Last week ULC joined partners from across the field for COSLA’s Voices for Libraries Day on Capitol Hill, meeting with staff from the House Education and Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on both the Republican and Democratic sides.

ULC members Alison Weissinger from DeKalb County Public Library, Lisa Wells from the Pioneer Library System, Kelvin Watson from the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, and Kate Laughlin from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) shared stories about how libraries are leading workforce initiatives in their communities and why libraries are well positioned to continue driving impact through legislation like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Despite historically bipartisan support, WIOA remains stalled amid broader political disagreements in Washington. Our conversations with congressional staff helped reinforce the important role libraries play in workforce development and the impact libraries are delivering in communities across the country.

If you would like to learn more about these discussions, or if you are engaging with local, state, or federal leaders on these issues, please share those updates with us so we can support and strengthen your advocacy efforts.

Moments like these also remind us how important it is for library leaders to come together to share strategies, learn from one another, and consider the role libraries must play in the future of our cities. That is one of the reasons I am looking forward to this year’s ULC CEO Roundtable in Chicago.

Now in its fourth year, the Roundtable brings together library executives from across North America for a candid leadership conversation about the role public libraries play in the life of our cities.

We are grateful to Chris Brown and the Chicago Public Library for hosting this year’s convening. Chicago offers a strong example of how a public library system can work across city government and community partners to expand opportunity for residents while playing a central role in civic life.

Many of the ideas and collaborations that have emerged from previous Roundtables are already shaping how libraries approach partnerships, civic engagement, and leadership across the field. If you are a library director, I hope to see you in Chicago! If you are not, ULC plans to share the takeaways from this event in a follow-up publication so that all members can benefit from this shared learning.

Wishing you a great rest of the month.