Milton Measures 39% Increase in Annual Community ParticipationMilton Public Library This week, the Milton Public Library released its highly anticipated 2023 annual report, which showcases a year of remarkable growth and community engagement while outlining ambitious plans for the future. In 2023, M...

New Small Business and Nonprofit WorkspaceToledo Lucas County Public Library Last week, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library opened its brand new Small Business and Nonprofit Workspace. Although the library has long offered assistance to people who are looking for answers to their new business qu...

A recent article from American Libraries magazine covers the recent “Bridgebuilding: Fostering Community Engagement, Dialogue, and Interactions in Libraries” session at the American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego. ULC Director of Civic Engagement and Economi...

ULC President & CEO Brooks Rainwater published a commentary in The Well News arguing that the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act should include the library one-stop workforce development center provision and support libraries’ role in supporting career pathways and c...

The Urban Libraries Council is featured in an article from The Toledo Blade about the Toledo Lucas County Public Library's new Small Business and Nonprofit Workspace. TLPCL was part of ULC's Strengthening Entreprenuerial Hubs cohort. Read the article....

Washington, DC — The Urban Libraries Council elected its 2024-2025 Board of Directors during an Annual Member Business Meeting held on June 20, 2024. "ULC is proud to welcome a dynamic group of individuals to our Board of Directors," said ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater. "They are leaders co...

Tackling the Summer Slide Through School System PartnershipsHartford Public Library Earlier this month, Hartford Public Library and Hartford Public Schools held their Summer Learning Kick-Off celebration at the Downtown Library. The event included a 250th Anniversary parade, celebrating the histori...

How a Mobile Barbershop Helped Increase Childhood ReadingCleveland 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 l...

IMLS Names 2024 National Medalists for Museum and Library ServiceDC Public Library, Harris County Public Library, Kent District Library This week, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced the 10 recipients of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, including thr...

ULC was mentioned in an article from Government Technology called, “Libraries Turn to Data Dashboards to Fight Mistrust,” which highlights Denver Public Library and talks about how library organizations like ULC are “creating frameworks and tools to help libraries navigate data governance responsibl...