Library Innovation Challenge

What is the Library Innovation Challenge?

The Library Innovation Challenge provides an open-ended innovation process for procurement that removes the need to meet specific requirements and provides an open door to business and academic innovators to propose new ways of solving a problem. The objectives are as follows:

  • Identify better solutions to issues impacting libraries in Colorado
  • Attract innovative ideas, people, and investment to Colorado
  • Build a collaborative ecosystem across and within governments and other sectors that benefits Colorado
  • Provide a streamlined procurement process that creates efficiencies for all participating stakeholders
  • Motivate, inspire and, ultimately, change government to become more innovative and collaborative

Purpose

Strengthen libraries across Colorado through a streamlined, collaborative procurement process, that sources new ideas for libraries to consider, try, and learn from. The Challenge builds a stronger ecosystem across libraries in Colorado, ultimately inspiring more innovative and responsive community services.

Participation Opportunity for Colorado Libraries

The Library Innovation Challenge is currently seeking Colorado libraries interested in reviewing innovative ways to tackle these challenges defined by libraries across the state. Interested in participating? Contact us to learn more!

Challenge Statements

1.Expanding Library Access Beyond Staffed Hours

Context: Customers frequently need help with routine tasks that today typically require call center or in-person staff support during staffed hours only.

Challenge: How might we provide accurate, convenient access beyond traditional service hours, while ensuring customers can still reach staff when human assistance is needed?

Desired Outcome: Reliable self-service support available anytime, with a clear, easy path to human staff when needed or desired.

2. Practical AI Literacy for All Community Members

Context: As AI becomes part of everyday information-seeking, learning, work, and civic life, community members need trusted, approachable opportunities to understand what AI tools can and cannot do, how to use them responsibly, and how to evaluate AI-generated information.

Challenge: How might we help all community members build practical AI confidence and literacy through library services, programs, and learning experiences that are accessible, relevant, and aligned with public library values?

Desired Outcome: Community members of all backgrounds gain practical, confident AI literacy through trusted library programming.

Submit a Solution

The 2026 Library Innovation Challenge application will open to Solution Providers in Fall 2026.

To stay informed about the Library Innovation Challenge, click here to be added to the distribution list.

Benefits

Get paid to collaborate directly with Colorado Libraries to develop, test and scale solutions in real world environments while also gaining exposure within the Alliance network of more than 70 public, private, academic and allied members.

Market Opportunity

Libraries represent a unique, often overlooked market opportunity for technology companies. According to the American Library Association, there are 124,903 libraries across the country, which are increasingly becoming a technology access hub for communities across the United States.

How does the Library Innovation Challenge work?

The Library Innovation Challenge process is divided into three separate stages:

  • Intake
    • Proposals are submitted via provided intake form
    • Reviewers evaluate solutions
    • Reviewers choose solutions to implement at their library
  • Execution
    • Libraries partner with solution provider(s) to implement solution(s) at their library(s)
  • Assessment
    • Assess results for outcomes
  • Scale
    • Successful solutions scale to additional libraries

Timeline