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.

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.

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

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.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Cleveland Public Library, Columbus Metropolitan Library and Shreve Memorial Library are participating in the Barbershop Books Pilot for Libraries​, an initiative in partnership with the Urban Libraries Council and Barbershop Books​ and supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Eleven representatives from leading libraries gathered in Washington, D.C. from May 31 to June 2, 2023, for a convening focused on developing program plans that will effectively serve opportunity youth. Opportunity youth are at the highest risk of involvement with the criminal justice system.

Oak Park Public Library's Shelley Harris writes about programming, collections and outreach strategies that public libraries can adopt to encourage positive experiences for disabled community members. By creating welcoming spaces and engaging programming, patrons can learn the importance of disability advocacy and pride.

As part of the ULC Building Equity: Amplify Summer Learning cohort, the Central Arkansas Library System enhanced community summer learning by partnering with a local program for youth experiencing housing insecurity. Learn more in this blog by CALS Youth Services Coordinator Ellen Samples.

Learn how museums and libraries can collaborate to enhance community services, improve social wellbeing and provide hands-on learning opportunities.

Discover how ULC, our partners and our member libraries are celebrating Summer Learning Week 2022.