Get your submissions ready! Our 2023 Innovations applications will launch on February 16 and close on March 17! Review these frequently asked questions and check out our 2023 Categories Brochure to learn more about how to submit. Our Innovations awards program provides libraries a tremendous opportunity to tell your story and gain recognition for the huge impact you’ve made in your communities.

2023 Innovations Categories:

• Advocacy & Awareness: Innovations that increase the awareness and perceived value of the library's programs, resources and community role.

• Anti-Racism, Digital Equity and Inclusion: Innovations that directly address structural racism, systemic inequality and social injustice within the library and across the community.

• Data & Performance Management: Innovations that advance data-driven decision making, performance management and reporting, impact assessment and all-around process improvements.

• Democracy: Innovations that empower and motivate community members to address public concerns and exercise their civil rights and liberties.

• Education: Children and Adults: Innovations that increase access to high-quality learning opportunities for all children and adults, advance personal and family learning goals and develop literacies of all kinds.

• Health & Wellness: Innovations that help library staff and customers better understand and make informed decisions about personal and public health issues, as well as environmental concerns.

• Operations & Management: Innovations that shift internal culture and rethink positions, processes and team structures to drive greater equity, productivity and leadership at all staff levels.

• Workforce and Economic Development: Innovations that promote equitable economic mobility and opportunity for all local workers, jobseekers, entrepreneurs and business owners.

Our ULC Member Job Board is regularly updated as we learn of new positions that are open at our member libraries. Once you are logged into your ULC member account, you can access the Job Board link on the left side under “Member Hub.” And, if you have a job posting at your library, please email info@urbanlibraries.org and we will gladly add it to the Job Board!

The latest job postings:

• Adult Librarian – New York Public Library
• Children Services Librarian - Dayton Metro Library
• Manager, Regional Branch (Adult Focus) - The Indianapolis Public Library

ULC's Member Knowledge Exchange makes it easy for our members to build relationships and share transformative tools and ideas with ULC library leaders across North America. If you have a resource you'd like to share with other member libraries, please email info@urbanlibraries.org.

The latest resources:

• 2023 Friends of the Library MOU | Toledo Lucas County Public Library
• Friends of the Library Services Agreement | The Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County
• 2022 Programs and Partnerships | Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
• 2023 CEO Member Directory | ULC

ULC Analytics and Tech Leaders Call

Member Group Call

February 9 | 2-3 p.m. ET

ULC Collections Leaders Call

Member Group Call

February 9 | 3-4 p.m. ET

ULC Social Workers Call

Member Group Call

February 13 | 4-5 p.m. ET

Working with Middle School Students

Summer Learning Boot Camp #2

February 16 | 2-3 p.m. ET

ULC Education Leaders Call

Member Group Call

February 27 | 2-3 p.m. ET

Questions? Want to Submit a Story?

Contact ULC's Director of Communications Paul Negron at pnegron@urbanlibraries.org.