Washington, DC — The Urban Libraries Council is proud to announce the 2025-2026 Board of Directors, elected and confirmed during ULC's virtual Annual Business Meeting on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The ULC Board provides strategic oversight, industry perspective and vision that guides the continued evo...

ULC President & CEO Brooks Rainwater was recently quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle article about the rate of library visits pre- and post-pandemic:The numbers are in keeping with national trends, according to a report by the Urban Libraries Council, an advocacy group. But those numbers aren’t...

As demand for e-books continues to surge by roughly 30% each year, read this timely new piece from The Denver Post featuring ULC members Denver Public Library, Anythink Libraries, Poudre Libraries, Jefferson County Public Library, and Douglas County Libraries on how unfair e-content pricing is now r...

The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) is deeply dismayed by the dismissal of Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress. A visionary leader, Dr. Hayden modernized the Library of Congress, expanded its digital reach, and championed access and transparency. Dr. Hayden worked tirelessly to ensure that this ...

A recent article from DNYUZ examines how libraries have been immediately affected by the Trump Administration's cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services and links to a blog from ULC entitled, "Reimagining Library Spaces to Provide Essential Community Services." The blog, written in 2020 ...

This article from USA Today on the Trump Administration's executive order to reduce the Institute of Museum and Library Services, despite Congressional funding for ongoing programs, quotes ULC's recent joint statement with ARSL and PLA: "IMLS must continue to honor appropriated and statutory program...

Public libraries are essential infrastructure in every American community, and that especially is so during times of economic uncertainty. The elimination of federal funding for public libraries will be felt in every community across the country, and particularly in rural areas. Public libraries pro...

As the organizations that collectively represent public libraries in the United States, the Association for Rural & Small Libraries, the Public Library Association, and the Urban Libraries Council oppose the Executive Order calling for the gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services ...

ULC Libraries Announce the Best Books of the YearULC Member Libraries It's the most wonderful time of the year... for annual booklists! Across the ULC membership, libraries are releasing their "Best Books of 2024." Check out a few below!Toronto Public Library King County Library System Ottawa Publ...

Governing: "How One Library Is Filling the Gaps in Homeless Services"Salt Lake City Public Library Public libraries are more than hubs of learning—they’re lifelines for those in need. Earlier this year, library directors from around the U.S. met in Los Angeles for ULC's CEO Roundtable. Salt Lake Cit...