Growing Your Business Services to Improve Your Local Economy

Baltimore | September 21-23

Strengthening communities is the business of libraries — and growing your library’s business offerings is key to improving your local economy. Powered by strong connections with local businesses and entrepreneurs, libraries are in a prime position to expand their impact and expand outcomes that benefit their communities. Join ULC library leaders for our pivotal Lessons from the Field event in Baltimore where we will explore how libraries can equip themselves to be the business leaders of tomorrow.

During this conference, you will learn how to:

• Develop key techniques to push your business services to the next level
• Tell your library's business story to local leaders and key decision makers 
• Measure the value of your library’s business resources and impact on your community

Participants will have a chance to hear success stories from ULC's Entrepreneurship cohort at interactive sessions held at Baltimore County Public Library and Enoch Pratt Free Library. We thank Gale Cengage for sponsoring this in-person event.

The Library, Democracy and You

Urban Libraries Council

In our recent blog post, ULC's Carsyn Fessenden explores the pivotal role that libraries play in civil society and democracy. Learn more about how the public library creates a distinctive partnership between the government and civil society that is essential.

Going Fine Free in Iowa City

Iowa City Public Library

Iowa City Public Library’s no-fine policy now applies to everything on loan at the library. ICPL previously eliminated overdue fines on books for children and young adults in May 2019. “Creating financial barriers to public library use is counterproductive and goes against the library’s mission to encourage more use, not less,” ICPL Director Elsworth Carman said.

Offering Culinary Apprenticeships in Rochester

Rochester Public Library

Rochester Public Library is home to Foodlink Community Café, which is a “pay-it-forward cafe” to battle food insecurity. This cafe opened last year in downtown Rochester, N.Y. with the goal of offering yearlong classroom and hands-on training to prepare chefs from low-income and marginalized backgrounds for professional culinary careers. “Our program is over 85% people of color and over 60% women. We want our graduates to lead kitchens throughout our community,” said Director of Career Empowerment Jessica Scannel.

Providing Health Resources at the Hospital in Vaughan

Vaughan Public Libraries

This year, Vaughan Public Libraries celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Mackenzie Health Vaughan Library. The branch, situated at Mackenzie Health’s Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, provides health literacy programming, resources for new families and access to the library’s physical and digital collections, programming and events.

Watch the Virtual Awards Ceremony

St. Louis County Library

On Thursday, August 25, we encourage all ULC members to cheer on St. Louis County Library as they receive their 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to libraries and museums that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities! St. Louis County Library is one of three libraries chosen for the award this year. The event will be streamed live on the IMLS YouTube channel at 3 p.m. ET.