"The importance of designing and maintaining public spaces that cultivate social connectedness and civic engagement cannot be overstated." — Brooks Rainwater

A new Bloomberg article explores how cities seeking to revive their downtowns are increasingly turning to public libraries as anchors of vitality. ULC President & CEO Brooks Rainwater spoke with author Arvelisse Bonilla Ramos about ULC’s recent data analysis on central libraries that directly supports this idea.

Examining Austin, Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, and San Francisco, the report found that about one-third of patrons at flagship branches in these cities — which drew an average of 500,000 visitors in 2024 — also visited nearby businesses.

The article also highlights how other library systems — including Omaha Public Library, Nashville Public Library, Orange County Library System, and Denver Public Library — are leading new branch constructions and renovations designed to be community-centered from the earliest stages. By appealing to both library users and city dwellers, libraries demonstrate their essential role in fostering community and modeling sustainability.

Read the article.