This Week at ULC
Newsletter | April 21, 2021
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"It isn’t enough to not be racist. Leaders must
be actively and intentionally anti-racist."
ULC is pleased to share our newest Leadership Brief, Anti-Racist Executive Leadership for Public Libraries, developed by ULC’s Anti-Racism action team. This resource calls on library executives everywhere to take ownership of racism’s enduring harm, acknowledge their personal biases and use their positions of power to actively dismantle structural racism, starting in their own library systems.
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ULC thanks Gale, a Cengage Company, for their sponsor support of this Leadership Brief.
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AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT RESOURCES |
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ULC continues to follow the developments around the American Rescue Plan Act and potential funding opportunities for ULC member libraries and the communities we serve. Our team has synthesized insights from our ongoing research and conversations with members and partners to create talking points. Click here to access these talking points in ULC’s Member Knowledge Exchange.
ULC is actively reviewing the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau request for comments on the implementation of the Emergency Connectivity Fund, and preparing to submit reply comments by the April 23 deadline. We look forward to hearing from our member libraries on how you will be responding to this request so we may incorporate your feedback.
Below is an upcoming free webinar related to ARPA:
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STRENGTHENING LIBRARIES AS ENTREPRENEURIAL HUBS |
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In collaboration with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, ULC has worked to raise the profile of public libraries as essential entrepreneurial ecosystem builders. Discover the latest updates from ULC's initiative below.
Closing the Entrepreneurship Gap: Tools for Libraries
ULC’s online toolkit, Closing the Entrepreneurship Gap: Tools for Libraries, offers strategies and resources to help libraries level-up as entrepreneurial hubs, including COVID-19 responses. Since its launch in November 2020, this toolkit has been accessed over 5,000 times.
NACCE Making the Way Forward Podcast
ULC Senior Program Manager Betsey Suchanic was recently interviewed on the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship podcast to talk about ULC's initiative and discuss the varied ways libraries have innovated to support entrepreneurship and address support gaps for high-need entrepreneurs.
Upcoming Presentation at InBIA Conference
During the upcoming International Conference on Business Incubation, East Baton Rouge Parish Library Reference Librarian Ned Denby and Toledo Lucas County Public Library Business Specialist Librarian Linda Fayerweather join ULC’s Betsey Suchanic to present a session entitled “Borrowing Tools from Public Libraries to Build Equitable Ecosystems.” The team will share lessons learned in developing and updating the Closing the Entrepreneurship Gap: Tools for Libraries online toolkit and provide participants with a deeper understanding of the value of engaging public libraries in ecosystem building. Register here.
ULC's 2021 Flash Poll on Entrepreneur Support
ULC conducted our second-ever member Flash Poll on Entrepreneur Support in March 2021. Responses to this survey illuminate how public libraries across North America are continuing to expand and become more intentional in their work to enhance opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs, including creative solutions to the increased barriers created by COVID-19. Click here to discover key findings from the Flash Poll, and what actions your library can take to level-up its work in this area.
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Meet ULC's Newest Member
Halifax Public Libraries
ULC is thrilled to welcome Halifax Public Libraries as the newest addition to our member community! With 16 locations, HPL serves Canadian residents as the largest public library system in Nova Scotia. Library staff are driven by achieving excellence in technology, diversity, service and access for their community.
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Launching Board-Game Inspired Summer Learning Program
Allen County Public Library
Allen County Public Library kicked off a new program earlier this week geared towards engaging children, teens and families this summer. JumpSPARK is a program inspired by board games where participants can enjoy activities and earn a free book or a BadgeBook full of activities, puzzles and stickers. “We know that our community loves to visit the library, engage in activities that are fun for the whole family and read together,” said Stephanny Smith, ACPL’s director of community engagement.
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Providing Free Access to Local Historical Research
Douglas County Libraries
Douglas County Libraries recently launched HistoryGeo, an interactive database dedicated to mapping land patent recipients and providing access to other county historic sites and resources. All patrons can now access this genealogical and local history research with the use of their library card.
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LAST CHANCE TO RSVP:
UPCOMING ULC WEBINAR APRIL 22
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Tools for Middle Grade STEM Success
Durham County Library
This Thursday, April 22, join ULC for an overview of the IMLS-funded Middle School STEM project which focused on 11 libraries and their work to deliver equity-based STEM programming for middle-school youth. We will highlight the innovative work of the Durham County Library where STEM Librarian Gracey Gordon will lead us in a hands-on STEM project adaptable to this summer, get ideas on delivering STEM programming during COVID and preview ULC’s new online toolkit for amplifying equity-based STEM in your library.
Featuring:
- Liz McChesney, Senior Advisor, Urban Libraries Council
- Gracey Gordon, Senior Library Assistant, Durham County Library
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After School Club
Do Space
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The team at Do Space designed the After-School Club to supplement the Omaha Metro school district’s focus on math and reading. Running throughout the school week, students gain access to STEAM-based learning and develop vital 21st-century skills in a fun, virtual space. Students are encouraged to immerse themselves in new learning opportunities and cultivate new skills that will serve as an entry point to interest in STEAM education.
Click here to learn more about this groundbreaking work and click here to review all 260 submissions to the 2020 Innovations Initiative.
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NEW ON ULC'S MEMBER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE |
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Los Angeles Public Library
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St. Charles City-County Library
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Tools for Middle Grade STEM Success
Webinar
April 22 | 1-2 p.m. ET
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ULC Development Professionals
Member Group Conference Call
April 28 | 3-4 p.m. ET
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ULC Education Leaders
Member Group Conference call
May 18 | 2-3 p.m. ET
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Pictured (left to right): PCPL librarians Paulina Aguirre-Clinch, Sharon Yang-McNeil and Katie Westfall
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Pima County Public Library
Three rockstar librarians from Pima County Public Library were recently featured by Pima County District 5 Supervisor Adelita S. Grijalva for County Librarian Day!
Facebook.com
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