ULC Member Group Calls
ULC @ 2016 ALA Annual Conference
- Effective Summer Learning in Libraries: Opportunities for Assessment
Saturday, June 25, 2016, 12:00-1:00 pm ET
In June, ULC will release a new publication for ULC members and the library field, Public Libraries and Effective Summer Learning: Opportunities for Assessment. The paper was developed as part of a National Forum, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), that explored strategic concepts and emerging models that can be used to support public libraries as they move to assess their effectiveness as powerful summer learning providers. In this ALA session, learn from a panel of public library leaders about the ways in which they have been able to collect and generate evidence to demonstrate how their programs address the summer learning slide. Participants will receive a copy of the new publication and consider how its "Seven Steps to Initiate Assessment of Public Library Summer Learning Effectiveness" can work for their libraries.
2016 ULC Annual Forum
ULC Libraries: Getting to the Evidence
Kansas City Marriott Downtown - Kansas City, MO
Register by the June 1 to lock in the discounted early bird rate!
ULC is excited to invite ULC library executives and leadership team members to join us in Kansas City this October! Members will have the opportunity to engage in lively conversations and share innovative ideas on measuring community outcomes and impact with their peers from across Canada and the United States. Visit the
ULC website for more information.
If you have questions, please contact
Katherine Behrens, ULC Member Programs Executive.
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Gwinnett County Public Library Partners with Local School District to Extend Resources to Students
On Thursday, May 5, leaders from the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) and Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) came together at Dacula Middle School to announce an exciting new partnership that will open up the resources of the public library system to students. The new initiative, Branch Out, allows parents to opt in during back-to-school registration so that their child can be issued full access to library services. Once a family has opted in, the school system will provide information about the student to the library that will allow the library to provide an account for the student using his/her student identification number and a PIN.
According to an article from the Gwinnett Daily Post, GCPL and GCPS believe that Branch Out will have a significant impact on student success as less than a third of students in the school system currently have library cards. GCPL has joined the ranks of a number of leading public libraries across the country that are partnering with their local school systems to create engaged community learning environments.
Learn how public libraries can establish community partnerships to improve education outcomes in the ULC Leadership Brief, Partners for Education.
 Russell Library and Kitchener Public Library Join ULC
Please join us in welcoming our newest members, Russell Library and Kitchener Public Library, to ULC! We look forward to collaborating with and learning from these libraries, as well as connecting their work to that of our other members and partners!
ROI Study Values Nashville Public Library Community Impact at $94 Million
 The Nashville Public Library (NPL) recently partnered with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce to conduct a Return on Investment (ROI) study measuring the value of NPL services and materials to area residents. The study found that the total ROI for every dollar spent by the Library on programming and resources is $3.06 in value back to the community. The direct economic benefit to the city of Nashville was calculated to be more than $94 million.
In addition to direct ROI value, the study also included impressive impact data including the market value of NPL to every resident of Davidson County, totaling $141 per person. According to the study, households that fully use NPL resources can realize annual savings of $2,951 through library materials and resources, based on what patrons reported they would pay for similar products and services in a survey and on actual retail value of these items.
Since releasing the report, NPL has also launched a community awareness campaign through social media and on its website, which includes a link to the study, infographics and a short video summarizing the findings.
Click here to view the full report and click here to read an op-ed about the study's results from NPL Director Kent Oliver.
Calgary Public Library Partners with Local Radio Station for the Calgary Local Music Library
Calgary Public Library recently launched a new partnership with campus and community radio station CJSW to create a traveling library unit chronicling the history and artists from the local music scene. The project was funded through a $30,000 grant from the Calgary Foundation and, after putting out a call for donations, the project coordinators received over 600 donations. The mobile library narrowed the collection down to 300 CDs spanning multiple genres and eras. It will also include a listening station and digital picture frames with historical photos and posters.
The music library will travel to eight different library branches over the course of the next year where patrons will have the opportunity to not only check out local music from the past 30 years, but also see free live performances from musicians at each branch stop. In an interview with the Calgary Herald, CJSW DJ and project coordinator Kerry Maguire praised the Library as a partner for its deep community roots and "really great face-to-face relationship with people, all over the city."
Click here to learn more about the project.
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COMING SOON...
2016 ULC INNOVATIONS INITIATIVE
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The 2016 ULC Innovations Initiative opens on Wednesday, June 1!
Visit the ULC website to view the latest updates and past library innovations.
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LEADERSHIP BRIEF:
LIBRARIES SUPPORTING FAMILY LEARNING
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With its sustained commitment to a lifetime of learning and its stature as a trusted community hub, there is no better resource for families learning together than the public library.
In our latest Leadership Brief, Libraries Supporting Family Learning, ULC and the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) explore how learning environments with engaged families can improve education outcomes and provide five action strategies that libraries can implement to expand these opportunities in their communities.
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Today ULC hosted a webinar, Coming Together: How the Skokie Public Library is Addressing the Topic of Race, with a special presentation on how to lead conversations on race and social equity in your community.
If you missed the webinar and would like to hear insights from Skokie Public Library on engaging community members in these discussions, you can purchase the recording for $150.
Please contact Colleen Bragiel for details.
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E-RATE 2016:
DID YOU KNOW?
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Need help from the Client Service Bureau (CSB) at USAC to complete your E-rate application? Contact the CSB at (888) 203-8100. They are open weekdays from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm ET and 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET on Saturdays.
Try to avoid the busiest times (weekdays 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET and 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET) to get a faster response.
Alternatively, you can join the weekly calls with ULC members and state E-rate coordinators held every Tuesday at 2 pm ET through the end of the new July window for consortia and libraries.
If you would like to join the calls or would like a live demonstration of any sections of the EPC, please contact Katherine Bates.
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Penguin Random House Announces New Innovation Award for Public Libraries
The Penguin Random House Foundation recently announced the launch of its inaugural Library Awards for Innovation to honor and reward extraordinary programs created by public libraries across the country. These awards, in the form of monetary grants, will acknowledge innovative public library programs and services that engage citizens in reading while strengthening the social and cultural fabric of their communities.
Libraries across the country are now in the process of applying for grant awards to support the development of innovative community-based programs in 2016. The Library Awards for Innovation will consist of one $10,000 grant award winner and four runner-up $1000 grant awards. All awards recipient libraries will receive $1,000 in Penguin Random House books.
The deadline to submit is October 1, 2016. Grant winners will be notified November 16, 2016 and officially announced at the American Library Association's 2017 Midwinter Meeting in January.
Visit the organization's website for guidelines and information on how to apply.
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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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