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Newsletter | February 15, 2023

2023 INNOVATIONS OPEN TOMORROW!

Get your submissions ready! Our 2023 Innovations Initiative launches TOMORROW February 16 and will close on March 17. Each entry should feature library programs, initiatives and transformative ideas that have either launched in 2022 or achieved significant breakthroughs during that time.

To help prepare your submission, view our Innovations FAQs and delve into our 2023 Innovation Categories Brochure.

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.

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MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP

Executive Director Kelvin Watson Honored for Community Impact

Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

In honor of Black History Month, Cox Communications is honoring four Southern Nevadans and acknowledging "the significant 'firsts'" they have achieved for Nevada. Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Executive Director Kelvin Watson is one of the distinguished honorees. Among Kelvin's many accomplishments for the district, Cox highlighted the library's innovative partnership with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada to provide library resources to transit riders and bridge the digital divide.

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Addressing the Broadband Affordability Gap in Baltimore

Baltimore County Public Library

EducationSuperHighway has just released a new article highlighting the innovative work Baltimore County Public Library is doing to address digital inequity and get people online through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Alex Houff, BCPL's Digital Equity and Virtual Services Manager and a leader on ULC's Digital Equity action team, committed to developing a framework to provide increased hotspot availability, connected devices and a long-term plan for sustainable connectivity.

“[Lack of] connectivity is an affordability issue in our area, which is why we focus on this work," Alex says. "Libraries have found themselves in a niche that can impact affordability — they see people borrowing and using our resources daily.”

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Art Exhibit Calls for Iranian Freedom in Richmond Hill

Richmond Hill Public Library

Four Iranian-Canadian artists — Aitak Sorahitalab, Azadeh Pirazimian, Sara Tamjidi and Shahrzad Zadmajid — will debut their art installation "A Trilogy of a Revolution: Women Life Freedom" at the Richmond Hill Public Library this month. The exhibit aims to stand in solidarity with the anti-government protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini late last year. When approached with the idea for the exhibit, librarian Anete Ivsina knew it would resonate with the Richmond Hill community.

“The library is a safe space for people to connect, to tell others about their experiences. Everything that's happening on a global landscape, it comes to us immediately. So we want to be part of the conversation,” Ivsina said.

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ULC Members Celebrate Black History Month

Dayton Metro Library, Wilmington Library, Indianapolis Public Library

In celebration of Black History Month, ULC is highlighting creative programming and events from member libraries. Follow along for updates every week in this new blog. This week, we're showcasing libraries that are featuring Black speakers and artists this month.

Dayton Metro Library: Black History Month is a particularly great time for informed discussions. Dayton Metro Library regularly hosts a Social Justice Speaker Series, which earlier this month featured author Dr. Gene Andrew Jarrett.

Wilmington Library: Wilmington Library of the Delaware Division of Libraries is honoring Black History Month with a celebrity speaker series called "Voices of Power." Throughout the month, Wilmington will host speakers such as former professional basketball player and activist Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and actress and singer Phylicia Rashad!

Indianapolis Public Library: Indianapolis Public Library is celebrating Black artists through their 35th annual Meet the Artists exhibit. The exhibit features works of Black artists of all ages & art mediums, and was curated by exhibit founder Anthony Radford.

We invite members to submit Black History Month stories by emailing media@urbanlibraries.org.

NEW ON THE ULC BLOG

Libraries: Nourishing Children's Minds and Bodies

Public libraries are employing a range of programs and services to address barriers to food security in their communities — especially for youth experiencing hunger. Organizing food distribution for youth is one of the most common ways libraries do this. In ULC's new blog, learn about the ways libraries are revolutionizing nutrition and meal programs for local children.

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MEET THE ULC TEAM: KATIE SULLIVAN

Meet Katie Sullivan, ULC's Program Manager. Katie joined ULC last year, and brought with her experience in project management, event planning and content development from several Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organizations.. You can reach Katie by emailing ksullivan@urbanlibraries.org.

WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH ULC

Each ULC Member Group has an accompanying email listserv, based on staff roles and focused on specific areas of work. Members can use these listservs to connect, share announcements, pose questions for feedback, and discuss topics relevant to their everyday work.

To see all Member Groups, visit the ULC Resources Page.

To join a ULC Member Group and its listserv, please contact ULC Project Manager Matthew Wims at mwims@urbanlibraries.org.

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:

Librarian/Manager, Young Adult (YA) Services and Programs – Enoch Pratt Free Library
Branch Supervisor (Youth Services) - Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library
Adult Services Assistant (Summerlin Library) - Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

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:

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Board Resolution | Dayton Metro Library
Customer Policies for Public Participation | Columbus Metropolitan Library
Library Commission Meeting Agenda | San Francisco Public Library

UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS

Working with Middle School Students

Summer Learning Boot Camp #2

February 16 | 2-3 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC HR Leaders Call

Member Group Call

February 22 | 4-5 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC Education Leaders Call

Member Group Call

February 27 | 2-3 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC EDI Officers Call

Member Group Call

March 1 | 3-4 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC Communications & Marketing Call

Member Group Call

March 15 | 3-4 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

IMLS 2022 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced the release of the agency's Annual Performance Report (APR) last week. It is an in-depth look at how IMLS aligns its strategic priorities with practice. The report includes highlights of ULC's partnership with Barbershop Books and our work on Communities for Immunity. We are continually grateful for IMLS's unwavering support of libraries across the U.S

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NOW TRENDING ON SOCIAL

ULC & Prince George's County Memorial Library System

Last week, ULC's own Michelle Hamiel presented with PGCMLS's Nick Brown at the JCLC Conference in Florida!

Read the Tweet

The New York Times

A new article from The New York Times called "A Love Letter to Libraries" features highlights from three ULC members: Oakland Public Library, Austin Public Library and Chicago Public Library.

Read the Tweet

New Orleans Public Library

In honor of Valentine's Day, New Orleans Public Library shared the library-centric love story of E Mourot and Taylor Alberes, who had their first date and got engaged at the library.

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ULC & the National Association of Counties

ULC's Shari Henry and Katie Sullivan had the chance to represent our team at the NACo Legislative Conference — and got to hear President Joe Biden's remarks.

See the Post

Questions? Want to Submit a Story?

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

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