New ULC Analysis: Downtown Libraries Are Driving City Revitalization
In-person visits at major city central libraries have risen significantly, and those visits are driving patrons to local businesses and area attractions, according to a new data analysis from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC). Using innovative anonymized data techniques, ULC looked at five flagship library branches in major cities across the country — Austin, Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, and San Francisco — in order to assess how visits to the library influenced visits to other nearby community offerings. Read the analysis now.
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The 2025 Innovations Initiative Opens September 2
The 2025 ULC Innovations application cycle will open on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Entries will be accepted until Friday, October 17 at 11:59 p.m. ET. ULC's Innovations Initiative showcases out-of-the-box projects that further education for people of all ages, address inclusion and digital equity in our communities, provide opportunities to build awareness of the library, enhance civic engagement for a strong democracy, and improve strategic internal operations and staff management. The 2025 ULC Innovations Initiative is proudly sponsored by EBSCO.
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Leadership Brief: Leading Social Impact
In June 2025, ULC gathered 70+ library CEOs for an exclusive Roundtable in Toronto focused on leading social impact. From designing for civic connection to confronting mission creep, these leaders shared real challenges and promising practices across the field. This Leadership Brief offers new strategies for advocacy, staff culture, and reading, and reflections on how libraries are navigating division, disconnection, and change.
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Waitlist Available for the 2025 ULC Annual Leadership Forum!
Join library leaders from across North America for the 2025 ULC Annual Leadership Forum, hosted in partnership with the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library. This year’s event will focus on how advocacy—both internal and external—drives effective library leadership. Registration has closed due to max capacity, but a waitlist is available to join.
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ULC Members Elect the 2025-2026 Board of Directors
In ULC's virtual Annual Business Meeting on June 12, 2025, members elected the 2025-2026 Board of Directors. The current Board welcomes two brand new members and three members in new officer positions. Read about each member of the ULC Board of Directors below.
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ULC Academy is Now LIVE!
This new learning platform from the Urban Libraries Council supports library leaders at all levels with dynamic, flexible professional development through live courses, self-paced content, and exclusive webinars. Our first live course offering, Managing from the Middle, is tailor-made for branch managers to sharpen leadership skills and build team confidence. Spots are limited – register for Managing from the Middle by July 1!
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America’s Public Libraries Support IMLS
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries, the Public Library Association, and the Urban Libraries Council urge the administration and Congress to rescind this recent round of cancellation of grants to state library agencies, libraries, and museums. IMLS must continue to honor appropriated and statutory programs and grants as Congress intended.
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Put Numbers Behind Your Library’s Impact—Explore the Updated BVC Today!
ULC’s updated Business Value Calculator (BVC) helps libraries put real numbers behind the contributions of libraries’ business services—strengthening advocacy efforts and making a compelling case for continued investment. Want to learn about how ULC members have used the updated BVC? See the new BVC Impact Report to read about seven ULC libraries that have used the updated tool to calculate their business services value—a total value of over $17 Million!
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"A Guide to Engaging Elected Officials and Cultivating Library Advocates in Government"
Urban Libraries Council’s newest toolkit is crafted to help library professionals build strong relationships with elected officials, demonstrating firsthand the vital role libraries play in literacy, information access, and lifelong learning. It provides step-by-step guidance to plan impactful visits, including customizable outreach templates and a detailed checklist to ensure a memorable experience for visiting officials.
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For over 50 years, the Urban Libraries Council has served as an outcomes-driven research and innovations network of more than 190 leading North American public libraries.
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