This Week at ULC
Newsletter | December 15, 2021
SUPPORTING LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY DEADLY TORNADOES
Deadly tornadoes over the past weekend have threatened communities and destroyed homes and businesses across western Kentucky and parts of Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee.

The ULC community stands with libraries and residents being impacted by this catastrophic weather event. We encourage our library colleagues to reach out directly to ULC's staff and peer library leaders if we can be of help.

Click here to learn about ways you can support victims of the tornadoes.
ULC CEO SESSION: SHOWING THE VALUE OF BUSINESS SERVICES AT THE LIBRARY
Thursday, December 16 | 4 p.m ET

We invite all ULC CEOs to join us for a sneak peak of ULC’s new Business Value Calculator tool during the final CEO call of 2021. During the call, St. Louis County Library Director Kristen Sorth and her team will share how they have measured the impact of their business services and ULC staff will provide a hands-on first look at the calculator.

Developed by ULC’s Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses action team and inspired by St. Louis County Library’s Small Business Value Calculator, this new tool will help libraries measure the impact of their business services and communicate their economic value to city/county leaders, community partners and other local stakeholders. 
COMMUNITIES FOR IMMUNITY: SECOND ROUND GRANTEES NAMES
Kansas City Public Library, Richland Library

The Association of Science and Technology Centers and the American Alliance of Museums have announced the recipients of the second round of funding for Communities for Immunity. ULC is partnering on this new initiative supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Communities for Immunity provides funding awards and support to museums and libraries engaging their communities to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. 
 
Awards range from $1,500-$100,000 and programs have a broad range of scope. Congratulations to ULC members Kansas City Public Library and Richland Library for being named as second round funding recipients.
 
Communities for Immunity builds on a number of ongoing library field efforts to activate engagement in vaccine confidence work, including REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM), a research partnership between OCLC, IMLS and Battelle.
2021 INNOVATIONS SUBMISSIONS NOW LIVE
Each year, ULC's Innovations Initiative features the very best of the tremendous work our libraries do every day in their community — and 2021 is no exception! Click here to check out every “new” and “next” program, partnership, event and strategy submitted this year by ULC members online at our website. Stay tuned for information in the new year on our virtual Innovations Celebration which will be held in January.

If you have questions about the selection process, please reach out to ULC Director of Community Engagement Colleen Morsli at cmorsli@urbanlibraries.org.
We give a special thanks to Ingram Content Group for supporting the 2021 ULC Innovations Celebration and providing ULC members with new and useful tools for the field.
Learn more about two amazing benefits that will be extended to this year's Top Innovators!
iCurate® Coming Soon
Easily Manage New, Forthcoming & Trending Titles
iCurate® inClusive
Effortless, Effective Diversity Audit
MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP
Launching an Updated Mobile Library App
Markham Public Library

This week, Markham Public Library launched a brand new, updated version of its mobile library app. New features and highlights include the integration with MPL’s website and a more intuitive and user-friendly interface.
Preserving Indy's History with a New Digital Encyclopedia
The Indianapolis Public Library

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and other community officials were on hand last month to celebrate the launch of an updated Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, which was expanded for the first time since it was published in print in 1994. The free-access, web-based encyclopedia is now available in a digital format and will be managed by The Indianapolis Public Library moving forward to ensure the ongoing updating of this valuable interactive resource.
Attracting Thousands of New Library Cardholders
Scottsdale Public Library

A recently held library card campaign at Scottsdale Public Library was a huge success, with over 3,000 people signing up for library cards and several people attending a celebration last month at Scottsdale Stadium. The library far exceeded its goal of 2,000 sign-ups between September 1, 2021 and November 30, 2021.
WORLD OF WISHES CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN
Children’s author Sandra Magsamen joined a recent ULC Education Leaders call to share information on her new book, I Wish, Wish, Wish, for You, and talk about the recently launched World of Wishes Campaign. The World of Wishes Campaign aims to empower the next generation of change makers by collecting the brilliant, beautiful and diverse wishes of children all over the world. Public library professionals will be supported in helping children draw and create their wishes over the next summer. Click here to find out more about the campaign and download a free activity kit available for use in libraries.
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
ULC EDI Officers
Member Group Call
December 15 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
ULC CEOs - Measuring Impact
Member Group Call
December 16 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC HR Professionals
Member Group Call
January 6 | 3-4 p.m. ET
FEATURED RESOURCES ON ULC'S MEMBER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
Words as Work Language Guide
Toledo Lucas County Public Library

Digital Access and Inclusion Strategic Plan
Pima County Public Library

Photography, Filming and Videography Policy
St. Louis Public Library

NOW TRENDING ON SOCIAL
Nashville Public Library

Free blood pressure kits hit the shelves at Nashville Public Library!
JOIN OUR ULC TEAM
We are looking for talented professionals to join our ULC team!

ULC’s Communications Manager will help our team implement communications and outreach efforts with internal and external stakeholders. The communications manager will work closely with ULC’s senior leadership team to raise the profile of how public libraries are addressing critical issues in local communities. Click here to apply >.

ULC’s National Program Manager will help collaborate on initiatives across ULC’s strategic focus areas to help public libraries lead education, strengthen digital equity and build healthy, sustainable communities through innovation. Click here to apply >.
Questions?

Contact ULC's Interim Director of Communications Paul Negron at pnegron@urbanlibraries.org.
Please note: We will not publish a weekly newsletter for the next two weeks. The ULC office will be closed on December 23-24 and December 31.