The wait is almost over! We are excited to announce that the 2024 ULC Innovations application cycle will open on Monday, June 17, 2024. Entries will be accepted until August 9, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET.  

ULC's annual Innovations Initiative showcases out-of-the-box thinking and successful library programs that revolutionize the field. Through each year’s submissions, ULC members share groundbreaking projects that build awareness of the library, further education for people of all ages, address inclusion and digital equity, prioritize health and wellness, enhance strategic internal operations and staff management, and champion the importance of workforce and economic development.

All active ULC member libraries can participate in the 2024 Innovations Initiative. A panel of judges will award one Top Innovator and one Honorable Mention for each of the 6 recognition categories. The Top Innovators in each category will receive one complimentary registration to the 2024 ULC Annual Leadership Forum, taking place in Philadelphia, PA, from October 23 to 25. 

Upon opening on June 17, submissions should be sent through the 2024 Innovations submission form on the ULC website. To prepare for your upcoming entries, please review the following materials for more information about Recognition Categories and submission prompts: 

• 2024 Innovations Categories Brochure 
• 2024 Innovations FAQ Sheet

How 100 Years of Debate Brought About the ‘Science of Reading’ 

Written by ULC Education Consultant Liz McChesney

Reading instruction is core to how a child learns to read and read fluently. However, the methods and curriculum used to teach reading has been intensely debated for over 100 years. This instructional debate falls largely into two camps: phonics and immersion. 

Proponents of phonics-based instruction emphasize the relationship between letter and sound (grapheme-phoneme). While the other method emphasizes immersion into beautiful, rich language and children’s literature, allowing reading to emerge naturally.  

Based on thousands of pieces of research, the Science of Reading blends the two approaches and states that decoding and language comprehension are both needed to create a fluent reader. Additionally, access to beautiful, diverse, and culturally affirming books has been shown to help children attain reading fluently and deeply.  

While the debate continues, many states have adopted policies to incorporate the research behind the Science of Reading into what is deemed a “structured literacy” approach to reading. The ramifications of this for public libraires is immense as libraries build collections, services and programs to schools and families. If you are interested in learning more about this history and recent developments, the Sold a Story podcast is a good listen. 

ULC Board Members Standing for Election

Presented for Action on June 20 | ULC Annual Business Meeting

The ULC Board of Directors has proposed a slate of Board Officers standing for election 2024-2025 and Board Members standing for election for the 2024-2026 term.

The Board Slate will be presented for action at the virtual Annual Business Meeting on June 20, where members will be asked to vote. View the Board Slate and register for the Annual Business Meeting on June 20, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET at the links below.

The 2024 Library Insights Survey (LIS) is now open, and all ULC members are encouraged to participate. The data you provided last year demonstrated how libraries are strengthening operations and purposefully serving communities since the pandemic.  

This year’s survey looks to collect information for the 2023 calendar year and budgetary details for the 2023 fiscal year. The LIS covers four categories: Attraction and Attendance, Location Experience and Use of Space, Programs and Service, and Staffing and Budget. 

Survey data will be compiled and featured in the ULC Library Data Hive, an exclusive collection of interactive dashboards, charts and maps just for ULC members. We anticipate a Fall 2024 release and will also use aggregate data from the survey to inform a public report of our findings. Visit the LIS page on the ULC website to review questions in each category and to submit your response by July 3.  

Questions? Want to Submit a Story?

Contact ULC's Communications Manager Elise Calanni at ecalanni@urbanlibraries.org.