As we move into February, I want to acknowledge the pace and complexity many of you and your teams are experiencing across your communities and organizations. ULC’s support is centered on you and your libraries as you navigate this moment, through practical leadership resources, strong advocacy, and opportunities to stay connected to one another. Please lean on your ULC colleagues and peers as you support your teams and lead through change.

I also want to share a word about these monthly messages and their intent. ULC is now a network of 195 library systems across North America. That scale matters, but what matters more is the strength of the leadership within it. This is a unique group of leaders carrying complex institutions, difficult decisions, and high expectations. These messages are meant to keep us connected, informed, and grounded in the shared work we are doing together.

We’re in a turbulent moment where there’s both real progress being made, and extremely difficult situations no one yet knows how to perfectly navigate.

At the federal level, Congress passed the final fiscal year 2026 appropriations packages. Critically, contained within one of the bills was continued funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services at nearly the same levels as before. That stability matters for libraries and for the communities that rely on them.

At the same time, the ongoing pain and unrest in Minnesota is a reminder of how fragile civic trust can be and how much responsibility public institutions carry. In moments like these, libraries continue to show up as trusted spaces for information, connection, and civic support. This work is real, immediate, and deeply felt in communities.

This is why ULC remains focused on strengthening leadership capacity and long-term civic resilience.

In direct response to what libraries are facing, we continue to expand our leadership and learning efforts. Earlier this year, we launched a new ULC Academy course on fundraising and philanthropy, offering practical tools to support sustainability and mission-driven work in constrained environments.

February also marks the launch of the Civic Makers Lab, a new initiative focused on strengthening young adult civic engagement through libraries. This work supports libraries in building experiential, nonpartisan civic learning opportunities rooted in local realities and community needs. Details about the application and information webinar are included in the link above.

As February continues, ULC remains focused on standing with you, advocating for libraries, and supporting the work you and your teams do every day to serve your communities.