Statement of Shared Practice on AI Training Models and Archival Collections

WashU Libraries are pleased to be one of the eleven founding signatories of the Statement of Shared Practice on AI & Archives.  The Statement of Shared Practice is a community-driven framework that establishes a set of professional standards for handling AI training requests in a manner that protects provenance and safeguards community and donor trust.  The Shared Practice statement was coordinated by the University of Virginia Library.

A primary concern for libraries and museums entrusted with the care of rare materials is that current AI training methods absorb these materials into their systems irreversibly, severing the provenance connecting knowledge to its source material and making it impossible to trace the specific AI materials informing AI-generated content. The AI model would also eliminate the cultural institution’s ability to govern subsequent use of the materials.

“AI tools bring great promise and opportunity for deep engagement with our archives, but also require us to be diligent in our curatorial role. Being part of a cohort that is engaging collectively on these issues helps us all go further,” said Mimi Calter, Vice Provost & University Librarian.  

This statement, open to all cultural heritage institutions, prepares a common framework for institutions to understand what such requests by AI developers entail and how to ethically and responsible engage with AI training requests while preserving institutional control over archival materials. Read and download statement here.

The Shared Practice was developed following an Association of Research Libraries (ARL) peer-to-peer session attended by representatives from more than 42 institutions. It was carefully refined based on feedback from a founding cohort, institutional counsel, and colleagues across the profession. The Shared Practice is a voluntary, 12-month commitment beginning April 3, 2026. It specifically focuses on archival and special collections and does not cover widely held published works.