This Week at ULC
Newsletter | August 3, 2022
Q&A WITH BROOKS RAINWATER
Taking the Helm at Urban Libraries Council
Library Journal

Check out Library Journal’s Q&A with ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater. LJ caught up with Brooks to find out more about his career and recent move to ULC.
On joining ULC:

"I had done a lot of work around innovation districts, economic anchors and cultural institutions, and I see libraries sitting directly in that space. That was the policy work that I did that intersected directly with libraries. ULC has a long history of being an innovation action tank on behalf of libraries—doing the on-the-ground work together with library directors to push forward and think about the next things that we’re going to see in the library sphere, how that intersects with cities and counties, ways that we’re able to convene leaders within the library space to come up with new and better ways of approaching the work."
NEW ON THE ULC MEMBER HUB
ULC’s Member Hub makes it even easier for you to build relationships, develop your professional skills and share transformative tools and ideas with ULC library leaders across North America. The platform is available at members.urbanlibraries.org.

Members can access key resources on the left side of the homepage under “Member Hub.” For assistance with accessing or using ULC’s Member Hub, please email info@urbanlibraries.org.
Our ULC Member Job Board is regularly updated as we learn of new positions that are open at our member libraries.

The latest job postings: 
  • IT Application Analyst Senior
  • Neighborhood & Adult Literacy Manager, Springfield City Library 
ULC's Member Knowledge Exchange makes it easy for our members to build relationships and share transformative tools and ideas with ULC library leaders across North America. If you have a resource you'd like to share with other member libraries, please email info@urbanlibraries.org.

The latest resources: 
MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP
Meet ULC's Newest Member
Iowa City Public Library

We are thrilled to welcome Iowa City Public Library as ULC's newest member! Iowa City Public Library is a center of community life that connects people of all ages with information, engages them with the world of ideas and with each other and enriches the community by supporting learning, promoting literacy, and encouraging creativity.
Extending Library Hours and Enhancing Public Safety
Saint Paul Public Library

Saint Paul Public Library received $1.5 million from the city of Saint Paul in federal dollars to enhance public safety and reduce violent crime in the city. The “Library Optimal Response” plan aims to improve ways to help and support youth and adults with issues that go beyond the walls of the library. “All these folks are coming into the library for lots of different reasons and we want to make sure that we’re making their business as successful as possible,” Maureen Hartman, Saint Paul Public Library deputy director.
Pictured: Michael B. Gannon (left) and Nicholas A. Brown (right)
New Leadership at PGCMLS
Prince George's County Memorial Library System

Late last month, PGCMLS appointed Michael B. Gannon and Nicholas A. Brown as acting co-CEOs of the library. Gannon has served as chief operating officer for support services since 2008, overseeing the library’s facilities, collections and support departments. Brown joined PGCMLS in January 2020 and currently oversees programs, outreach, communications, digital services and development.
Providing Millions in Business Services to Allen County
Allen County Public Library

Using ULC's Business Value Calculator, Allen County Public Library reported that their business-related training and education, research services, physical spaces and technology and equipment use provided entrepreneurs an estimated $3.4 million in value in 2021. The library offers individual support for job-seekers about seven times each day, with similar support by specialized consultants typically costing $100 or more. As a result, that service alone provides more than $250,000 of value to the local economy.
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
August 4
ULC HR Professionals
Member Group Call
August 4 | 3-4 p.m. ET
August 18
ULC Analytics and Tech Leaders
Member Group Call
August 18 | 2-3 p.m. ET
August 25
ULC Customer Experience Leaders
Member Group Call
August 25 | 3-4 p.m. ET
September 14
ULC Communications and Marketing Leaders
Member Group Call
September 14 | 3-4 p.m. ET
NOW TRENDING ON SOCIAL
Paterson Free Public Library

Paterson Free Public Library recently held a block party where they handed out hundreds of books to families and community members!
Oakville Public Library

Oakville Public Library recently updated their vision, mission and values to celebrate the connection to what inspires their community in their updated strategic plan.
Questions? Interested in Submitting a Story?

Contact ULC's Director of Communications Paul Negron at pnegron@urbanlibraries.org.