May 14, 2008 (CHICAGO) -- Toronto Public Library City Librarian Josephine “Jo” Bryant has been awarded the 2008 Urban Libraries Council (ULC) Urban Player Award for her role in successfully unifying seven distinct library systems into one and then, positioning the library to play a more central role in the lives of Torontonians.  The Urban Player Award is presented each June at ULC’s annual membership meeting to the individual who most profoundly demonstrates library and community leadership.  The award recipient also receives a $1,000 check.  

“Jo’s vision of amalgamation as an opportunity for Toronto Public Library to play a more central and seminal role in the city has moved the Library into the mainstream of the city’s cultural life and economic promise,” said Kathy Gallagher Ross, Chair of the Toronto Public Library Board. “She achieved this by working with the Board, reaching out to elected officials and the community, and by aligning the library with the city’s key objectives.”

Prior to 1998, Toronto Public Library was a disparate collection of 98 branches from seven former municipalities.  With amalgamation, Ms. Bryant unified them under a new structure, during a time of transformation – and uncertainty – for the city of Toronto.  Through community and political relationship-building, public consultation and an increased involvement in city projects, she leveraged the city’s transformation to create a new position for the library – one that demonstrated the value of public libraries in the 21st century.

“Under Jo’s leadership and direction, Toronto Public Library gained greater access to city officials and played a central role in city building initiatives,” said Ms. Ross.  “So closely is Toronto Public Library now aligned with the health of the city that the Council has consistently supported the library with sustained and substantial funding and regularly calls upon the library to participate as a key player in City initiatives.”

“ULC helps its members build stronger communities by highlighting the leaders in our industry who not only understand the pivotal community role libraries play, but deliver results,” said Martín Gómez, ULC president.  “Jo is a sterling example of a leader who saw change as opportunity, where others may have seen threat, and as a result moved her entire city forward.”

Learn more about the Urban Player and other ULC awards 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, ULC serves as a forum for sharing best practices resulting from targeted research, education and forecasting.  ULC's programs are acclaimed for inspiring new organizational models that invigorate urban libraries and enrich the areas surrounding them.  ULC is headquartered in Chicago.  For more information, visit the group on the Web at www.urbanlibraries.org.