In his latest message, ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater celebrates the energy and impact of ULC member libraries during the busy summer season. From dynamic programming to national advocacy, libraries are creating meaningful connections and driving change. He shares updates on key initiatives like the launch of the ULC Fellows Program, the debut of the ULC Academy Branch Managers course, and ongoing federal advocacy to protect IMLS funding.

ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater addresses the urgent threat to federal library funding following news that state library grants from IMLS may be cut in half for FY2025. ULC is actively meeting with congressional leaders across party lines to push back on these cuts, advocate for FY2026 funding, and highlight the essential role libraries play in education, workforce development, and civic life.

Written by Jenny Garmon, Consultant and Fellow, Urban Libraries Council...

There are young people in every community who could benefit from targeted programs and services. This interactive map overlays CYO member library locations with national youth disconnection data. You may use it to learn more about library programs to support opportunity youth that may be replicated in other communities.

"Taking on the role of Young Adult Coordinator for a library system was both a rewarding and challenging endeavor, especially stepping into a role that had been vacant. As the new system-wide coordinator, I had to reimagine young adult (YA) services to meet the needs and interests of our community while offering meaningful and engaging activities that aligned with our library’s mission to inform, enrich, and empower."

"The challenge of opportunity youth is not just about crime, however; it’s about the future and how bleak it becomes for someone when they lack work experience coupled with low educational attainment. That is what our library system, Memphis Public Libraries, had to consider when thinking about ways to address the opportunity youth numbers in the city."

All young people deserve the opportunity to thrive. This includes those who, through little to no fault of their own, have become disconnected from school or work or who are at risk of so becoming. When opportunity youth are reconnected with school and/or work, their involvement in the criminal legal system lessens, health outcomes improve, and their earning potential increases.

At ULC, one of our top strategic priorities is to Support the Urban Library Leader—and that means equipping you with robust professional development opportunities, advocacy tools, and peer-to-peer networks that drive measurable impact.

Now, more than ever, our collective leadership must rise to meet these challenges head-on. ULC remains unwavering in our commitment to support you, advocate for the value of libraries, and provide the tools and networks needed to navigate these turbulent times.

On November 6-8, 2024, 11 leaders from public libraries across North America convened in Washington, D.C., for the 2024 convening of ULC’s Creating Youth Opportunities (CYO) initiative. With a dynamic mix of presentations, panels, and discussions, the convening showcased innovative strategies to improve outcomes for opportunity youth—young people disengaged from both work and school and navigating systemic barriers to education and employment.