2015 ULC Annual Forum High Tech, High Touch, High Trust June 25-26, 2015 San Jose Marriott - San Jose, CA Public libraries serve communities whose needs are driven by changes in technology, the global economy and shifting demographics. The library is the institution at the forefront of understanding and innovating new opportunities to connect people to technology, address key community issues, and support participatory learning experiences across a lifetime. Join us at this year's Annual Forum as we explore and discuss changes in technology and relationships that will continue to acknowledge the library as a highly trusted and valuable public institution.
Click here to register and learn more about the Annual Forum. Powerful Collaborations: Library-School-Community Partnerships 2015 National Center for Families Learning Summit Tuesday, March 17, 2015 | 2-3 pm CT Julia Ideson Building - Houston, TX and via webcast
This interactive webcast from the 2015 National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) Families Learning Summit, made possible by NCFL and ULC, will showcase collaborations between libraries, schools and community-based organizations. Find out how library leaders and community partners in Houston, Hartford and Nashville are maximizing the enduring influence of libraries by transforming programming, creating centers for intergenerational learning, pioneering afterschool programming and fostering digital innovations. Engage with the panel as they share experiences and strategies that will benefit your community's understanding and leveraging of these partnerships. Click here for more information about this session and the NCFL conference.
Save the Date: 2015 Partners for Success Conference
October 29-30, 2015
San Diego, CA
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Good News is Happening in Pima County
 About a year ago, the Pima County Public Library began working with the Arizona Daily Star to publish a monthly series of articles written by library staff. Since then, readers have been treated to 11 articles, all posted for easy reading on the PCPL website.
(Look for the smiling faces.)
One was published in the Arizona Daily Star this week:
Library programs help find our roots in literature.
Also, this weekend, Tucson is hosting the annual Tucson Festival of Books. PCPL staff has helped plan the programs since the festival started six years ago.
ULC Innovations Awards: Call for Submissions!
The Sixth Annual ULC Innovations Initiative is now open, and we encourage your library's participation. We know you are doing great things in your communities. Now is the time to share your hard work on a bigger stage!
The Innovations Initiative works to:
- Capture and promote innovation in urban libraries.
- Share innovations and leading practices across the ULC membership.
- Create national and international recognition for ULC library innovators.
Last year we received nearly 200 innovations from ULC libraries that were viewed and recognized by the White House, local, national and international government organizations, and the media. The ULC Innovations Initiative provides a way for leaders to hear about the positive contributions you make to your community.
Read how participation in the Innovations Initiative sparked conversation both at the library and throughout the community at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library:
"The recognition the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library received as a Top Innovator in 2014 has created greater awareness of and respect for the difference we make in our community. It's resulted in praise from community leaders, expressions of civic pride, congratulatory notes and emails and some great media coverage.
Our Board of Trustees and the library staff were so proud to be recognized with some of the best public libraries in the country! It's helped them realize that the work they are doing is critical to not only this library's future, but the future of all public libraries. It also inspired some of our staff members who haven't had the opportunity to receive facilitation training to request that they be enrolled in the next class. I appreciate that ULC is providing its members with the opportunity to showcase our creativity, organizational excellence and ability to make a significant impact in our communities."
- Gina Millsap
CEO,
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
The deadline for this year's submissions is April 3, 2015 with the Top Innovators being recognized and celebrated at the ULC Innovations Celebration on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at the ULC Annual Forum.
If you have questions, please email Katherine Behrens or call her at 202-750-8652. We look forward to reading your submissions. Thank you for sharing your great work.
Stop Budget Cuts Affecting Public Libraries
Steven Potter, Library Director and Chief Executive Officer of ULC member Mid-Continent Public Library, recently wrote a letter to the Kansas City Star about the effect budget cuts have on public libraries. Sixth grader Cole Bower seconded Potter's letter by penning his own response: "We must stop the onslaught of budget cuts for one of the supreme American values - education." Read his letter here.
E-rate Form 471 Filing Tips
 Don't forget USAC's very informative Tip of the Day page for E-rate filing. Each day, USAC provides a tip on how to navigate through the online FCC Form 471 for FY2015. Check this Latest News post daily for a new tip and to access previous tips.
The tips are labeled by the area of the form to which they apply: General Guidance, Basic Information, Discount Calculation, Funding Requests, Certifications and Signature, or Certifying Your Form.
Studies Show Printed Books are Still Preferred by Many People
 Video killed the radio star? Not so fast. This article from Alaska's
newsminer.com cites several studies that predicted the downfall of print and current studies to the contrary. "Dozens of studies agree: people prefer reading print books over electronic devices."
A good read.
Libraries the Front Line of the War on Knowledge
From the McPherson Sentinel (KS), an excellent letter from the Director of the McPherson Public Library: "With recent cuts to education in many states, and with politicians and others weighing in on a regular basis with their own versions of the truth on various issues, the news media have coined the phrase 'war on knowledge.'" Read the full letter
here.
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| Why Chance the Rapper Loves the Chicago Public Library 
"Alumni and participants from a Chicago Public Library teen program are currently killing it. This week hip-hop artist Chance The Rapper beatboxed behind a freestyling Alec Baldwin for charity. Last month, rapper Vic Mensa performed with Kanye West on Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary show. High school junior Phillip Brooks participated in Chicago Fashion Week after winning a one-year paid artist residency with the Kennedy Center for his jazz-themed T-shirt designs.
All three were involved (or, in Brooks' case, are still involved) in YOUmedia, a program started in the city's public library system in 2009." Full story here.
SAPL Launches Free Mobile App
The San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) invites you to download the new mySAPL app onto your mobile device for faster browsing and cool features. The app allows library card holders to access account information, browse recent arrivals, check out the New York Times bestseller list, search the catalog, check the status of holds, and more. Watch a brief tutorial here.
SLCL Donates Thousands of Handmade Items to Area Needy  St. Louisans will feel a little warmer thanks to a huge donation of handmade items by St. Louis County Library knitting groups. As part of the Warm Up America project, SLCL crafters donated over 2,100 handmade blankets, mittens, scarves and hats to 11 local charities. Tables were piled high with the handmade goods at the donation ceremony yesterday, held at the Bridgeton Trails Branch (see photos from the event here). This is the seventh year SLCL has participated in Warm Up America.
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Thank You for Your Participation! ULC Member Survey closes tonight at midnight ET. For those of you that participated, thank you! Your input is helping us with our strategic focus and in carrying out our mission of enriching communities by strengthening and promoting the value of libraries as essential public assets. Contact Katherine Behrens, ULC's Member Programs Executive, if you have any questions. e-Discussion Groups Are you taking advantage of our e-Discussion groups? Join other ULC members to share insights and innovations and to ask questions to your peers. Members with cross-function responsibilities are welcome to join multiple discussion groups. See a full list of groups and request to be added here.
Social Media
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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