This Week at ULC
Newsletter | February 24, 2021
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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH |
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Libraries across the U.S. and Canada continue to engage their communities in activities and critical conversations about Black history and culture, as well as the structural racism and bias that is deeply embedded in our societies.
ULC is proud to join this celebration by highlighting member library voices and work through our newsletter, blog and social media. Below are just a few of the amazing stories our members have shared so far:
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Anne Arundel County Public Library is hosting a virtual session with Don Tate, who will discuss his journey from a shy, reluctant reader to celebrated author and illustrator of more than 80 books for young readers.
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Chicago Public Library launched two extensive digitized collections documenting the migration and growth of Chicago's African American community and the Chicago Black Renaissance.
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Newport News Public Library will salute 36 African American activists from Newport News during a virtual program, followed by a proclamation of appreciation to African Americans in Newport News by city officials.
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San Francisco Public Library patrons can register for the 25th Annual Effie Lee Morris Lecture with Jason Reynolds, author of National Book Award finalist Ghost and the Newbery Honor Award-winning Long Way Down.
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St. Louis County Library is partnering with The Black Rep to present “The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria."t
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ULC Member Libraries Welcome New Leaders
Allen County Public Library, Contra Costa County Library, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
ULC welcomes and congratulates the following library leaders for taking new leadership roles at our member libraries.
Executive Director Susan Baier comes to ACPL after serving as the McCracken County Public Library Director in Paducah, Ky.
County Librarian Alison McKee has been with the Contra Costa County Library since 2002 and was serving as interim county librarian since October.
Executive Director Kelvin Watson joins the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District from his role as the director of Broward County Libraries.
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Jersey City Goes Fine Free
Jersey City Free Public Library
Jersey City Free Public Library is the latest library system to join the Fine Free movement. “The burdens of the fines placed on our patrons are significant, and we recognize overdue fines are a form of social inequity which creates barriers to accessing library services, often for those who need it most,’' Library Director Jeffrey Trzeciak said.
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Providing Internet Access Directly to Customer Homes
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library recently installed a new antenna at their Pennsylvania Avenue branch to beam a free wireless signal to 50 families nearby, thanks to a $50,000 PNC Foundation Grant and partners Digital Harbor Foundation and Project Waves. “Now, more than ever, internet access is vital in every home. This presents a particular challenge for the community we serve as we know so many of our neighbors can’t afford the high cost,” said President and CEO Heidi Daniel.
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MeckTech — Leveraging CARES for Digital Equity
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, in partnership with Mecklenburg County, made free computers available to 1,400 households where an estimated 80,000 households don’t have home computers. As a result, the library was able to meet the technology challenges of the pandemic related to sustainability, economic opportunity, green economies and digital equity.
Click here to learn more about this groundbreaking work, which earned Charlotte Mecklenburg Library a Top Innovator distinction for the 2020 ULC Innovations Initiative.
Click here to review all 260 submissions to the 2020 Innovations Initiative.
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Tips from the Innovators
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Network and convene with others participating in the digital equity space: CML is privileged to be a part of the Charlotte Digital Inclusion Alliance. This Alliance has led to relationships, which have led to collaborations, including MeckTech.
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Invest in sustainable and circular economies: MeckTech addresses several needs all at once. It breathes new life in aging devices and gives them a renewed purpose and it provides devices to those who need them in a time when devices are hard to come by.
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Iterate and be passionate about the customer: Focus on the good your library can achieve, versus the perfect. Good can be all that is needed as long as the library remains committed to delivering an excellent customer experience. The biggest factor in MeckTech’s success was our ability to rapidly adjust and learn from our customers so we could do this new work better.
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DIGITAL NAVIGATORS UPDATE |
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Q&A with Amanda Perry
Salt Lake City Public Library
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ULC is connecting with Digital Navigators for one-on-one discussions of their work on the forefront of this exciting new initiative. Read the third interview in this series, featuring SLCPL's Amanda Perry, to learn how Amanda engages with the community to offer individual support to those patrons in need of digital assistance.
Now being piloted by Salt Lake City Public Library and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, the Digital Navigators service model positions trained individuals to provide phone-based support for issues related to the full spectrum of digital needs. |
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NEW ULC BLOG: CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY IN CINCINNATI |
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Pictured: The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Branch Libraries Scrapbook, (1940), Douglass Branch Library, pg. 59.
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Alli Jacobs (Teen Services Librarian) and Corrie Schuster (Library Customer Adviser) Pen ULC Blog Post
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
Learn how Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Black Events and Exhibits Committee creates experiences, services and resources that are reflective of the Black experience in their city and county.
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NEW ON ULC'S MEMBER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE |
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Los Angeles Public Library
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DON'T FORGET YOUR VALENTINE DISCOUNT FROM ADDLIBRA |
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AddLibra Bookstore Founder and CEO Michael Sherrod loves ULC, our members and our work — and not just because he is a former ULC Executive Board member! Michael's love for libraries and ULC is what led him to create AddLibra as a "prosocial alternative" for online book shopping. And, it's why AddLibra has pledged to donate 10% of its revenue to directly support ULC strategic initiatives.
AddLibra is offering a special promotion for ULC members – and your friends and family. Use the promo code ULCLOVE to enjoy a 15% discount (plus free shipping!) for all AddLibra book purchases through March 14.
"[AddLibra has] taken a page from libraries – our mission is to build a future where everyone has an equitable chance to learn, play, work and pursue their dreams,” said Michael Sherrod. “We’re thrilled to ... give back to libraries across North America by supporting the Urban Libraries Council’s critical research and programs.” |
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Kitchener Public Library
Patrons can now borrow skates from Kitchener Public Library! The main branch has 40 pairs of hockey skates available to borrow for 24 hours!
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