WORKSHOP

Presentation Description:

In Australia, literacy and numeracy remain a significant national challenge. According to ACARA, one in three students are below the NAPLAN benchmark. These gaps emerge early, and children who begin school without strong foundational skills often struggle to catch up, which can have long-term educational and social consequences. Libraries, as trusted community hubs, are uniquely positioned to intervene early and provide equitable access to resources and opportunities that support young learners.

Parramatta Library has taken a bold step to address this challenge through an Australian-first “AI for Good” initiative that uses the ABii robot to support preschool to Year 5 children in building the literacy and numeracy skills they need before starting formal schooling and for those children already at school that need extra support after school. The program is offered at no cost to families across the Parramatta region, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to develop strong foundational skills regardless of their background. By doing so, the library is not only preparing children for school but it is also contributing to improved outcomes in NAPLAN performance over time.

ABii is a child-friendly interactive robot designed to look and feel like a toy, yet beneath its playful appearance is advanced web-based instructional technology powered by real-time artificial intelligence. This allows ABii to adapt to each child’s responses and provide personalised learning experiences that engage and motivate young learners. Research indicates that just two 10-minute sessions per subject per week over an eight-week period can result in significant academic improvements. This makes the program highly accessible and scalable for libraries seeking to deliver measurable learning outcomes in a cost-effective way.

The project is a collaboration between Parramatta Library, the Australian Catholic University STEM Centre for Education Excellence, the University of Cincinnati in the USA and The Brainary. Together, the partners are investigating not only the academic benefits of using AI technology with young children but also how families and library patrons interact with ABii, what support structures are needed for successful implementation, and how libraries can embed AI for Good tools into existing learning programs. This ensures that the approach is evidence-based, inclusive, and adaptable to diverse community contexts.

The program has already gained significant recognition. The launch was attended by the Hon Dr Andrew Charlton, MP and Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, who described ABii as a powerful example of “AI for Good.”

At ALIA 2026, we will share the outcomes of this ground breaking project, focusing on:

• The role of libraries as leaders in educational innovation and equity.
• Research findings on literacy and numeracy outcomes for pre-schoolers.
• Lessons learned in implementation, patron engagement, and cost-effectiveness.
• Opportunities for scaling the model nationally and internationally.

This project demonstrates the transformative role libraries can play in addressing critical societal challenges. By harnessing innovative technologies like AI in a purposeful and ethical way, libraries can directly contribute to closing learning gaps, supporting lifelong learning, and building more equitable futures for children everywhere.