This Week at ULC
Newsletter | May 13, 2020
GOING FORWARD FROM THE PANDEMIC
ULC is in the final stages of formulating Action Teams for the initial launch of our new Going Forward from the Pandemic initiative, which will leverage the combined strengths of ULC's membership at a greater scale than ever before. Stay tuned for a full membership update soon.

Click here to read a new article published by The Atlantic highlighting the ULC Executive Board Statement announcing the Going Forward from the Pandemic initiative, as well as examples of how libraries are actively redefining their role in the era of COVID-19. Informed by ULC communications, this article highlights updates from numerous ULC members, including Alexandria Library, Anythink, Arlington Public Library, Broward County Library, Hartford Public Library, Poudre River Public Library District, San Francisco Public Library and Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library.

In addition to this article and other media outreach, ULC is proud to highlight our members' bold and innovative responses to COVID-19 through advertisements (see our ad on the inside front cover of PM Magazine's May issue), our coronavirus resource page, new additions to the Member Knowledge Center , the ULC blog , social media, the This Week at ULC newsletter and more. Please be sure to keep ULC informed about the latest news from your library by adding media@urbanlibraries.org to your press distribution lists.
MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP
Providing Free Books to Youth During the COVID-19 Crisis
Hartford Public Library

With grant support from First Book, Hartford Public Library purchased over 2,000 new books and provided them to youth at several Hartford Public Schools food distribution sites. "We used to have people coming to us for help. Now we have to go to them," said HPL CEO Bridget Quinn-Carey.
Honoring 2020 High School Graduates
Douglas County Libraries

This graduation season, Douglas County Libraries is celebrating high school seniors with a special graduate toolkit and gift card from a local small business. “Though graduation for the Class of 2020 will look a bit different this year, it remains a milestone in the lives of our county’s young adults. We want them to know that DCL celebrates them, and celebrates with them,” said Director of Community Engagement Amber DeBerry.
Library Director Named One of South Florida's Most Influential Black Professionals
Broward County Library

Broward County Library Director Kelvin Watson was recently selected by Legacy South Florida as one of South Florida's "50 Most Influential and Powerful Black Professionals of 2020." "I am honored to be a part of such a distinguished group of South Floridians," said Watson.
#ULCCHAT RECAP: SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
ULC hosted our first-ever live Twitter chat last Wednesday, designed to raise awareness of the critical role of libraries in supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak. ULC's Twitter engagement rate spiked to more than double our monthly average during the chat, as participants engaged in a vibrant discussion on how public libraries are working to help their local communities amid the coronavirus pandemic.
LIBRARY JOURNAL HONORS ULC MEMBERS AS MOVERS & SHAKERS
Congratulations to the following leaders from ULC member libraries who have been named by Library Journal as 2020 Movers and Shakers:

CHANGE AGENTS

INNOVATORS
  • Ron Block, Culinary Literacy Specialist and Middleburg Heights, Branch Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library
  • kYmberly Keeton, African American Community Archivist and Librarian, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library
  • Brian L. Mortimore, Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development, Kent District Library

DIGITAL DEVELOPERS
  • Roslyn P. Dean, Community Engagement Manager, Broward County Library
  • Michael Hibben, Administrative Librarian, Roanoke County Public Library

ADVOCATES
  • Shauna Edson, Digital Inclusion Coordinator, Salt Lake City Public Library
  • Jessica Ralli, Coordinator of Early Literacy Programs, Brooklyn Public Library

COMMUNITY BUILDERS
  • Anna Avalos, Multilingual Collections Manager, Los Angeles Public Library
  • Pang Yang, Library Manager, Arlington Hills Community Center, Saint Paul Public Library
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
ULC Deputy Directors Call - COVID-19 Responses
Member Group Conference Call
May 13 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Directors Call - COVID-19 Responses
Member Group Conference Call
May 14 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Communications and Marketing Leaders - COVID-19 Responses
Member Group Conference Call
May 20 | Noon-1 p.m. ET
ULC Deputy Directors - COVID-19 Responses
Member Group Conference Call
May 20 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Directors - COVID-19 Responses
Member Group Conference Call
May 21 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Collections Leaders Call - COVID-19 Responses
Member Group Conference Call
May 21 | 4-4:30 p.m. ET
ULC Education Leaders - COVID-19 Responses
Member Group Conference Call
May 26 | 2-3 p.m. ET
ULC Development Professionals - COVID-19 Responses
Member Group Conference Call
May 27 | 2-3 p.m. ET
FREE WEBINAR: LEVERAGING THE
LIBERATED LIBRARY
The public library is often the most beloved and trusted institution in the community, but their ability to engage residents can be hampered when situated within a city or county web presence. On May 21, join M Ryan Hess, Palo Alto City Library digital initiatives manager, for a case study on how the library worked with city colleagues to improve the online user experience, improve their reach and develop a platform that benefits the entire city.
ULC KNOWLEDGE CENTER
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES
Prince George's County Memorial Library System
Wichita Public Library
Forsyth County Public Library
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
Urban Libraries Council on Twitter

🙌 BIG NEWS! Schaumburg Township District Library is officially #FineFree. Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/1Th64Y8omX

Read more
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