Register Now 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. Don’t miss your chance to join peers from across North America and bring along team members who are helping drive your library’s advocacy work. Take advantage of our early bird rate of $895, available through August 4. Registration ends on August 29.
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The Annual Library Insights Survey is Now Open
ULC’s annual Library Insights Survey—the most comprehensive look at how urban public libraries operate and serve their communities—is OPEN! With federal data sources like the IMLS Public Library Survey in jeopardy, LIS is the most robust tool available to capture the evolving role of libraries today. By participating, your library not only gains valuable insights to support operational decisions and strategic planning—you also help shape a powerful, collective narrative about the health, growth, and impact of urban libraries across North America.
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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.
Read the Full Statement
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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Creating a Culture of Belonging Webinar Series
In this multi-part webinar series from ULC, experts in the library field will share their insights and progress on the journey to creating a culture of belonging. Participants will explore topics such as understanding library history, building diverse teams, and fostering an environment where all employees feel valued and respected.
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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.
Access on the ULC Member Hub
Leadership Brief: Effective Strategies and Models for Urban Libraries Addressing Homelessness
ULC's newest Leadership Brief is a compilation of best practices designed to help libraries better serve those experiencing homelessness in their communities. Informed by library leaders across the U.S. and Canada, the report recommends that community partnerships, staff development, and intentional physical design, can better support both unhoused patrons and the library staff who serve them.
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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 180 leading North American public libraries.
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ULC provides a forum for library leaders to share best practices and innovative ideas that inspire programs that support 21st century learning, a strong economy and an active democracy.
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