Upcoming All-Member Webinar

Town Hall on the Critical Role of Libraries

The library's role in communities has become vastly different in the 21st century than originally conceived. Libraries serve as a public commons and a social innovator. They support digital literacy, food access, entrepreneurship and inclusion, and can serve as a policy lever to promote economic mobility. Libraries are essential to equity goals and the civic health of democracy in the United States. However, community members and stakeholders such as government leaders do not always know the extent of the work that libraries do and how they serve social and policy goals.

Cyndee Landrum of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Karl Dean, Former Mayor of Nashville and ULC’s Immediate Past Board Chair, will join ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater for this conversation about the critical and evolving role of the library. This event is targeted to both libraries and local government leaders and will highlight what these shifts mean for the field itself, strategies for communicating this to stakeholders and the local community and how the library connects with local policy goals.

Speakers:

• Brooks Rainwater, President and CEO, Urban Libraries Council
• Cydnee Landrum, Deputy Director for Library Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services
• Karl Dean, Former Mayor, Nashville-Davidson County; Immediate Past Board Chair, Urban Libraries Council

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant LG-251100-OLS-22.

You're Invited to the 2024 ULC Members Reception during PLA on April 4, 6-7:30 p.m. ET!

On Thursday, April 4, from 6-7:30 p.m. ET, join ULC for an evening of networking and connecting at the stunning Columbus Metropolitan Library. This ULC Member reception promises to be a valuable opportunity to foster new relationships and strengthen existing ones, all while enjoying the ambiance of one of Columbus's architectural gems.

Registration is required to secure your spot. Don't miss out on this fantastic chance to engage with fellow ULC members and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and expertise within our community.

Need assistance with your Member Hub username and log-in? Please contact ULC's Matt Wims, and he'll be happy to help.

We look forward to seeing you there!

As part of ULC's partnership with Placer.ai, ULC member libraries qualify for a discount when signing up!

ULC is thrilled to announce an exciting and new partnership with Placer.ai, a location analytics technology company. We know that high-quality, relevant data can greatly improve how library systems understand their services and facilities performance, inform programming development, and enhance the patron experience and community engagement. ULC members can receive a discount to access the Placer.ai platform, empowering them with cutting-edge solutions for data-driven system enhancements, impact assessment and overall management of their library systems.

Placer.ai is a best-in-class software solution that uses foot traffic data and collaborates with civic organizations to elevate performance, amplify visibility and access and drive socioeconomic impact. As part of ULC's partnership with Placer.ai, ULC member libraries qualify for a discount when signing up. If you are eager to explore the capabilities of Placer.ai's suite of tools, we encourage you to reach out directly to ULC's Director of Research and Data Femi Adelakun at fadelakun@urbanlibraries.org. ULC will work with you to book a demo and address any inquiries regarding exclusive discounts available for ULC member libraries.

Interested in ULC's other Research and Data work?

Explore our new "Research and Data" page on the ULC website. Learn about ULC's priorities in our research work and explore existing initiatives such as the ULC Library Data Hive, the Library Insights Survey and relevant publications.

ULC Libraries Celebrate Black History and Black Excellence — All Year Long

All across North America, public libraries are recognizing and celebrating Black History Month. We asked ULC member library staff what their libraries are doing not only to celebrate Black History month, but how their libraries recognize Black excellence in their staffs and communities all year long. Here are some highlights:

Oak Park Public Library: Oak Park Public Library is recognizing Black History Month with a special discussion program: Living Legacies & the Black History of Oak Park. The program will hold honest and inspiring conversation with three of Oak Park's remarkable Black elders on the history of the Oak Park community, their lived experiences and wisdom, and where we go from here.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: In addition to celebrating the Black experience in art, through book displays, events, reading and genealogy resources, the library is launching a new lecture series and Artist-in-Residence program. The series aims to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt, the first Black librarian at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, who served Pittsburgh’s Hill District community in the 1940s.

Louisville Free Public Library: The LFPL is offering more than 50 free programs in celebration of Black History Month including book discussions, film screenings, history talks, storytimes, art activities, and more. But to prioritize racial equity all year long, each and every LFPL program, service, and strategic initiative must have a completed Racial Equity Toolkit in its planning. What a great process to have in place to center equity!

How Libraries are Transforming Lives and Strengthening Communities

From the CEO: Brooks Rainwater

As I shared last month, ULC is starting 2024 with a refreshed approach to the strategic priorities that will guide our work this year, and in the years ahead. This strategic plan points to a very important vision as its North Star: Urban libraries are a critical resource for transforming lives and strengthening communities. 

One of our key priorities within the strategic plan is to center the transformative role of public libraries. By keeping this focus in mind as we chart our work in the next three years, ULC will mark the accomplishments that help achieve our shared vision.  

I am very proud of the current ULC programs and initiatives that are creating new frameworks for public libraries to better serve — and transform — their communities. Plus, we know that member libraries are making a significant impact on their communities and the residents who live there. But what this strategic priority looks to accomplish is elevating the transformative impact beyond just the library community...

How Libraries Can Upgrade Their Internet Through the BEAD Program

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | 4 p.m. ET

Libraries and other anchor institutions have an exciting opportunity to upgrade their internet connectivity through the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.  But libraries must act quickly. The BEAD program will make $42 billion available to states to deploy high-speed broadband networks to unserved and underserved locations, including libraries and other anchor institutions. State officials are now finalizing the FCC broadband map that will identify the locations in each state eligible to receive federal funding for improved broadband networks, such as installing fiber optic cables. Unfortunately, the maps for many states do not include all the libraries that need upgraded broadband connectivity. Fortunately, most states are about to open up a short window for libraries and others to file a “challenge” to get on the state map . 

The SHLB Coalition, ALA and COSLA are joining together to host an important webinar to advise libraries how to file these challenges. These locations must be on the state's map to be eligible for BEAD funding! The webinar will outline the timeline for filing these challenges, the process for doing so, and the evidence needed to submit a successful challenge.

Questions? Want to Submit a Story?

Contact ULC's Communications Manager Elise Calanni at ecalanni@urbanlibraries.org.