Upcoming All-Member Webinar

Town Hall on the Critical Role of Libraries

The library's role in communities has become vastly different in the 21st century than originally conceived. Libraries serve as a public commons and a social innovator. They support digital literacy, food access, entrepreneurship and inclusion, and can serve as a policy lever to promote economic mobility. Libraries are essential to equity goals and the civic health of democracy in the United States. However, community members and stakeholders such as government leaders do not always know the extent of the work that libraries do and how they serve social and policy goals.

Cyndee Landrum of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Karl Dean, Former Mayor of Nashville and ULC’s Immediate Past Board Chair, and *JUST ANNOUNCED* Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Executive Director Kelvin Watson will join ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater for this conversation about the critical and evolving role of the library. This event is targeted to both libraries and local government leaders and will highlight what these shifts mean for the field itself, strategies for communicating this to stakeholders and the local community and how the library connects with local policy goals.

Speakers:

• Brooks Rainwater, President and CEO, Urban Libraries Council
• Cydnee Landrum, Deputy Director for Library Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services
• Karl Dean, Former Mayor, Nashville-Davidson County; Immediate Past Board Chair, Urban Libraries Council
• Kelvin Watson, Executive Director, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant LG-251100-OLS-22.

New Resource: Book Résumes

Unite Against Book Bans

A new tool is available to help anyone fight book censorship in their local community! Unite Against Book Bans has launched a free book résumé collection in collaboration with publishers and School Library Journal. Created in partnership with dozens of publishers and featuring information provided by publishers, librarians, and Unite partner School Library Journal, Unite Against Book Bans book résumés are easy-to-print documents designed to support readers’ access to books that are targeted by censors.

Each book résumé summarizes the book’s significance and educational value, including a synopsis, reviews from professional journals, awards, accolades, and more. Where possible, the book résumés also include information about how a title has been successfully retained in school districts and libraries after a demand for removal. The downloadable PDF format allows easy print or electronic sharing with administrators, book review committees, board meeting attendees, and the general public.

As part of ULC's partnership with Placer.ai, ULC member libraries qualify for a discount when signing up!

ULC is thrilled to announce an exciting and new partnership with Placer.ai, a location analytics technology company. We know that high-quality, relevant data can greatly improve how library systems understand their services and facilities performance, inform programming development, and enhance the patron experience and community engagement. ULC members can receive a discount to access the Placer.ai platform, empowering them with cutting-edge solutions for data-driven system enhancements, impact assessment and overall management of their library systems.

Placer.ai is a best-in-class software solution that uses foot traffic data and collaborates with civic organizations to elevate performance, amplify visibility and access and drive socioeconomic impact. As part of ULC's partnership with Placer.ai, ULC member libraries qualify for a discount when signing up. If you are eager to explore the capabilities of Placer.ai's suite of tools, we encourage you to reach out directly to ULC's Director of Research and Data Femi Adelakun at fadelakun@urbanlibraries.org. ULC will work with you to book a demo and address any inquiries regarding exclusive discounts available for ULC member libraries.

You're Invited to the 2024 ULC Members Reception during PLA on April 4, 6-7:30 p.m. ET!

On Thursday, April 4, from 6-7:30 p.m. ET, join ULC for an evening of networking and connecting at the stunning Columbus Metropolitan Library. This ULC Member reception promises to be a valuable opportunity to foster new relationships and strengthen existing ones, all while enjoying the ambiance of one of Columbus's architectural gems.

Registration is required to secure your spot. Don't miss out on this fantastic chance to engage with fellow ULC members and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and expertise within our community.

Need assistance with your Member Hub username and log-in? Please contact ULC's Matt Wims, and he'll be happy to help.

We look forward to seeing you there!

ULC Libraries Celebrate Black History and Black Excellence — All Year Long

All across North America, public libraries are recognizing and celebrating Black History Month. We asked ULC member library staff what their libraries are doing not only to celebrate Black History month, but how their libraries recognize Black excellence in their staffs and communities all year long. Here are some highlights:

Alexandria Library: Kicked off earlier this month, Alexandria Library has announced the 1939 Sit-In Film Festival, celebrating the rich history, culture, and contributions of African Americans throughout history. The festival commemorates the 85th anniversary of the Alexandria Library Sit-In with a series of films that highlight courageous individuals who stood up against discrimination and injustice.

Hartford Public Library: This month, the Hartford Public Library acquired the John E. Rogers Collection, gifted to the library by Rogers' granddaughter Meryth Andrews. Over his lifetime, John E. Rogers (1907-1982) accumulated a vast store of historical artifacts, including artwork, articles, photographs and personal histories relating to the Black and African American experience.

Questions? Want to Submit a Story?

Contact ULC's Communications Manager Elise Calanni at ecalanni@urbanlibraries.org.