This Week at ULC
Newsletter | July 22, 2020
GOING FORWARD FROM THE PANDEMIC
ULC Action Teams
This week, ULC launched new web pages at urbanlibraries.org highlighting the Going Forward from the Pandemic Initiative and the action teams leading this work. Explore these pages to meet the action team members, learn about their guiding questions and access curated resources related to each team's focus area. ULC will be updating these pages on an ongoing basis, so check back regularly for new additions!

Our Race and Social Equity and Digital Inclusion action teams are meeting this week to continue their progress on developing a roadmap for libraries during the pandemic.
REALM PROJECT UPDATE
The second round results of Battelle’s laboratory testing for COVID-19 on commonly handled library materials are in! The results indicate that a slightly longer quarantine time for some types of cellulose-based paper materials may be required to render the virus undetectable. If you have questions regarding these results and the impact on your library, please submit them directly online to the REALM Project team.

To receive the latest news on this project, please sign up for the   REALM email update newsletter .
FACES ON THE FRONT LINE
Faces on the Front Line July 21
This week, our "Faces on the Front Line" feature on our coronavirus resource page highlights the great work of staff members from Boston Public Library, Hartford Public Library, Free Library of Philadelphia, Arlington Public Library, La Porte County Public Library, Poudre River Public Library District, Kitchener Public Library and Prince George’s County Memorial Library System. 

Do you have images or stories to share from your team's work on the front line of COVID-19? Please send suggestions and media releases to media@urbanlibraries.org . 
MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP
Delivering Face Coverings to County Residents
King County Library System

Thanks to a new initiative, KCLS will help distribute millions of face masks and thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer to nearly 650 community organizations across the region. "From the outset, KCLS has worked closely with the Pandemic Community Advisory Group to develop a community-wide response to COVID-19. We are proud to be doing our part to slow the spread of this disease by helping to distribute life-saving masks and hand sanitizer throughout the region,” said Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum .
Virtual Job Interview Lab
Helping Patrons Get Back to Work
Do Space

In response to the 100,000 Nebraskans who are unemployed due to the pandemic, Do Space opened a free virtual interview lab to give community members access to high-speed internet and equipment to conduct job interviews. Executive Director Rebecca Stavick said, “It seems that most job interviews occurring right now, especially first-round interviews, are conducted virtually. Making sure people don’t have anxiety around this technology is really important.”
Fine Free
Durham County and Hamilton Go Fine Free
Durham County Library, Hamilton Public Library

Public libraries continue to make the bold decision to waive overdue fines and late fees in an effort to ensure library access to all patrons during the pandemic. Read the linked announcements below to learn more about these libraries who are now fine free!

Library Director Tammy Baggett-Best said, “We are committed to being an organization that creates equal access to resources. Too often, late fees create barriers for members of our community and keep customers from returning to our libraries.”

Chief Librarian/CEO Paul Takala said, “HPL is your library. Now, everyone can equally access the library. And those who can are invited to pay-it-forward to help others.”
A previous version of this newsletter mistakenly referred to Hamilton Public Library as Hampton Public Library.
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
ULC Deputy Directors
Member Group Conference Call
July 22 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Directors
Member Group Conference Call
July 23 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Collections Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
July 23 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Communications and Marketing Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
July 29 | Noon-1 p.m. ET
ULC HR Professionals
Member Group Conference Call
August 3 | 1-2 p.m. ET
ULC Education Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
August 4 | 2-3 p.m. ET
NEW ON THE ULC MEMBER
KNOWLEDGE CENTER
Anchorage Public Library
Saint Paul Public Library
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS
179 Libraries

In a strong act of commitment to a more equitable society, 179 public libraries have now signed our Statement on Race and Social Equity with the additions of Lethbridge Public Library and Marion Public Library. 

Twitter.com
Library Books

Public libraries are essential in helping patrons get back to work. Learn how to tap libraries during COVID-19 to become a stronger job applicant, featuring ULC members Arlington Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Do Space and San Antonio Public Library.

Facebook.com
A previous version of this newsletter mistakenly referred to Hamilton Public library as Hampton Public Library.