This Week at ULC
Newsletter | June 9, 2021
ULC LIBRARIES CELEBRATING PRIDE
Happy Pride Month! Libraries provide safe spaces, initiate important conversations and reach out to people from all backgrounds to help create a more diverse, understanding and welcoming world.

ULC will be collecting images and stories all month long to create and share a "Community Wall." If you have photos showcasing your events/programming and would like to be included, please be sure to send them to media@urbanlibraries.org.

Below are just a few of the ways our member libraries are celebrating and honoring LGBTQ+ individuals:
Pima Pride 2021
Pima County Public Library
PCPL staff curated Pride book lists for every day in June! These lists have focused on diverse areas of LGBTQ+ representation including "Comics—pages of Pride," "LGBTQ+ poets to read during Pride Month" and "Claiming their rightful place in sports". Learn More >
Transgender Flag
Alexandria Library
The library's virtual event, “From the Heart - A Transgender Virginia’s Story,” will feature a member of Equality Virginia’s Transgender Advocacy Speakers Bureau. Learn More >
DCPL Pride 2021
DC Public Library
DCPL is offering two special family storytimes led by local drag performers Domingø, Arma Dura and Katie Magician. Learn More >
Contra Costa Pride 2021
Contra Costa County Library
Young children and their families are invited to attend CCCL’s colorful virtual Pride Storytime Party to celebrate LGBTQI+ Pride! Learn More >
Richmond Hill Pride 2021
Richmond Hill Public Library
The RHPL team is hosting a “Teen Tech Sesh” where participants can design a custom keychain for Pride Month using Tinkercad. Learn More >
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT RESOURCES
ULC continues to follow the developments around the American Rescue Plan Act and potential funding opportunities for ULC member libraries and the communities we serve. 

IMLS Announces $15 Million Available in ARPA Grants
The Institute of Museum and Library Services recently announced a new funding opportunity for libraries that will provide direct support to address community needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposals to this grant program may continue, enhance or expand existing programs and services, or launch new programs to address emergent needs and unexpected hardships. Applications for pandemic response funding are due June 28, 2021, with award announcements anticipated in October 2021. Learn more here.

SBA Launches Community Navigator Program
The $100 million competitive grant program, enacted through the American Rescue Plan Act and offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, will strengthen outreach to businesses in under-resourced communities. Learn more.

Stay tuned to ULC communications for regular updates and please review the latest resources on ULC’s American Rescue Plan Act Resources web page.
UPCOMING ULC WEBINAR JUNE 16
Adopting a People-First Approach to Digital Access and Equity
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, Salt Lake City Public Library
Join ULC on Wednesday, June 16 at 1 p.m. ET to hear how Salt Lake City Public Library and Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library are using innovative, data-driven approaches to rethink services and increase access and accessibility for technology online and offline.

Team members from Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library will share how they have used peer benchmarking and a people-first approach to expand their institutional understanding and drive action to better meet local accessibility needs.

Salt Lake City Public Library’s staff will share how the Digital Navigators service model has successfully helped reduce barriers to accessing technology related to language, transportation and time by focusing on the unique and holistic needs of community members as individuals.

Featuring:

  • Shauna Edson, Digital Inclusion Coordinator, Salt Lake City Public Library
  • Charles Sutton, Social Impact Research Manager, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
  • Heather McNabb, Engagement & Experience Officer, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
  • Kassidy Kinner, Engagement Manager, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
  • Katie Reineke Pritchett, Community Inquiry Librarian, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
ONE WEEK AWAY: ANNUAL MEMBER BUSINESS MEETING
2021 Annual Member Business Meeting
You are invited to the ULC Annual Member Business Meeting on Thursday, June 17!
 
This meeting is the time we come together as members to:
 
  • Hear a ‘State of the ULC Union’ from our current ULC Executive Board Chair Richard Reyes-Gavilan.
  • Recognize the contributions of retiring ULC board members.
  • Vote on the 2021-2022 ULC Executive Board slate with a message from the newly elected Chair.

All members are encouraged to participate. Please register in advance.
MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP
Theodore (Theo) Gill
Supporting Greater Diversity in Librarianship Through Scholarship
Kalamazoo Public Library

Kalamazoo Public Library announced that Theodore (Theo) Gill is the first recipient of the Amanda Green Scholarship. Named after a former KPL library assistant in teen services, the scholarship was created by the library to address the overall lack of diversity in librarianship. Gill received $5,000 per semester to put towards his Master of Library and Information Science degree at Wayne State University.
UniteCT Mobile Bus
Supporting Community Rental Assistance Program
New Haven Free Public Library

During the month of June, patrons financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can get direct help at New Haven Free Public Library. The UniteCT Mobile Bus will be onsite at four library locations to help community members apply for emergency rental and utility assistance through the state’s UniteCT program.
Digital Navigators 2021
Pictured left to right: Program participant Christina and SLCPL Digital Navigators Amanda Perry and Javier de Juan Prado.
Providing Community Members with Digital Assistance
Salt Lake City Public Library

Salt Lake City Public Library’s Digital Navigators help connect patrons to free or low-cost internet service and devices, and assist them with basic computer skills and training including navigating the internet, online privacy/security and more. Watch the library’s recent YouTube video showcasing highlights from the program over the last year. The video features two of the Digital Navigators previously profiled by ULC — Javier de Juan Prado and Amanda Perry.
Now being piloted by Salt Lake City Public Library and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, the Digital Navigators service model positions trained individuals to provide phone-based support for the full spectrum of digital needs. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant number LG-248566-OLS-20.
Bridge Edge project
Demonstrating the Impact of Technology Services in Ontario
Toronto Public Library

ULC’s Edge Director Lourdes Aceves and Senior Program Manager Betsey Suchanic recently joined Toronto Public Library’s Bridge Project Lead Sepideh Mckensy on a special #InConversation episode of the Ontario Library Service’s Board Briefs podcast. The team discussed the latest updates from the Bridge/Edge project, which is moving into Phase 3 — designed to build public libraries’ capacity and skill to collect, analyze and communicate data and demonstrate their vital role in advancing digital equity in their communities.
LIBRARY JOURNAL HONORS ULC & EDGE MEMBERS AS MOVERS & SHAKERS
Library Journal Movers & Shakers 2021
Congratulations to the following leaders from ULC and Edge member libraries who have been named by Library Journal as 2021 Movers and Shakers:

ADVOCATES
  • Brenda Johnson-Perkins | Librarian/Adult and Community Engagement Coordinator; Executive Secretary, BCALA, Baltimore County Public Library
  • Christina Jupp Grove | Library Manager, Mobile and Outreach Services, Alameda County Library
  • Nichelle Hayes | Special Collections Librarian, Indianapolis Public Library

CHANGE AGENTS

COMMUNITY BUILDERS
  • Klem-Marí Cajigas | Family Literacy Coordinator, Bringing Books to Life, Nashville Public Library
  • M. Ramin Naderi | Acting Senior Librarian, Venice–Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch, Los Angeles Public Library
  • Allison Waukau | Native Community Liaison, Hennepin County Library
  • Krissy Wick | Director of Public Services, Madison Public Library

DIGITAL DEVELOPERS
  • Makiba Foster | Regional Library Manager, African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library

EDUCATORS

INNOVATORS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AVAILABLE JUNE 15-18
Ingram Link & Learn
An Educational Experience for Librarians by Librarians
Ingram Library Services

Inaugural and accessible, LINK&LEARN 2021 is the community for today's librarian. Combining librarian-led panels, hands-on workshops and innovative case studies, you'll walk away with real insights and tangible solutions on topics ranging from collection development, cataloging, publishing trends and more.

Offering 20+ sessions, 16+ CE hours and 40+ expert speakers, #LinkandLearn is an investment in yourself, your library and your community. Inspiration awaits. This event is presented by ULC Corporate Partner Ingram Library Services.
SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION
Kitchener Youth Map
Providing Teens with an Opportunity to Share Their Story
Kitchener Public Library
(You)th Stories, a virtual volunteer opportunity for teens to share their perspectives on what impacts youth today, launched in response to the pandemic. The (You)th Stories Map, an idea from (You)th volunteers, was the first project the (You)th Stories volunteers completed. (You)th Stories volunteers created an interactive map which has pins across the globe that link to their creative writing and visual art about locations that have had an impact on them. The library had an overwhelming response to (You)th Stories with volunteers feeling grateful for the opportunity to share their diverse perspectives and be creative and connect while in quarantine.
NEW ON ULC'S MEMBER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
Explore new resources in the ULC Member Knowledge Exchange
Mississauga Library
Baltimore County Public Library
Richland Library
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
ULC Communications and Marketing Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
June 15 | Noon-1 p.m. ET
Adopting a People-First Approach to Digital Access and Equity
Webinar
June 16 | 1-2 p.m. ET
ULC Annual Member Business Meeting
Virtual Member Convening
June 17 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Development Professionals
Member Group Conference Call
June 23 | 3-4 p.m. ET
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
REALM Project
New #REALMproject resources share pandemic impacts on libraries, archives and museums and how these institutions can help bridge gaps in health equity!