This Week at ULC
Newsletter | December 2
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RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR OUR NEXT BEYOND ALLYSHIP CONVERSATION |
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Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents — A Conversation with Isabel Wilkerson
December 17 | 2-3:15 p.m. ET
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Isabel Wilkerson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, is the author of the critically acclaimed, New York Times bestsellers The Warmth of Other Suns, and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.
“Wilkerson's work,” in the words of The American Prospect magazine, “is the missing puzzle piece of our country's history.”
The Warmth of Other Suns won the National Book Critics Circle Award, among other honors, and was named to more than 30 Best of the Year lists, including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker and The Washington Post. TIME Magazine named it one of the “10 Best Non-Fiction Books” of the decade. The New York Times Magazine named Warmth to its list of the best nonfiction books of all time.
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Her new book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, was published in August 2020 to critical acclaim and became a Number 1 New York Times bestseller. Dwight Garner of The New York Times called it, “An instant American classic and almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century thus far.” Oprah Winfrey chose it as her 2020 Summer/Fall book club selection, declaring it “the most important book” she had ever selected.
Wilkerson won the Pulitzer Prize for her deeply humane narrative writing while serving as Chicago Bureau Chief of The New York Times in 1994, making her the first black woman in the history of American journalism to win a Pulitzer Prize and the first African American to win for individual reporting. In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded Wilkerson the National Humanities Medal for "championing the stories of an unsung history."
As the historian Jill Lepore observed in The New Yorker: “What Wilkerson urges, isn’t argument at all; it’s compassion. Hush, and listen.”
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Moderated by: Roosevelt Weeks
Roosevelt Weeks is the director of the Austin Public Library where he leads a dynamic team and library system. His responsibility includes 20 branch locations, the History Center and a new Central Library. Weeks joined the Austin Public Library team in September of 2017. Prior to this, Weeks served as chief technology officer for the Houston Public Library. Weeks is passionate about improving technology, literacy and education, both inside and outside of the library. He also works directly with community leaders to agree upon shared values, vision and measures of success. This furthers the combined goal of ensuring a future workforce capable of the complex critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in an ever-changing competitive environment.
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This week, our "Faces on the Front Line" photo series highlights the great work of staff members from Anne Arundel County Public Library, St. Louis County Library, Louisville Free Public Library, Madison Public Library, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and Barrie Public Library.
We encourage you to submit any images or stories from your team's work on the front line of COVID-19 to media@urbanlibraries.org. This series will end later this month, so please be sure to share stories if you haven't already!
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Meet ULC's Newest Member
Curtis Memorial Library
ULC is excited to welcome Curtis Memorial Library as the newest addition to our member community! Serving the towns of Brunswick (20,278) and Harpswell (4,740) in Brunswick, Maine, the library seeks to enhance the quality of life in their towns by advancing knowledge, fostering creativity, encouraging the exchange of ideas and building community.
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Library Receives Multiple 'Ovations' from the City
Memphis Public Libraries
At this year’s Ovation Awards celebrating the people at the heart of Memphis government, staff members from Memphis Public Libraries were honored for their overall contributions. Molly Condo was recognized for excellence in fostering diversity while the entire Library Public Services team earned honors for exemplifying team excellence.
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Two ULC Members Go Fine Free
Poudre River Public Library District, The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County
Two additional ULC libraries have joined the Fine Free movement and reduced access barriers by eliminating overdue materials fines. Read the linked announcements below to learn more about these ULC member libraries who are now fine free.
"We actively work to eliminate barriers to library access and encourage community-wide use of the library’s vital materials, resources and services,” said Executive Director David Slivken.
“With the ongoing situation in our community, now seemed like an excellent time to make the change,” said Executive Director Aimee Fifarek.
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Reaching Students in Need with Free Learning Lab
Lexington Public Library
Through a new partnership with the local YMCA chapter, Lexington Public Library is now offering a new "Learning Lab" for students in their community. The library is providing a physical space for learning along with Wi-Fi access and computers while the YMCA provides staffing and program guidance. “We know that many children may suffer from social isolation as well as limited academic achievement and parental support during Fayette County Public School’s NTI-2DL instruction as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions,” said LPL Executive Director Heather Dieffenbach.
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BUILDING TRUST AND FOSTERING MENTORSHIP TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS |
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Pictured (left to right): Dan Smith, Co-Founder and Principal, The Porter House KC; Morgan Perry, Outreach Business Specialist, Mid-Continent Public Library; Charon Thompson, Co-Founder and Principal, The Porter House KC |
Business Outreach Specialist Pens ULC Blog Post
Morgan Perry | Mid-Continent Public Library
Discover how Mid-Continent Public Library developed new ways to engage and support business owners and entrepreneurs in the COVID-19 environment. A founding member of the Square One Small Business Services team, Morgan Perry has dedicated her career to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs and is an active participant in ULC’s Strengthening Libraries as Entrepreneurial Hubs Cohort.
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NEW ON ULC'S MEMBER
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
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Let's Talk Race: How Conversation Challenged and Changed a Library and a Community
Richland Library
How does a library respond to a community and nation deep in crisis around racism and social justice? Using innovative approaches like Let’s Talk Race discussions, mobile empathy labs, diverse programming, Employee Resource Groups and required DEI staff trainings, Richland Library in Columbia, S.C. is working to create change in their community and library.
Join ULC on December 10 for an in-depth discussion on how Richland Library is moving the needle on honest dialogue, empathy and equity and you will be inspired to dig in and do the work at your own library.
Featuring:
- Melanie Huggins, Executive Director, Richland Library
- Tamara King, Community Relations Director, Richland Library
- Dee Robinson, Director of Library Experience, Branches, Richland Library
- Randy Heath, Manager, Richland Library Edgewood
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ULC Deputy Directors
Member Group Conference Call
December 2 | 4-5 p.m. ET
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ULC Collections Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
December 3 | 4-5 p.m. ET
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ULC Directors
Member Group Conference Call
December 3 | 4-5 p.m. ET
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Let's Talk Race: How Conversation Challenged and Changed a Library and a Community
Webinar
December 10 | Noon-1 p.m. ET
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ULC Education Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
December 15 | 2-3 p.m. ET
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ULC Communications and Marketing Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
December 16 | Noon-1 p.m. ET
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Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents — A Conversation with Isabel Wilkerson
Beyond Allyship Conversation
December 17 | 2-3:15 p.m. ET
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Tulare Public Library
In our latest Edge library profile, find out how Tulare Public Library used Edge to rethink service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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