The Urban Libraries Council has elected former Mayor of Nashville Karl Dean as a new member of the ULC Executive Board. Dean began his two-year term on the ULC Executive Board following a vote by ULC members – who represent top public libraries from across the U.S. and Canada – during a meeting held...

The Hachette Book Group has announced that it will stop allowing libraries to purchase perpetual access licenses for e-books beginning July 1, 2019, and will instead only offer metered licenses that expire after two years. This shift in e-books pricing follows a similar change made last year by Peng...

The Urban Libraries Council convened leaders from 11 public library systems in Chicago on March 13-14 to kick off pilot programs designed to test new approaches to engaging low income middle school youth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. These programs are extensi...

The Urban Libraries Council has launched Edge 2.0, a new version of its renowned benchmarking and management system for public libraries. Over 2,600 libraries of all sizes across the U.S. and Canada have used the previous version of Edge to assess their programs and services, identify areas for impr...

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a revolutionary force in the modern world. The transformative power of this new technology has already been seen, and is expanding at a rapid rate, across nearly all areas of 21st-century public life – including education, employment and civic engagement. While...

Libraries are cornerstones of democracy, putting into action the belief that all people should have unmitigated access to resources to aid in their education, economic stability and civic participation. They serve as the beating heart of their communities and are always looking to better provide for...

The Urban Libraries Council has earned a 2018 ASAE Power of A Gold Award for the Leaders Library Card Challenge. The award distinguishes the association community’s valuable contributions on the local, national and global levels, and is considered the association industry’s highest honor. ...

The Urban Libraries Council today announced the election of the new Chair of the Executive Board, as well as the addition of two new members to its Board. The board members are: Rhea Lawson, Director, Houston Public Library, incoming ULC Board Chair Brandon Neal, Trustee, Charlotte Mecklenburg P...

The Urban Libraries Council today announced the formation of Partners for Middle School STEM, a new project funded by a Leadership Grant for nearly $500,000 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Partners for Middle School STEM is a two-year project focused on low-income middle s...

Starting one’s own business may soon become the most viable path to achieving the American dream. It is projected that by 2020 half of all workers will be independent freelancers, responsible for their own fortunes and well-being. Knowing this, the Urban Libraries Council is bringing together 12 pub...