As part of its partnership with ULC and Barbershop Books, the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) hosted a Hair Resource Fair on Saturday, March 23, 2024, for children and families. The afternoon offered several opportunities for attendees to learn more about the library, participate in storytimes and meet local authors, get free haircuts from CML’s barber partner The BarberZone Barber Studio, and interact with community organizations.

How does the increased need for e-book licenses in public libraries' collections mean higher costs? ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater addresses the need for fair and equitable access and pricing for e-content in libraries across the U.S. and Canada.

By incorporating elements of structured literacy — the approach taken from the field of the Science of Reading — public libraries can significantly deepen the impact of their summer learning programs. Read about five strategies taken from ULC’s upcoming Science of Reading Toolkit to easily integrate the science of reading into your ongoing summer programming.

In reflecting on their participation in the Barbershop Books Pilot for Libraries, Shreve Memorial Library agreed that their greatest success was the partnerships and relationships built with their barbers. The library recruited 10 barbershops as part of the initiative

From May 19-21, 2024, ULC gathered more than 40 library directors and CEOs from across North America for our 2nd Annual CEO Roundtable. Held in partnership with the LA County Library and the Los Angeles Public Library, the event focused on strategies for public libraries’ responsiveness to the critical issue of homelessness.

In partnership with Barbershop Books, ULC’s Barbershop Books Pilot for Libraries supported a small cohort of libraries in 2023 and 2024 to provide reading opportunities to Black boys directly in barbershops in their local communities. The Cleveland Public Library knew participation would be beneficial as it aligned with the library's goal to put books into the community and possibly create change.

Are you a public library leader who is eager to know where peer systems stand on questions related to operations and services? ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater encourages every member to participate in the annual Library Insights Survey.

How are downtown city libraries recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic? ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater shares some preliminary research around the connection between public libraries and economic vitality.

How Library Visits Create Daytime Foot Traffic and Promote Economic Vitality in Downtowns: A Case Study | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington, DC

The Urban Libraries Council recently hosted a virtual town hall on the critical roles public libraries play in our communities. We welcomed leaders with experience engaging with local, state and federal government policymakers to discuss ways for libraries to share their impact. Read on for five takeaways from the event.