As the year comes to a close, we at the Urban Libraries Council are proud to reflect on a remarkable year of progress, innovation and impact across our member libraries and the communities you serve. This year’s accomplishments highlight the collective power of libraries to transform lives, foster civic engagement, and address pressing challenges in a rapidly changing world. Let’s take a look back at the milestones and achievements that defined this year for ULC.

In 2024, ULC's membership reached a total of 187 member libraries—the most libraries to ever be part of the ULC family! These 187 systems represent nearly 3,000 library locations and serve a population of over 108 million people.

We launched our brand new Member Hub platform in January and saw incredible engagement over the course of the year. Our thousands of active users logged in nearly 20,000 times to access resources and connect with peers.  

Together with member libraries, corporate partners, and experts in the field, ULC released a total of six publications in 2024, tackling topics such as artificial intelligence, homelessness, community engagement, economic vitality and library trends.

You, ULC's members, submitted 239 entries to the 2024 Innovations Initiative, highlighting your successes in the areas of advocacy, education, equity, health and wellness, library operations and workforce development.

ULC continued our commitment to our advocacy strategy with 21 meetings with members of Congress to garner more support and funding for policies that strengthen and advance the essential role of public libraries.

ULC convened a total of 281 attendees at our two annual flagship events: the 2024 CEO Roundtable in Los Angeles and the 2024 ULC Annual Leadership Forum in Philadelphia.

There were a total of 148 Member Community calls, virtual trainings and webinars offered through ULC this year. Thank you to all those who joined these meetings to engage with your peers and learn from our various presenters!

These numbers only scratch the surface of ULC's work this year, but none of it would be possible without the ongoing commitment of each individual ULC member. This year’s successes are a testament to ULC members’ passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication.

Take a look below for some important dates and events to look out for in 2025.

Make sure to mark these dates on your calendar for next year! Stay tuned in the coming weeks and months for more webinar opportunities and ULC events. Registrations will open shortly.

• January 21 | All-Member Webinar: Making the Most of Your ULC Membership
• February 25 | Webinar Series: Creating a Culture of Belonging - every 3 weeks!
• June 1-3 | ULC CEO Roundtable in Toronto
• October 22-24 | ULC Annual Leadership Forum in Cincinnati, OH

Announcing Safe Routes to Libraries

Libraries are more than buildings—they’re gateways to learning, opportunity, and connection. Yet, for too many, physical and transportation barriers make accessing these vital spaces difficult and even unsafe. ULC’s Safe Routes to Libraries initiative addresses this challenge head-on, ensuring everyone has safe, equitable access to the transformative resources libraries provide.

Beginning in early 2025, ULC, in partnership with the Safe Routes Partnership and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, will engage in a research and planning project to explore the feasibility of a national initiative to eliminate barriers to library access. ULC members may be asked to respond to a national survey or attend listening sessions to contribute to the research.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant LG-256591-OLS-24.

Libraries as Catalysts for Youth Empowerment

Insights from the 2024 Creating Youth Opportunities Convening

On November 6-8, 2024, 11 leaders from public libraries across North America convened in Washington, D.C., for the 2024 convening of ULC’s Creating Youth Opportunities (CYO) initiative. With a dynamic mix of presentations, panels, and discussions, the convening showcased innovative strategies to improve outcomes for opportunity youth—young people disengaged from both work and school and navigating systemic barriers to education and employment.

Several key themes emerged that may be supportive to libraries exploring this work nationwide. Libraries should:

1. Create opportunities for young people to build their social impact.
2. Give young people a voice in designing youth programs.
3. Strive to provide holistic supports that can put youth on the path to living wage employment.
4. Maintain long-term, authentic connections with youth.

Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York has announced a new grant opportunity that will invest $5 million in public libraries to support English language learning and youth programs in U.S. communities. The new initiative, Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy, will support public libraries that deliver critical services promoting socioeconomic mobility, civic participation, and social belonging. Ten to fifteen libraries will receive up to $500K in funding to support English language learning and youth programs.

They are prioritizing libraries with existing programs in either of two areas: 

• English language and literacy services for adults that improve English language proficiency and job readiness skills.
• College readiness and access activities that help teens improve their college preparedness by enhancing academic skills, supporting students in the college admission process, developing leadership and civic skills, and engaging families in the transition to college.

Learn more about our criteria for selection and complete our eligibility survey by January 10, 2025.

Coalition for Green Capital Municipal Investment Fund

The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC), the first

U.S. national green bank, is excited to

announce a transformative opportunity for

cities, towns, counties, and tribes to build an

American clean power platform by, for, and

with communities. CGC is equipped with $5

billion from the Environmental Protection

Agency’s (EPA) National Clean Investment

Fund (NCIF), part of the Inflation Reduction

Act, to accelerate U.S. clean power projects,

create jobs, lower energy costs, and improve

the quality of life for all Americans.

• Financing program for municipalities to fund clean energy projects, like energy efficiency retrofits, EV infrastructure, solar
• Eligible applicants are cities, town, counties, tribal nations, and their partner non-profit organizations
• Applicants should partner with local lenders
• Applicant's goal should be to originate a pipeline of qualified projects that need debt financing

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA is partnering with the Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) to offer market-building funding and technical support to help communities — cities, towns, counties, and tribes and their partner not-for-profit organizations — to develop public-private partnership plans that can accelerate the deployment and financing of clean energy projects. Selected communities will be qualified to pursue CGC’s Municipal Investment Fund. 

• Will provide up to $250k grant per community to support market-building activities to develop and finance National Clean Investment Fund-qualified projects
• Will provide grants to up to 100 communities (target of 2 communities per state) and 2 tribes and also support these communities with TA and planning 
• Up to ten communities will ultimately join CGC’s Municipal Investment Fund’s inaugural cohort. Participants of the Municipal Investment Fund Cohort will receive up to an additional $2 million for general market-building and project pre-development activities.

Upcoming U.S. Government Accountability Office Survey on the Conditions of Library Facility and Repair Needs

Survey Will Be Sent to a Sample of Libraries

In the coming days, some of you may receive an email request from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a survey on library facility conditions. GAO has been mandated by Congress to independently review the facility repair needs of libraries and museums, which will result in a report made available to Congress and to the public.

GAO is conducting a survey to obtain the perspectives of libraries and museums on topics such as:

• Your building repair needs and challenges to making repairs, 
• To what extent your building’s current condition, storage, and size meet your needs, and
• Funding sources used in undertaking facility repair, among other topics.

GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that conducts research at the request of Congress. The purpose of this study is to make national estimates on these topics; it is not an audit of your institution. Your answers will be combined with others and presented in summary form in the report. You may request that GAO provide you a copy of the report as part of your participation in the survey.

GAO will be reaching out to a sample of libraries and museums, and we strongly encourage you to participate if you receive the survey. Not all ULC members will be contacted.

Your participation would provide important first-hand information to help inform Congress ahead of the reauthorization of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey or the study in general, please feel free to email Library_MuseumSurvey@gao.gov or Tania Uruchima at (202) 512-5112 or Jennifer Kim at (213) 830-1115.

National Civic League 2025 All-America City Award

Letters of Intent Due by December 30

The National Civic League is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 All-America City Award! Since 1949, this prestigious award has celebrated communities that harness civic engagement, collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation to address local challenges.

This year’s theme, "Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement," highlights communities committed to environmental sustainability. The League is looking for communities that actively involve residents, businesses, and government stakeholders in efforts to combat climate change and enhance community well-being.

Important dates to remember: Optional letters of intent are due by December 30, 2024, with final applications due by February 27, 2025. In March 2025, 20 finalists will be announced and invited to participate in the second stage of the competition in Denver, CO, from June 27-29, 2025. There, communities will present their efforts to a jury of experts for a chance to earn the title of All-America City! Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your community on a national stage!

For more details, download the 2025 application.

Questions? Want to Submit a Story?

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