This Week at ULC
Newsletter | October 21, 2020
WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
All-New Member Knowledge Exchange
ULC is thrilled to announce that the all-new ULC Member Knowledge Exchange is now available for our members. This new platform will make it even easier for you to build relationships and share transformative tools and ideas with ULC library leaders across North America.

The new platform is available at members.urbanlibraries.org as of today. All members will receive an automated email from ULC today with instructions for setting up an account. For assistance with accessing or using the new Knowledge Exchange, please email info@urbanlibraries.org or call 202-750-8650.
ALL 2020 ULC INNOVATIONS ENTRIES ARE LIVE
2020 Innovations Entries Now Live
Check out the 260 entries submitted by members to the 2020 ULC Innovations Initiative! ULC will reach out to the directors/CEOs of award-winning libraries this November.
FACES ON THE FRONT LINE
Faces on the Front Line
This week, our "Faces on the Front Line" photo series highlights the great work of staff members from Queens Public Library, Central Arkansas Library System, St. Louis County Library, LA County Library, King County Library System, San Francisco Public Library and Kansas City 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.
MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP
Hartford Public Library Votes
Reaching Out to First-Time Latinx Voters
Hartford Public Library

As a part of its commitment to encouraging civic engagement, Hartford Public Library has been actively promoting voter registration to the Latinx community. The library’s efforts were recently highlighted as part of a larger WNPR Connecticut Public Media story about how local registration centers are vital for residents voting for the first time.
Oak Park Books Empower
Pictured: Jason Smith, co-owner of The Book Table, delivers boxes of books to New Moms in Oak Park 
Distributing Books to Community Members in Need
Oak Park Public Library

With funding from the Illinois State Library, the Oak Park Public Library recently launched "Books Empower" to distribute new, free books that those in need can keep. “This supports literacy development, learning and a lifelong love of reading,” said OPPL Manager of Community Engagement Sarah Yale.
Offering Free Mental Health Services to Patrons
Calgary Public Library

In partnership with Wood’s Homes, Calgary Public Library has launched a new pilot program that will offer mental health support to patrons. The new initiative at the Central Library, which runs through the end of the year, will provide visitors with free, professional mental health care and referrals on a drop-in basis. “The Wellness Desk will offer a welcoming, safe and discreet opportunity for all members of the community to seek help with mental health concerns or issues,” said CEO Mark Asberg.
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
ULC Deputy Directors
Member Group Conference Call
October 28 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Directors
Member Group Conference Call
October 29 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Collections Call
Member Group Conference Call
October 29 | 4-4:30 p.m. ET
Justice Driven Approaches to Supporting At-Risk Families
Webinar
November 10 | 3-4 p.m. ET
ULC HR Professionals
Member Group Conference Call
November 16 | 1-1:30 p.m. ET
ULC Education Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
November 17 | 2-3 p.m. ET
ULC Communications and Marketing Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
November 18 | Noon to 1 p.m. ET
SMALL STEPS, BIG LEAPS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Business Research Librarian Mark Pond Pens ULC Blog Post
Spokane Public Library

Find out how Spokane Public Library forges sustainable local government relationships with career workers to build support for the business community. Mark Pond is currently a member of ULC’s Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses action team.
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
Salt Lake County Library

Congratulations to Salt Lake County Library’s Raquel Ruiz for being selected as the Utah Library Association’s Librarian of the Year! Raquel is an extremely dedicated librarian whose outreach into the Latinx community has made a huge impact. 

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