This Week at ULC

Newsletter | November 23, 2022

THANK YOU FOR JOINING #ULCFORUM22!

ULC's 2022 Annual Forum: Creating a Place for Democracy was a HUGE success! Thank you to all 150+ attendees from 75 libraries across North America for being energized participants during the three days of expert-led sessions on preserving democracy and cultivating the future of libraries as a central pillar within our communities. Throughout the week, we heard from our featured speakers about the library's role in democracy, racism in democracy, the library's principles of free information and libraries as bridges towards civic renewal. Thank you to our speakers for leading these enriching discussions!


We especially want to thank all attendees for celebrating ULC's 50th Birthday with us — here's to another 50 years of strengthening and promoting the value of libraries!


This year's Annual Forum would not have been possible without our gracious hosts at the DC Public Library and the generous support of our sponsors at Baker & Taylor, Ingram Library Services, Children's Plus and Group 4.


Stay tuned for a full recap in the ULC Blog next week, and feel free to explore the highlights on Twitter using the hashtag #ULCForum22.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

ULC wishes a very happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. member libraries and their families! Please note the ULC office will be closed on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 in observance of the holiday.

DECLARATION OF DEMOCRACY

Sign on to ULC's Declaration of Democracy


During the closing session of this year’s Annual Forum, ULC issued a call to action that provides member libraries with a baseline for building policies and actions that preserve and protect democracy in our communities. As leaders of North America’s urban public libraries, we must commit to preserving, protecting and advancing the highest hopes and ideals of democracy so all members of our communities may fully participate in the democratic process.

Read and Sign the Declaration
MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP

NaNoWriMo Publishing Opportunities in Houston

Houston Public Library


November is NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month! This national campaign, led by the nonprofit of the same name, challenges writers to write 50,000 words in the month of November. This year, the Houston Public Library has partnered with Indie Author Project to give writers the opportunity to publish their completed novel as an e-book on the Houston library database.

Learn More

VICE: "Libraries Are Launching Their Own Local Music Streaming Platforms"

Edmonton Public Library, Madison Public Library, New Orleans Public Library


VICE Motherboard recently published an article about the latest growing trend in libraries across North America — offering unique music streaming services to patrons, with the goal of boosting artists and local music scenes. Originally created by Madison Public Library with the MUSICat software, many libraries are taking advantage of the software to create libraries of their own. The article highlights New Orleans' "Crescent City Sounds" and Edmonton's "Capital City Records," and their dedication to providing a gateway to local music.

Learn More

Most Borrowed Book of All Time in Brooklyn

Brooklyn Public Library


Over the last month, Brooklyn Public Library has been counting down the 125 most borrowed books of all time in celebration of their 125th anniversary. In the 125 years the library system has served New Yorkers and others who frequent its locations, the system has acquired more than 2.86 million physical items and 250,000 digital materials. How many of this list have you read? Congratulations, BPL, on 125 years!

Learn More

What Does Thanksgiving Mean to Indigenous Peoples?

The Indianapolis Public Library


In preparation of American Thanksgiving, The Indianapolis Public Library has published an online resource guide for understanding what Thanksgiving means to Indigenous Peoples in America. This resource highlights the history of Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning, perspectives about this meaning of the day and a guide to finding books by Indigenous authors.

Learn More

WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH ULC

Our ULC Member Job Board is regularly updated as we learn of new positions that are open at our member libraries. Once you are logged into your ULC member account, you can access the Job Board link on the left side under “Member Hub.” And, if you have a job posting at your library, please email info@urbanlibraries.org and we will gladly add it to the Job Board!


The latest job postings:

  • Technology Instructor, Tech Training Programs (Mandarin speaker) – New York Public Library
  • Adult Librarian – New York Public Library
  • Children’s Librarian – New York Public 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:

UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS

ULC Development Professionals Call

Member Group Call

December 14 | 4-5 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

ULC Education Leaders Call

Member Group Call

December 19 | 2-3 p.m. ET

RSVP Now

SPOTLIGHT ON SAFETY: ADDRESSING THREATS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES WEBINAR

November 30 | Free Webinar

Public Library Association, The Association for Rural & Small Libraries, Cambridge Public Library, Mid-Continent Public Library, San Francisco Public Library


Facing threats to our basic safety can often be traumatic and isolating. The Public Library Association (PLA) — in collaboration with ULC and the Association for Rural & Small Libraries — invites all library workers to join a free virtual event on Wednesday, November 30 to reflect and share with public library colleagues across the country. The panel will feature PLA president and Cambridge Public Library Director Maria McCauley, senior counsel to the director for the US Department of Justice Justin Lock, director of the Fort Worth (Texas) Public Library Manya Shorr, library social worker with San Francisco (Calif.) Public Library Leah Esguerra, and director of security at Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, Mo.) Dustin Koopman. 


During this free virtual event, panelists will participate in a facilitated conversation that explores effective policies and practices to improve safety and security for library staff and patrons and invites questions and resources to be shared among all attendees.

RSVP Here 

NOW TRENDING ON SOCIAL

#ULCForum22 Speaker Tommi Laitio


During the Annual Forum, our keynote speaker Tommi Laitio left us all with a strong metaphor for the foundations of a successful library.

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L.A. Public Library


L.A. Public Library's online archive is rich with history of the Los Angeles theater district, which was a starting point for many Hollywood stars!

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Nashville Public Library


Nashville Public Library is now offering a special, limited-edition library card featuring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

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#ULCForum22 Speaker Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson via ULC


"There's a rumor out there that libraries are neutral. We're not." Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Racism in Democracy panel.

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Questions? Want to Submit a Story?


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

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