This Week at ULC
Newsletter | May 11, 2022
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EDGE 360 LAUNCHES WITH SPRING COHORT |
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Edge 360 represents an exciting step forward for the public library field, expanding the program beyond digital inclusion and introducing benchmarks for anti-racism, digital equity, economic opportunity and education in their local communities.
Twenty ULC libraries from across North America will use the Edge 360 Anti-Racism and Digital Equity benchmarks as part of the ULC’s Spring Cohort, which launches today. The benchmarks developed by ULC provide a set of activities and actions that library executive teams can take to address digital equity and internal structural racism. The cohort brings together ULC members in peer-to-peer virtual forums to share insights and strategies on how to advance equity.
The following member libraries are part of the cohort:
- Austin Public Library
- Calgary Public Library
- Contra Costa County Library
- Edmonton Public Library
- Glendale Library, Arts & Culture
- Greensboro Public Library
- Jefferson County Public Library
- Lincoln City Libraries
- Louisville Free Public Library
- New Orleans Public Library
- Newport News Public Library
- Pima County Public Library
- Portland Public Library
- Regina Public Library
- Salt Lake City Public Library
- San Francisco Public Library
- Santa Clara County Library District
- Shreve Memorial Library
- Toledo Lucas County Public Library
- Wichita Public Library
Stay tuned to ULC communications for more information in the coming weeks and months on this exciting new evolution of Edge!
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What do you hope to gain from participating in the Edge 360 cohort?
"The assessments themselves and the opportunity to work with and hear from colleagues on best practices. Also, the creation of a safe space to discuss the sometimes uncomfortable topics that may arise because of this work."
– Brigitte Blanton, Greensboro Public Library Director
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RSVP FOR LESSONS FROM THE FIELD |
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Library Partnerships in a Post-Covid World
June 8-10, 2022 | Cleveland Public Library
Join ULC and peer library leaders in the birthplace of Rock and Roll — Cleveland, Ohio — for a field trip that will get you ready to rock a post-COVID world. Our in-person Lessons from the Field event June 8-10 is one-part big ideas, one-part constructive collaboration and a big dose of experiential learning that you can apply immediately at your library.
Attendees will hear from Cleveland Public Library Executive Director and CEO Felton Thomas, Jr. on the innovative ways CPL has cultivated community partnerships to serve their community during the pandemic.
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“Cleveland Public Library could not serve our community without partnerships,” states Thomas, Jr. “As The People’s University, strategic partnerships are key to reaching people where and when they need us most. We have worked to nurture our partnerships for years, even decades in some cases. The COVID-19 pandemic is a good example of how partnerships enabled us to pivot how we served our community while keeping patrons and staff as safe as possible. Now, we must think about how we continue to foster and build partnerships to increase connection and impact for what comes next.” |
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Attendees will engage in interactive learning sessions to discover how we reinvigorate the partnerships we have and connect in meaningful ways with new community partners to prepare for the future. Your community needs your library services now more than ever. Investing in partnerships expands the impact of your library’s mission and the outcomes that benefit your community.
Don’t miss out on this unique and inspiring experience. Be sure to reserve your spot today!
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SAVE THE DATE! ULC ANNUAL FORUM |
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November 16-18, 2022
DC Public Library, Washington, D.C.
This November, the 2022 ULC Forum will convene our member community in Washington, D.C. Details and registration information are forthcoming!
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Houston's Adult Literacy Blueprint
Houston Public Library
Houston Public Library launched their Adult Literacy Blueprint, which is the city’s first catalyst for citywide strategic action aimed to address the crisis of adult illiteracy. HPL created a comprehensive plan to fight these disparities, which increased donors and the ability to expand hotspots and laptop kits to adult learners.
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Closing Equity Gaps with Community Partnerships
OCLC WebJunction
Libraries are shifting focus away from pandemic-response programming and toward sustainable, long-term equity work by cultivating rich, diverse community partnerships. In our latest blog written by OCLC's Erica Melko, explore the ways OCLC’s WebJunction implemented a community collaboration strategy addressing digital equity and inclusion initiatives, improving access to civil legal justice and health equity and crisis management planning.
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Celebrating the Freedom to Read
Nashville Public Library
Nashville Public Library launched a campaign to celebrate the “freedom to read,” which is a rebuttal against state legislators trying to make it easier to ban books in school. Capturing the attention of the state and nation, NPL’s limited-edition library card proclaims "I read banned books" as part of the library's drive to distribute 5,000 new cards in one month. "I want Nashvillians to know: Nashville Public Library will always respect your freedom to read — to independently determine what you read, and don’t read, and to exercise your role in determining what your children read," NPL director Kent Oliver said in a statement.
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National Votes for Women Trail
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
This week, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library became home to a new marker on the National Votes for Women Trail, which is dedicated to their local suffrage leader, Lucia Blount. Lucia Blount was an instigator of the first Evansville suffrage group in 1886, an organizer of the city’s first book group known as the Ladies Literary Club and helped form a local suffrage group in Evansville.
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Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Berkeley Public Library
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Berkeley Public Library is providing a series of events and booklists for children and adults. The library also houses an extensive archive of newspapers regarding the internment camps for Japanese-Americans, highlighting the Japanese-American experience during WWII.
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MakerFest Returns
Brampton Library, Mississauga Library
Brampton Library and Mississauga Library are calling all makers to get ready for MakerFest, which starts this Friday May 13. MakerFest presents a perfect opportunity for community members to learn about their library’s maker programs, especially their resources in 3-D design, fabrication, assistive technology, space exploration, entrepreneurship, coding and more.
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ULC Analytics and Tech Leaders
Member Group Call
May 12 | 2-3 p.m. ET
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ULC Communications and Marketing Leaders
Member Group Call
May 18 | 3-4 p.m. ET
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ULC EDI Officers
Member Group Call
May 26 | 2-3 p.m. ET
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ULC Customer Experience Leaders
Member Group Call
May 26 | 3-4 p.m. ET
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Lessons from the Field: Library Partnerships in a Post-COVID World
In-Person Convening
June 8-10
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NEW RESOURCES IN ULC'S MEMBER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE |
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Fine Free Data Analysis
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
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Educational Assistance/Tuition Policy
Anne Arundel County Library
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Tuition Reimbursement Guidelines
Tulsa City-County Library
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Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Johnson County Public Library, Miami-Dade Public Library System, Dayton Metro Library
Check out ULC's highlights on Instagram to learn more about our member library's new branch openings! This week we feature Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Johnson County Public Library, Miami-Dade Public Library System and Dayton Metro Library's new branches!
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