Mission
Public libraries are critical cornerstones of democracy, and democracy’s future is diminished when people’s access to power, information, a diversity of voices and the ability to influence policy are restricted. The battle to protect democracy is a global struggle playing out at the local level and libraries have landed on the front lines. Per ULC’s Declaration of Democracy, North America’s urban public libraries are committed to preserving, protecting and advancing the highest hopes and ideals of democracy so all members of our communities may fully participate in the democratic process.
Team Objectives
ULC launched the Democracy Advisory Group in February 2023 to build upon work completed by the former Democracy Working Group and respond to the ongoing efforts to restrict the freedom to read and limit equitable access to information. The group contributes to resources to be shared with the ULC membership at large, including a brief and toolkit.
Participants
- Karl Dean, Immediate Past Board Chair, ULC
- Allison Grubbs, Broward County Library
- Melissa Legacy, Calgary Public Library
- Richard Reyes-Gavilan, DC Public Library
- Rebecca Stavick, Do Space
- Pilar Martinez, Edmonton Public Library
- Alice Knapp, Ferguson Library
- Brigitte Blanton, Greensboro Public Library
- Leander Croker, Greensboro Public Library
- Dr. Rhea Lawson, Houston Public Library
- Kelvin Watson, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
- Catherine Biss, Markham Public Library
- Anita Favretto, The New York Public Library
- Vickery Bowles, Toronto Public Library
- Pam Ryan, Toronto Public Library