This Week at ULC

Newsletter | March 22, 2023

ALL 2023 INNOVATIONS LIVE

Thank you to our ULC members for your submissions to our 2023 Innovations Initiative!


The submission site is officially closed! Based on the tremendous Innovations received, we know that you have been tirelessly serving your communities and raising the bar with invaluable programs, resources and tools. All 2023 entries are now viewable online at our website. 


Stay tuned for for information about our Innovations judges, our Innovations Celebration date and the Top Innovator and Honorable Mention selections for each category.

View the 2023 Submissions

IMLS BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENTS

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has welcomed seven new members to the IMLS Board. “I am thrilled to announce the President’s appointment of seven new members to the Board of the Institute of Museum and Library Services,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “Their remarkable experience and leadership provide new strength and dimension to our work.”


We send our sincerest congratulations to ULC members Lisa Hathaway, Director of the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, and Ramiro Salazar, Director of the San Antonio Public Library, on their appointments to the Board!

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MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP

Do Space Hires Krystal Rider as New Director

Do Space


Do Space announced this week the hiring of new director Krystal Rider, an experienced leader in local nonprofits and community development. Do Space, located in Omaha, Nebr., is a community technology library that provides digital tools to help patrons learn, grow and explore. Rebecca Stavick, CEO of Community Information Trust, which manages Do Space, and ULC Executive Board Member, noted Rider’s “strong record of working with local organizations and community members.”


“I’ve long admired the mission and impact of Do Space,” Rider said in a press release. “Omaha should be a place where everyone has access to the technology, tools and education needed to achieve their goals, and I’m honored to join an organization that is helping to lead this important work.”

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Pictured: Wichita Public Library Director of Libraries Jaime Nix (left) and Family Literacy Coordinator Racine Zackula (right).

Bringing the Library to All Corners of Wichita

Wichita Public Library


Wichita Public Library is addressing community need by launching a little free library pilot program. The program, funded by a $10,000 grant from Evergy, will build and place 26 little free libraries — one for each letter of the alphabet — throughout City Council District 3. To make these little libraries even more unique, each library has a solar-powered audio component for it's assigned letter that shares works starting with that letter and the sound it makes.

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Pictured: Pioneer Library System Executive Director Lisa Wells (left) and Oklahoma Library Association President Tim Wells (right).

Pioneer Library System named Oklahoma's Library of the Year

Pioneer Library System


The Oklahoma Library Association has named Pioneer Library System the 2023 Library of the Year, a recognition that honors a library or library system that has provided outstanding service for the community. Pioneer's new, accredited adult online high school, rolled out in 2022, was highlighted in particular as an innovative program. 


“A lot of the programs and services that we implement are replicated across the state though Oklahoma Department of Libraries or other library systems or just even standalone libraries in this state,” said Kelly Sitzman, Pioneer's director of communications and employee engagement.

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Pictured: Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library Supervising Librarian Zayda Delgad (left) and Library Director Erika Thibault (right).

Protecting Sonoma County's History from Wildfires

Sonoma County Library


The Sonoma County Historical Records Commission has honored Sonoma County Library with a Collections and Archives Recognition Award for the library’s year-long effort to move the Sonoma County Archives from Los Guilicos, where they faced repeated threat from wildfires, to a safer location. The commission also recognized the library’s ongoing efforts to improve the archives’ discoverability and increase public access to the fascinating history of Sonoma County.


“This was a team effort involving library staff from multiple departments. We are grateful to the Historical Records Commission and the Advocates for the Sonoma County Archives for their support and advocacy for this project and to leadership from the County of Sonoma for identifying a new home for these documents,” said Sonoma County Library Director Erika Thibault.

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PEER REVIEW OPPORTUNITY

The U.S. Department of Education's Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program is holding a grant competition this spring and is seeking experts from the field to serve as peer reviewers. Since coordination with school libraries is a major focus of the IAL grant program, they are looking for potential reviewers with library science expertise to apply for this opportunity. Peer reviewers will independently read, score, and provide written comments for grant applications submitted to the Department under the IAL program.

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WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH ULC

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:

  • YPL Children's Services Assistant – New York Public Library
  • Electronic Resources Manager - Las Vegas-Clark County Library
  • Library Services Manager (Facility & Safety Services) - Pasadena 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:

UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS

ULC Social Workers Call

Member Group Call

March 27 | 3-3:30 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC Customer Experience Leaders Call

Member Group Call

March 27 | 4-5 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC HR Leaders Call

Member Group Call

March 28 | 3-4 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC Public Safety & Operations Officers

Member Group Call

March 29 | 4-5 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC Development Professionals Call - Library Foundations and Advocacy

Member Group Call

April 5 | 3-4 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC Analytics and Tech Leaders Call

Member Group Call

April 13 | 2-3 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

Save the Date: 2023 Annual Forum


This October 25-27, 2023, ULC will convene our member community to engage in expert-led discussions and activities to elevate our shared understanding of the challenges our library leaders face to develop best practices and strategies to best serve our staff and patrons. Registration will open later this year.


The location of the 2023 ULC Annual Forum will be announced at this year's Innovations Celebration in April!

NOW HIRING: PROGRAM MANAGER

ULC is hiring! We are seeking candidates for the National Program Manager position.


The ULC National Program Manager will catalyze action for meaningful change by strengthening research, engaging with public libraries and capturing data to maximize community impact. This full-time position is located in Washington, D.C. and reports to the Director of Research and Data and Director of Racial Equity and Community Impact.

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NOW TRENDING ON SOCIAL

Seattle Public Library


We're thrilled to announce that Seattle Public Library signed our Statement on Race and Social Equity!

See the IG Post

Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, Queens Public Library


New York library staff and supporters rallied outside of City Hall to protest proposed budget cuts of $32M.

Read the Tweet

Richmond Hill Public Library


Richmond Hill is celebrating 150 years with a community photo booth, appearing across Richmond Hill all year long.

Read the Tweet

Dallas Public Library


Dallas Public Library is celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility with a Gender Affirming Closet program.

See the IG Post

Questions? Want to Submit a Story?


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

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