This Week at ULC
Newsletter | May 19, 2021
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ULC LIBRARIES CELEBRATING ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE |
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In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the U.S. and Asian Heritage Month in Canada, libraries across ULC’s membership are engaging their communities in activities that honor the lives, contributions and diverse cultural traditions, identities and ethnicities of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and Canadians.
All month long, we will highlight member library voices and work through our newsletter and social media. Below are just a few of the many amazing stories our members have shared so far:
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Chicago Public Library (Ill.) is hosting “The Art of Collage: Workshop with Yuqing Zhu,” a 90-minute session where participants will be introduced to the history of decorative paper-making and collage around the world.
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Contra Costa County Library (Calif.) launched the first "Community Reads for Kids" program featuring Front Desk by Kelly Yang, an award-winning novel about a 10-year-old Chinese American immigrant girl who manages the front desk of a motel while her parents clean the rooms.
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Kitchener Public Library (Ont.) released a “12 Cookbooks: Vegetarian India” blog series where a staff member provides reviews of 12 cookbooks from the library’s extensive collection.
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Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (Nev.) is offering in-person performances of Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko in Concert, a drum program that mixes traditional folkloric songs, contemporary pieces and original compositions with choreography.
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Ottawa Public Library (Ont.) is presenting a traditional Japanese cooking class where patrons can view a live demonstration of Japanese cooking and test out their cooking skills.
We look forward to sharing more highlights throughout the month! If you have suggested articles, blog posts or photos showcasing your events/programming, please be sure to send them to media@urbanlibraries.org.
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AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT RESOURCES |
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ULC continues to follow the developments around the American Rescue Plan Act and potential funding opportunities for ULC member libraries and the communities we serve.
Updated ARPA Member Talking Points
Our team has synthesized new insights from the latest research and guidance to create updated talking points, including information on the final rules released last week from the FCC to implement the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. Click here to access these talking points in ULC’s Member Knowledge Exchange. We hope that this resource will be useful to you in building your understanding about the funds available and provide strategies to communicate with key stakeholders about ARPA and what it might mean for your library.
SHLB Emergency Connectivity Fund Workshop June 9
On Wednesday, June 9, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition will host a special three-hour workshop focused on the Emergency Connectivity Fund. The SHLB Coalition’s ECF workshop will provide schools, libraries and vendors with the essential strategies and information needed to submit successful funding applications. ULC members may use the promo code URBANLIBECF to enjoy a 10% discount on the workshop when registering. RSVP here.
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ANNUAL MEMBER BUSINESS MEETING |
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You are invited to the ULC Annual Member Business Meeting on Thursday, June 17!
This meeting is the time we come together as members to:
- Hear a ‘State of the ULC Union’ from our current ULC Executive Board Chair Richard Reyes-Gavilan.
- Recognize the contributions of retiring ULC board members.
All members are encouraged to participate. Please register in advance.
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UPCOMING ULC WEBINAR MAY 25 |
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Evidence-Based Planning for Summer Learning Success
Kansas City Public Library, Roanoke County Public Library
Summer 2021 offers a brief and vital window for libraries to help local youth catch up and stay engaged in learning. With so much at stake, it is critical for libraries to build their summer programs by using concrete evidence and not rely on instinct or routine. Join ULC on Tuesday, May 25 at 1 p.m. ET to hear how Kansas City Public Library and Roanoke County Public Library are using data to learn from their pandemic programming, assess needs and prepare for stronger learning outcomes in Summer 2021.
You will learn how Kansas City Public Library’s data capturing revealed summer program successes and failures and how metrics helped the library transition its design thinking approach from theory into practice. KCPL’s team will share how program prototyping has helped them strengthen outcomes, including keeping a 30-year-old program popular.
You will also learn how Roanoke County Public Library used data collection on virtual programs, curbside kits and social media content to thrive last summer, in the midst of the pandemic. The RCPL team will discuss how data informed the marketing for programs and services and the success of their virtual content, including measurement of engagement. They will also share why and how data has become “the decider” when it comes to whether or not a program will continue or needs to be redeveloped.
Featuring
- Crystal Faris, Director of Youth & Family Engagement, Kansas City Public Library
- Caitlin Joy Gills, Marketing Manager, Roanoke County Public Library
- Darlene Smithwick, Public Services Coordinator, Roanoke County Public Library
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Honored with IMLS National Medal Award
Memphis Public Libraries
Congratulations to Memphis Public Libraries for being selected as a recipient of the 2021 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. Memphis Public Libraries is one of three libraries chosen for the award this year, and the first ever two-time recipient (2007 and 2021). “We are thrilled and humbled to receive this prestigious medal from the IMLS. Our team strives to meet the ever-evolving community needs, and this has never been more evident than the last year,” said Library Director Keenon McCloy.
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Tacoma Goes Fine Free
Tacoma Public Library
Earlier this month, Tacoma Public Library announced that it had adopted a policy to permanently eliminate overdue fine collection on late items. TPL will also clear all overdue fines on all patron accounts. “This gives patrons who have been avoiding visiting their library due to outstanding charges the opportunity to start fresh. We hope that this change will let our community know that their library values them and they are welcome here,” said Director Kate Larsen.
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Pictured: Graduates and family members from Richland Library's Career Online High School program. |
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Celebrating High School Graduates
Richland Library
Earlier this week, Richland Library held a socially-distanced ceremony honoring 14 graduates from its Career Online High School program. This is the third graduating class since the library began offering the online high school program in 2018. In addition to a high school diploma, each graduate also received a career certificate in a high-growth, high-demand career field.
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Undefeated: Families Talking about Slavery
Skokie Public Library
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Skokie Public Library used Kwame Alexander’s picture book, The Undefeated, to open a dialog for elementary-aged children and their families to discuss the legacy of slavery in the context of family history and community resilience while working on a collective art project that reflected their own unique experiences and family stories.
The group watched a multimedia spoken word poetry presentation, then created individual pieces of a group puzzle, showcasing personal ancestral journeys while talking about the experience and legacy of slavery.
Families were able to discuss a painful topic in ways that were reflective, approachable and actionable, learning new tools to talk together and decide for themselves what role they want to play in the future.
Click here to learn more about this groundbreaking work and click here to review all 260 submissions to the 2020 Innovations Initiative.
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NEW ON ULC'S MEMBER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE |
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Evidence-Based Planning for Summer Learning Success
Webinar
May 25 | 1-2 p.m. ET
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ULC Development Professionals
Member Group Conference Call
May 26 | 3-4 p.m. ET
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ULC Annual Member Business Meeting
Virtual Member Convening
June 17 | 4-5 p.m. ET
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Baltimore County Public Library
“In order to make any progress as library leaders, we need to look at our own history with humility and have the courage to recognize that we can be part of the solution.” — Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, Baltimore County Public Library.
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