ULC Webinar: Bridging the Digital Divide --- Library Hot Spot Lending Programs
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
9-10 am PT | 10-11 am MT | 11 am-12 pm CT | 12-1 pm ET
With the movement to mobile learning becoming more prevalent in schools, closing the digital literacy divide is becoming imperative. While libraries are providing important broadband access within their walls, some libraries are developing innovative programs outside their walls to help close the divide and increase education opportunities and broadband adoption. Hot Spot Lending Programs are the latest buzz in public libraries and here is your chance to hear from those who started the lending programs with the aim of closing the digital divide and furthering their mission. Hot spots are low-cost devices that provide mobile broadband wireless Internet access anywhere. They can fit in a pocket, connect multiple devices, and bring the internet into the home for those who do not have access.
Join program leaders from New York Public Library and Saint Paul Public Library as they discuss the school and community partnerships that they developed in order to launch their Hot Spot Lending programs. They will be joined by the nonprofit Educational Service provider Mobile Beacon who has been at the forefront Hot Spot Lending in libraries. The presenters will share details about their lending policies, target audience and the sustainability of the programs. They will also share the success and challenges libraries have faced when implementing a lending program.
Click here to register.
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2015 ULC ANNUAL FORUM
SPECIAL EVENTS
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ULC Member Briefing
Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
San Jose Marriott - San Jose Ballroom - San Jose, CA
Click here for more information.
ULC Member Welcome Reception
Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
San Jose Marriott - San Jose Ballroom - San Jose, CA
Click here for more information.
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A special thank you to EBSCO/Novelist for supporting the ULC Annual Forum Welcome Reception.
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2015 Innovations Celebration
Thursday, June 25, 2015, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tech Museum of Innovation - San Jose, CA
Click here for more information.
Visit the
ULC website to learn more about the 2015 ULC Annual Forum agenda, speakers and much more!
2015 ULC Member Reception in San Francisco
Saturday, June 27, 2015, 6:00 - 7:30 pm San Francisco Public Library - Skylight Gallery - San Francisco, CA The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco Public Library will kindly host a ULC Member Reception in the Main Library's Skylight Gallery. Join friends and colleagues for a few light bites and libations as we welcome summer and reconnect with ULC friends near and far. Registration for the event is recommended.
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ULC Joins the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading More Hopeful Futures Initiative
 On June 9, 2015, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) announced its latest commitment to increase reading proficiency among low-income children, the More Hopeful Futures (MHF) Initiative. ULC has joined a diverse group of education and family-centered organizations in serving on the MHF Commission, a gathering of high credibility and high capacity experts that will provide essential advice and guidance regarding the development of the initiative. CGLR will launch the initiative in 2017.
Over the next three years, the planned MHF pre-launch activities will reach at least 50,000 children with an enhanced package of screenings and supports designed to accelerate ongoing efforts to improve school readiness, school attendance and summer learning.
The CGLR commitment will be supported by Funding Partners in six states (Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa and New York) that have pledged to invest $34.6 million over the next three years and by two dozen organizations with exemplary programs who have agreed to align, link and, where practicable, bundle their work to achieve greater impact.
Click here to learn more about More Hopeful Futures.
Celebrate a "Week of Making" from June 12-18!
 Join makers across the country and around the world in celebrating the White House's "Week of Making" from June 12-18. During this week-long celebration, individuals will have the opportunity to participate in local Making activities focused on engaging in hands-on, interactive learning of STEM, arts and design skills. The week will coincide with the National Maker Faire, a collaboration between NationOfMakers.org, the University of the District of Columbia, the DC Government and Maker Media, taking place June 12-13, 2015 in the nation's capital.
Last year, over 100 ULC member libraries shared one-page descriptions of MakerSpace programs launched in their libraries or in partnership with other organizations and were recognized by the The White House.
If you have an update to the program you submitted last year or if you have a new program, please complete the form on the ULC website and email it to Katherine Behrens.
Denver Public Library Expands Services with
On-Site Social Worker
 A recent article from The Denver Post highlights the work of Elissa Hardy, Denver Public Library's Community Resource Specialist and first on-site social worker. Since joining the Library in February 2015, Hardy has played a key role in engaging library patrons looking for assistance with issues such as housing, substance abuse treatment and other social services. Housing a staff member with this particular skill set represents an important commitment by the Library to serve as a public asset for community services.
Read more about Hardy and the work of the Denver Public Library here.
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ULC e-Discussion Meetup!
Friday, June 26, 2015 San Jose Marriott 1:30 - 3:30 pm
After lunch on Friday, June 26, join your ULC e-discussion group for an afternoon of share-out and conversation. An agenda will be provided in advance of the meeting and a room assignment will be given during the ULC Annual Forum. Each session will end so that those joining us in San Francisco can board the bus by 3:45pm.
Click
here to RSVP and view the list of group meetings. If you have any questions, please contact
Katherine Behrens.
Need a ride?
Baker and Taylor is the official sponsor of the ULC bus from San Jose to San Francisco's Moscone Center. To reserve your seat, log in to your Annual Forum registration page, visit the Lodging and Travel tab and click on the box to reserve a ride. It's that easy!
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Ferguson Municipal Public Library Named Library of the Year
Ferguson Municipal Public Library (FMPL) has been named Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, and Library Journal 2015 Library of the Year. During the unrest in Ferguson, MO spurred by the police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014, FMPL remained open to support and provide shelter and services to a community in turmoil.
In response to the exemplary leadership of Director Scott Bonner, FMPL has received a number of awards and over $450,000 in donations. At the suggestion of Steven Potter, Director and CEO of Missouri's Mid-Continent Public Library, ULC collected the signatures of 100 member library directors and submitted FMPL's primary nomination for the award.
Click here to learn more about the work of FMPL and their selection as Library of the Year.
Updates on 2015-16
E-rate Application Cycle
Applications for 2015-16 were due on April 16, 2015. The FCC has noted that schools and libraries have responded to the FCC's E-rate reforms by seeking a total of $3.9 billion in support, including more than $1.6 billion for internal Wi-Fi networks
(Category 2). This was an increase in applications for Category 2 funding of 92% from previous years and the first time in three years that the requests will most likely be funded. ULC has formed two Working Groups, CIPA and IT Network Structure, to ensure all of our libraries can apply in 2016-17.
Click here for ULC's latest news on E-rate reform. For more information, contact Katherine Bates.
Why Public Libraries Matter
A recent article in The Nation calls attention to the important role of public libraries as "the most ubiquitous institutions" and "truly democratic spaces" in the nation. Framing the story around budget concerns for New York City's public libraries, the article advocates for increased funding and awareness of the critical role that libraries play as access points for education, workforce and community development.
Read the full article here.
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For more interaction with your colleagues, follow ULC on Twitter and Facebook. ULC also has a LinkedIn group. Please like, follow and join!
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