tools thoughtfully and ethically. It will provide people with the knowledge they need to be aware about how AI is or can be integrated into their life, with the ultimate goal of helping people find, understand, and use information to improve their lives and communities while avoiding potential harms and pitfalls.

For this project, MSL has established a team to create the AI literacy and safety plan. This literacy and safety plan will not be static, rather it will be a living strategic framework that can adapt and flex to meet the evolving needs of Mainers as well as keep up with the rapidly changing AI technology. AI is here to stay, and Maine State Library is committed to make sure that AI literacy is a core component of our statewide services going forward. The plan will not place librarians as AI experts but rather as guides for their communities to provide resources and connections for exploration and learning.

How You Can Get Involved

There will be community and library-based meetings to obtain feedback from Mainers about their current AI experience during the week of September 28th. Please see below for the schedule of community conversations – all are open to the public and free of charge.

The community input phase prior to plan development will occur in September and October 2027. Drafting of the plan will occur in November, with additional community input sought in December about the draft. If you’d like to provide direct feedback, please email Lori Stockman, Maine State Librarian, at lori.stockman@maine.gov.

The draft AI Literacy and Safety Plan will be available on this page as soon as a draft is developed!

Schedule of Community Conversations About AI

Date	Time	Library	Address	Contact
Monday, 9/28/26	12 noon – 1 pm	Portland Public Library	5 Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101	skawinski@portlib.org
Monday, 9/28/26	4 pm – 5 pm	Patten Free Library	33 Summer Street, Bath, ME 04530	ldolinger@pattenfreelibrary.org
Tuesday, 9/29/26	12 noon – 1:30 pm	Belfast Free Library	106 High Street, Belfast, ME 04915	lkoenig@belfastlibrary.org
Tuesday, 9/29/26	2 pm – 3 pm	Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Public Library	39 2nd Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769	ekiehn@presqueisleme.us
Tuesday, 9/29/26	6 pm – 7 pm	Bangor Public Library	145 Harlow Street, Bangor, ME 04401	Ben.treat@bangorpubliclibrary.org
Wednesday, 9/30/26	11 am – 12:30 pm	Porter Memorial Library	92 Court Street, Machias, ME 04654	director@porter.lib.me.us
Wednesday, 9/30/26	1 pm – 2:30 pm	Millinocket Memorial Library	5 Maine Avenue, Millinocket, ME 04462	director@millinocketlib.org
Thursday, 10/1/26	1 pm – 2:30 pm	Farmington Public Library	117 Academy Street, Farmington, ME 04938	director@farmingtonlibrarymaine.org
Thursday, 10/1/26	1:30 pm – 3 pm	Ellsworth Public Library	20 State Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605	slesko@ellsworthlibrary.net
Friday, 10/2/26	12 noon – 1 pm	South Berwick Public Library	27 Young Street, South Berwick, ME 03908	mrobinson@southberwicklibrary.org
Friday, 10/2/26	2 pm – 3:30 pm	Bridgton Public Library	1 Church Street, Bridgton, ME 04009	outreach@bridgtonlibrary.org