How a Mobile Barbershop Helped Increase Childhood Reading
Cleveland Public Library

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.

Read about Cleveland's successful pilot program in ULC's latest article.

The New Yorker: "Not Your Childhood Library"
Hennepin County Library

In case you missed it late last month, a piece from The New Yorker highlighted the Hennepin County Library, in particular the Minneapolis Central Library, and its response to homelessness and other social services. Social workers serve the most vulnerable members of society, and that has also become true of librarians. In the Minneapolis Central Library, the system brings those two together:

Andrea Hansen-Miller, a licensed clinical social worker, keeps drop-in hours at her office in downtown Minneapolis. To signal that she’s ready to begin, she sets two chairs outside her door, to create a makeshift waiting room, and turns on the lights. A wicker basket holds free hats, shoes, scarves, and gloves, and cabinets and a wardrobe rack are stocked with donated coats. Regulars often go straight to Hansen-Miller’s stash of granola bars and Tide Pods. “It gets them in here,” she says. “Then I can ask, ‘Where are you staying at night?’" Hansen-Miller works in the public library.

Read the full article in The New Yorker.

Kicking off National Indigenous History Month in Canada
Calgary Public Library

June 1 marked the beginning of National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Calgary Public Library kicked off a whole month of celebrations with a blessing from Nakoda Elder Alice Kaquitts, a round dance led by Skip Wolfleg, tipi raising and teachings, traditional Dene and Inuit games and art. The Library will also be featuring artwork all month created by Métis-Cree two-spirit illustrator Paityn Savoie for National Indigenous History Month displays.

“National Indigenous History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich cultures, histories, stories, and contributions of Indigenous peoples across the country and right here in Wîcîspa, Guts’ists’i, and Moh’kinstsis,” says Sarah Meilleur, CEO of Calgary Public Library. “The Library is honored to support and host Indigenous-led programming throughout the year, and our annual June programming has become a popular tradition.

Guided by the Calls to Action and White Goose Flying report, the Library is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of Indigenous ways of being, knowing, and doing by listening to, learning from, and building relationships with local Indigenous communities.

Learn more about Calgary's monthlong programming.

A Greener Way to Read
Montgomery County Public Libraries

Summer reading program prizes are a fun way to spark children’s participation. But those prizes often consist of non-recyclable plastic items that—once the fun has worn off—end up as trash. Like a growing number of library systems across North America, Montgomery County Public Libraries recently chose a greener, more community-focused way to get kids excited about books during their summer break.

A group of dedicated MCPL children’s librarians reimagined the library system’s summer reading challenge to fulfill two objectives: eliminate small, non-biodegradable prizes—which end up in the waste stream once discarded—and encourage children to make a tangible, positive impact on the local community by reading books and completing learning activities. As they developed this new model, the library discovered that a tangible impact could be made for half the cost of previous years’ plastic prizes, making the program even more valuable to the community.

This year’s adventure-themed summer reading challenge will spotlight local historical sites and recreation areas, as MCPL again partners with the Montgomery Parks Foundation. The foundation will use the summer reading program donations for three new objectives: preserving, beautifying, and increasing accessibility in the county’s parks.

Read more in American Libraries Magazine.