This Week at ULC
Newsletter | January 6, 2021
BEYOND ALLYSHIP CONVERSATION RECORDINGS NOW AVAILABLE
A conversation with
john a. powell

Robert D. Haas Chancellor's
Chair in Equity and Inclusion, UC
Berkeley School of Law; Director,
Othering & Belonging Institute
A conversation with
Janet Stovall

Manager of Executive Communications, United Parcel Service
A conversation with
Isabel Wilkerson

Author of The Warmth of Our Other Suns and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Our monthly series of virtual conversations brought together library leaders in late 2020 to engage in critical discussions about leadership for anti-racism and social justice. Recordings from our three sessions held in October, November and December are now available on the ULC Member Knowledge Exchange. ULC thanks Baker & Taylor for sponsoring the December 2020 conversation with Isabel Wilkerson.

What does going Beyond Allyship mean?
Standing as an “ally” — a vocal supporter, open ear and continuous learner — in the fight for race and social equity is vital, but it is only the first step for leaders who are serious about creating change. ULC library leaders set the tone and model expectations for entire library systems and communities, and we have a responsibility to go beyond allyship and take on an active, lifelong and accountable leadership role as equity champions.
REWATCH THE 2020 INNOVATIONS INITIATIVE CELEBRATION
Originally broadcast on 12/11/2020, this virtual event celebrated the award winners for ULC's 10th Annual Innovations Initiative. In addition to learning about this year's Top Innovators and Honorable Mentions, viewers joined Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the event MC and DC Public Library's Executive Director, for a behind-the-scenes look at DCPL's newly renovated MLK Jr. Memorial Library. ULC would like to recognize and thank Ingram Content Group for their support for this year's Innovations Celebration!
MEMBER NEWS ROUNDUP
Pictured: Oak Village Prairie Ridge resident volunteers process books for their facility mini-library and stock the book nook with books from Madison Public Library.
Home Is Where the Library Is
Madison Public Library

Madison Public Library recently published an in-depth profile of the library's Home Services, which has been around for over 50 years and is becoming more vital during the pandemic. Run by librarian Mary Fahndrich and clerk Nancy Keiser, the Home Services team works with 27 different facilities to provide a lifeline to homebound individuals and those patrons in adult living facilities. “The library is more than just a building, and I see my work as a chance to bring the library out into the community,” said Fahndrich. 
Brigitte Blanton Named N.C. Director of the Year
Greensboro Public Library

Congratulations to GPL's Brigitte Blanton for being honored as Director of the Year by the North Carolina Public Library Directors Association. “Brigitte is a true community leader and when our community needed us the most, Brigitte responded to provide equal opportunity, remove barriers and create access for all Greensboro residents, as well as offer guidance and support,” said Assistant City Manager Chris Wilson.
Pictured: Patrons Services Specialist Andrea Jilovec fulfills online book orders at Cedar Rapids Public Library's downtown location.
Engaging Patrons in New Ways During the Pandemic
Cedar Rapids Public Library

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Cedar Rapids Public Library has adopted creative ways to keep serving customers by offering curbside pickup, new personal shopping options and surprise grab bags. “Since the curbside service began, nearly 50,000 patrons have used the curbside service and more than 130,000 items were delivered during the pandemic,” said Community Relations Manager Amber McNamara.
PROVIDING ACCESS TO MAKER TECH AND PROGRAMMING DURING COVID-19
STEAM Senior Library Assistant Gracey Gordon Pens ULC Blog Post
Durham County Library

Discover how Durham County Library's STEAM Services unit developed unique methods for engaging with the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Durham County Library is a member of ULC's Partners for Middle School STEM Peer Learning Cohort.
NEW STRATEGIC PLANS ON ULC'S MEMBER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
Calgary Public Library
St. Charles City-County Library
Tacoma Public Library
SEGUIMOS CREANDO ENLACES CONFERENCE
The Seguimos Creando Enlaces annual conference fosters community connections and cultural diversity in public, academic and special libraries. The goal of this year’s conference is for library workers from the U.S., Mexico and across the globe to share best practices and build more inclusive library spaces for all.

Presentation categories were chosen based on recommendations from ULC's Leadership Brief: Libraries Leading Civic Engagement. The deadline for proposal submissions is January 25, 2021.
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
ULC Communications and Marketing Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
January 13 | Noon-1 p.m. ET
ULC HR Professionals
Member Group Conference Call
January 13 | 3-4 p.m. ET
ULC Directors
Member Group Conference Call
January 14 | 4-5 p.m. ET
ULC Education Leaders
Member Group Conference Call
January 19 | 2-3 p.m. ET
ULC Development Professionals
Member Group Conference Call
January 27 | 4-5 p.m. ET
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
Poudre River Public Library District

A 10-year-old service is seeing a spike in activity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Distressed businesses are making use of the business library — a free service in which a trained business librarian helps patrons find data. 

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