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Beth Dempsey, 248.349.7810 or beth@bethdempsey.com
August 28, 2006 (Evanston, Ill.) -- Economic development expert Dennis Martinez has joined the board of directors of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), a membership organization of 157 of North America’s premier metropolitan public library systems and related library consultants and suppliers. The ULC is respected for its research about issues facing urban libraries; its cultivation of innovations in library services to cities; and for its programs that groom the next generation of urban library leaders.
Mr. Martinez is principal of DMAssociates, a San Antonio-based consulting firm specializing in community development strategies and implementation programs. He is also a highly-visible advocate for libraries. Currently chairman of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation, Mr. Martinez has gained a statewide reputation as a voice for continuous investment in 21st century library systems that will better serve their communities.
“The ULC believes that effectively addressing the issues and challenges facing public libraries today takes a diverse team – a spectrum of voices. Our board is a great example of how we convene a variety of urban players, bringing their unique perspectives to the table,” said ULC President Martín Gómez. “We’re thrilled to have Dennis’ insight, his expertise in progressive community development and his enthusiasm for new and powerful roles libraries can play.”
Mr. Martinez is best known for his decades of forward-thinking economic and business development in both the public and private sectors. He has served as an executive manager in large public and private organizations navigating complex, politically active environments. His positions in the City of the Dallas have included Director of Economic Development Department and Director of the Office of Minority Business Opportunity. He was Special Projects Officer for the City of San Antonio and Director of Commercial Development for EG&G – Greater Kelly Development Authority, where he continues in an advisory role. In addition to his active library advocacy role, Mr. Martinez has served San Antonio’s non-profit community with numerous board positions including the Children’s Museum, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Accion, The Alameda National Center for Latino Arts and Culture Board, and others. He’s also Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he teaches Political Science courses.
The ULC’s 16-member board is the primary decision-making body of the ULC and has a unique mix of library trustees and directors along with members of the public, illustrating ULC’s commitment to giving voice to outside perspectives. This governing board sets direction and guides the ULC's programs and its development.
“It’s an honor to serve on the board of the Urban Libraries Council. Its mission to ‘strengthen public libraries as an essential part of urban life’ is a charge I have taken as Chairman of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation Board over the past few years,” said Mr. Martinez. “I look for inspiration to serve in this role from Andrew Carnegie, a man who changed the course of history by establishing and promoting libraries throughout the country, igniting the love of reading, discovery and accomplishment for all Americans.”
For more information on the ULC visit on the web at www.urbanlibraries.org.
About the Urban Libraries Council
For more than 30 years the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) has worked to strengthen public libraries as an essential part of urban life. A membership organization of North America’s premier public library systems and the corporations that serve them, the ULC serves as a forum for sharing best practices resulting from targeted research, education and forecasting. The ULC’s programs are acclaimed for inspiring new organizational models that invigorate urban libraries and enrich the areas surrounding them. The ULC is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois. For more information, visit the group on the Web at www.urbanlibraries.org.
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