Stop by the registration area of the 2025 ULC Annual Leadership Forum to check in and receive your badge.

Pre-Conference Workshop | Creating Youth Opportunities

1:00-4:00 p.m.

Public libraries have a powerful role to play in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing communities today: how to support young people ages 16 to 24 who are not in school or working, often referred to as opportunity youth. This pre-conference workshop will showcase how library systems across the country are building infrastructure, programs, and partnerships to empower these youth and advance their economic mobility.

Through panel discussions, hands-on activities, and peer exchange, participants will learn how to design, evaluate, and advocate for library programs that engage opportunity youth in meaningful ways: from establishing dedicated staff roles to building community partnerships and using data to drive investment. The session will also spotlight successful approaches from ULC’s Creating Youth Opportunities (CYO) initiative, supported by Walmart.org, and will provide a space for attendees to begin developing their own action plans.

This workshop is designed for library professionals at all levels who are ready to strengthen their advocacy skills and commit to transformative work with and for vulnerable youth populations. Whether you're a deputy library director, youth services manager, program developer, community engagement lead, or frontline staff, you’ll leave with practical strategies and a renewed sense of purpose in elevating the library’s role as an essential institution for youth empowerment.

Speakers: [See Featured Speakers Page for full bios]

• Meredith Ash, Community Engagement Librarian, Cedar Rapids Public Library
• Leander Croker, Deputy Director, Greensboro Public Library
• Shelli Golson-Mickens, Principal Evaluator, Golstone Evaluation Consulting
• Michelle Hamiel, Chief of Programs, Urban Libraries Council
• Genive Purchase, Deputy Chief of the State Library Resource Center, Enoch Pratt Free Library
• Kelsey See, Branch Manager, Pioneer Library System
• Genevievre Wood, Young Adult Coordinator, Richmond Public Library

Pre-Conference Session | ULC CEO Session | Advocating for Yourself - Compensation, Equity, and Leadership

3:30-5:00 p.m.

How are library leaders being compensated today—and what does that mean for the future of our field? ULC’s new Compensation Study provides the most comprehensive look yet at salary and benefit trends for Library CEOs and Directors across North America. In an era where hiring, retention, and leadership pathways are under greater scrutiny than ever, compensation and career advancement is not just a personal concern—it’s a critical equity and sustainability issue for the entire library sector.

This session brings CEOs together for a candid conversation about how to build a well-compensated and equitable profession. Participants will dive into the data to uncover barriers to advancement, examine disparities by geography and demographics, and explore strategies for strengthening leadership pathways.

By attending, you will gain practical insights to advocate effectively for yourself in salary and benefit negotiations, promote fairness and transparency in your organization, and contribute to a stronger, more sustainable leadership pipeline across libraries. Join this vital conversation to share experiences, exchange strategies, and leave with tools that can help elevate both your leadership journey and your library’s mission.

Panelists:

• Paula Brehm-Heeger, Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Library Director, Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
• Heidi Daniel, Executive Director, King County Library System
• Kelvin Watson, Executive Director, Las Vegas-Clark County Library
• (Moderator) Brooks Rainwater, President & CEO, Urban Libraries Council

Connect with peers at the 2025 ULC Annual Leadership Forum Welcome Reception!

Breakfast is available to attendees from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Kick off the first full day of ULC's 2025 Annual Leadership Forum with welcome remarks from ULC President & CEO Brooks Rainwater and special guests.

When Librarians Get Loud: Advancing Library Priorities through Advocacy

9:30–10:30 a.m.

How can library leaders amplify their voice in the halls of power? What does strategic advocacy mean for the future of our libraries? As libraries face unprecedented challenges - from funding threats to evolving public needs - advocacy has never been more critical to our profession’s survival and growth.

This session will feature ULC’s advocacy partner, Cogent Strategies, to share insights from Washington, alongside experienced library leaders from across the country who will discuss their approach to advocacy: what has worked, what hasn’t, and what’s next.

Participants will walk away with actionable strategies for building relationships with policymakers, a clear understanding of ULC’s advocacy roadmap, and new ideas to strengthen their role as effective advocates for their libraries—and for all libraries.

Panelists: [See Featured Speakers page for full bios]

• Jennie Pu, Director, Hoboken Public Library
• Lisa Wells, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System
• Roosevelt Weeks, Library Director, Fort Bend County Library System
• (Moderator) Will Bohlen, Managing Director, Cogent Strategies

The Stories We’re Not Telling (Yet): Reclaiming Library Impact Through Civic Narratives

11:00 a.m. – Noon

Public libraries are transforming lives every day, but too often their most powerful stories go untold. This session will explore how libraries can move beyond traditional metrics to share narratives that capture impact, build trust, and influence community perception. Participants will reflect on the stories they wish they could tell, identify barriers to sharing them, and hear from library leaders who have successfully championed storytelling through media partnerships, narrative reframing, and community-driven projects.

Panelists: [See Featured Speakers Page for full bios]

• Sonia Bebbington, Chief Librarian and Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Public Library
• Lola DeWitt, Executive Library Director, Oak Park Public Libraries
• Brian Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer, The Seattle Public Library Foundation
• Marie Pyko, Chief Executive Officer, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
• (Moderator) Shamichael Hallman, Director of Civic Engagement and Economic Opportunity, Urban Libraries Council

Enjoy a meal and conversation with your peers from the ULC membership.

Details to be announced.

Details to be announced.

Stronger Together: Advocacy & Coalition Building for Urban Libraries — Ohio Perspectives with National Takeaways

3:00-4:00 p.m.

Across Ohio, public libraries have faced advocacy challenges that mirror national trends. This session spotlights how Ohio’s urban libraries are mobilizing coalitions, aligning with civic and nonprofit partners, and engaging industry allies to protect and advance library services. Panelists will share practical strategies for:

• Building broad coalitions with civic leaders, nonprofits, and community organizations
• Engaging vendors and other industry partners as advocacy allies
• Navigating politically charged and resource-constrained environments
• Turning coalition work into tangible outcomes for communities of every size

Panelists: [See Featured Speakers Page for full bios]

• Scott Bernier, Vice President, Library & Government Relations, EBSCO Information Services
• Jason Kucsma, Executive Director, Toledo Lucas County Public Library
• (Moderator) Paula Brehm-Heeger, Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director, Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library

Enjoy food, beverages, and tours at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library!

Breakfast is available to attendees from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

We'll kick off our last day of Forum with a welcome back from the event moderator.

Choosing the Library’s Role: Four Strategic Paths

9:15–10:15 am

What does it mean to be one library in a city of many realities? In this session, Tommi Laitio introduces a new typology of urban libraries that highlights the strategic choices leaders face: Who do we serve? How do people know us? Where should we focus? Drawing on years of leadership and research with libraries worldwide, Laitio offers a framework for navigating these defining questions—and the trade-offs that come with them.

Panelists: [See Featured Speakers Page for full bios]

• Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, Chief Executive Officer, Baltimore County Public Library
• Nate Coulter, Executive Director, Central Arkansas Library System
• Sarah Meilleur, Chief Executive Officer, Calgary Public Library
• Steve Powell, Library Director and CEO, Orange County Library System

Moderators:

• Tommi Laitio, Urban Strategist and Founder, Convivencia Urbana
• Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Kennedy Center Citizen Artist, Documentarian, Public Speaker & Host

Measuring What Matters: Tools for Understanding Social Impact

10:30–11:30 a.m.

At a time when libraries are navigating civic division, rising community needs, and increased scrutiny of public investment, leaders must be equipped to demonstrate their value in real, measurable ways. Advocacy depends not only on strong storytelling—but on data that reflects how libraries improve lives and build stronger communities.

This session will introduce library executives and teams to practical tools for evaluating and communicating their library’s social impact. Drawing inspiration from proven frameworks like Measuring the Civic Commons, Bridget Marquis will guide attendees through key methods for measuring the harder-to-capture impacts of their work—such as civic trust, social connection, and bridging divides.

Speaker: [See Featured Speakers Page for full bio]

• Bridget Marquis, Director, Reimagining the Civic Commons

Reflect on the year and learn about what’s ahead for ULC with President & CEO Brooks Rainwater and ULC Board Chair Joey Crawford.

Hear from Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library's Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director Paula Brehm-Heeger as we close out the ULC Annual Leadership Forum.