Stop by the registration area of the 2023 ULC Annual Forum to check in and receive your badge. The registration area will be open throughout Annual Forum.

Library & Foundation Executive Session: CEO to CEO

Wednesday, October 25
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Hear from library and foundation leadership duos who will share more about their work and partnership. The session is for leaders only and will focus on the library and foundation executive relationship with discussions around the following topics:

• Strength in Numbers — How to build stronger and better library-foundation relationships and partnerships, both internally and externally.
• Financial Accountability — How both organizations can benefit from financial planning and mutual understanding.
• Your Elevator Pitch — How to communicate the value of libraries and demonstrate an impactful return on investment.

Session Speakers: [Read full bios on Speakers page]

• Chris Brown, Commissioner, Chicago Public Library

• Brenda Langstraat Bui, President & CEO, Chicago Public Library Foundation

• Tom Fay, Executive Director and Chief Librarian, Seattle Public Library

• Jonna Ward, CEO, Seattle Public Library Foundation

Pre-Forum Session: What is Your Superpower?

Wednesday, October 25
3:30 to 5:00 pm

Learn how library leadership can use data to advance your library role and leadership skills. Studies have shown that being authentic at work drives excellent business decisions. This session will explore pathways to be an authentic leader and unleash your superpower for making effective business decisions that impact both internal and external audiences. Attendees will learn how to use data to develop new and exciting strategies that amplify the library’s ability to impact the ecosystems that help people significantly thrive in life.

Speakers: [Read full bios on Speakers page]

• Femi Adelakun, Director of Research and Data, Urban Libraries Council
• Michelle Hamiel, Chief of Programs, Urban Libraries Council

Arrive for registration and connect with peers at the 2023 ULC Annual Forum Welcome Reception, generously supported by Baker & Taylor.

Arrive for additional registration time if needed and network during breakfast.

Kick off the first full day of ULC's 2023 Annual Forum with welcome remarks from ULC President & CEO Brooks Rainwater.

Panel Discussion: Libraries as Place

Thursday, October 26

9:30 to 10:15 am

 Public libraries are the cultural touchstones and civic anchors of our communities. The importance of libraries serving as third places has markedly grown as remote work increases and loneliness impacts people more and more. The concept of "place," however goes beyond purely physical spaces; it encompasses the potential for innovation and the pursuit of social justice in communities. This panel explores how thoughtful, equity-focused placemaking and influence, coupled with community-driven initiatives, can converge to create inclusive and innovative environments that benefit all residents. Join ULC members in exploring how "place" can serve as a powerful catalyst for positive change and progress.

[Read full bios on Speakers page]

Moderator: 

• Brooks Rainwater, President & CEO, Urban Libraries Council

  Panelists:

• Nick Higgins, Chief Librarian, Brooklyn Public Library
• Vailey Oehlke, Director of Libraries, Multnomah County Library
• Skye Patrick, Library Director, LA County Library
• Story Bellows, Partner, Cityfi

Keynote and Workshop: The Urgency of Loneliness & the Opportunity for Libraries

Thursday, October 26
10:30 am to 12:00 pm

In this keynote address and accompanying workshop, attendees will see loneliness in a brand-new way. You will learn about the three types of loneliness, why loneliness is now a global crisis, and the surprising impacts it has on personal and public health.

Dr. Jeremy Nobel, founder of the Foundation for Art & Healing and author of Project Unlonely (available for purchase here), will address the urgency and opportunity of loneliness for libraries and how library leaders can immediately leverage their people, power, and places to address this crisis using the surprising power of creative expression.

Attendees will also participate in a Colors & Connection workshop facilitated by The Foundation for Art & Healing. Participants will explore and grow their creative intelligence as they discover how color can express and reflect moods and emotions. The workshop will nurture peer-to-peer communication, which is viewed by experts as essential for navigating the complexities of the library experience.

Speaker: [Read full bio on Speakers page]

• Dr. Jeremy Nobel, physician, public health practitioner, and poet, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Medical School

Join Annual Forum attendees for a networking luncheon.

Futures Masterclass: How to Embrace Uncertainty

Thursday, October 26
1:00 to 2:30 pm

To be well-prepared for the future, organizations must embrace uncertainty. In this session, attendees will get an overview of what a futurist does, and the basic framework used to explore the future of any topic; it’s not just about having a strategic plan. Potential disruptive scenarios for libraries will serve as a framework for the hands-on workshop. Attendees will leave the session knowing how to identify implications of these disruptions on their library and how to apply forecasting models to their future work.

Facilitator: [Read full bio on Speakers page]

• Laura Schlehuber, Futurist and Foresight Research Program Manager, University of Houston

Panel Discussion: Embracing AI Technology for Organizational Advancement

Thursday, October 26
2:45 to 3:30 pm

 Embracing future and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can offer numerous benefits for the library field. During this session, ULC leaders and experts will share some key points to consider when embracing AI and discuss the importance of aligning technology adoption with organizational goals, as well as long-term strategies to transform and propel the field forward.

[Read full bios on Speakers page]

Moderator: 

• Duncan Smith, Chief Strategist for Public Libraries, EBSCO

Speakers:

• Tom Fay, Chief Librarian and Executive Director, Seattle Public Library
• Mohammad Hossein Jarrahi, Associate Professor, UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS)
• Sadie Williams, Director of Growth & Incubation | Education, Microsoft

Join the 2023 ULC Annual Forum attendees at a Member Reception at The Seattle Public Library, generously sponsored by Baker & Taylor.

Join Annual Forum attendees for a final networking breakfast.

ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater and ULC Board Chair Roosevelt Weeks will take attendees through the future of ULC. Following that, New York Public Library's Merryl and James Tisch Director Brian Bannon will lead a fireside chat on literacy with IMLS Director Crosby Kemper.

Panel Discussion: Libraries Stand Tall and Rising to the Occasion

Friday, October 27
10:15 to 11:00 am

ULC library leaders play a vital role in defending intellectual freedom, ensuring the safety of their staff and patrons and maintaining the library's integrity as a place for civic engagement and democratic values. By taking proactive measures and seeking support from within ULC membership and outside the library community, leaders can navigate these complex challenges as a collective group. This panel will empower leaders with practical strategies and thoughtful insights to navigate challenges effectively, maintain the library's role as a defender of intellectual freedom and build resilience in the face of challenging situations.

[Read full bios on Speakers page]

Moderator:

• Pilar Martinez, CEO, Edmonton Public Library

Speakers:

• Allison Grubbs, Director, Broward County Libraries Division
• Jason Kuhl, CEO, St. Charles City-County Library District
• Lance Werner, Executive Director, Kent Library District
• Roosevelt Weeks, Director, Austin Public Library

Your Voice Matters

Friday, October 27
11:00 a.m. to Noon

Close out the 2023 ULC Annual Forum with a special presentation on the importance of advocacy and the power of the ULC collective.