ULC Academy | Leading Your Library’s Growth & Sustainability: Fundraising - REGISTRATION OPEN
With libraries often called on to do more with fewer resources, many library staff have stepped into fundraising and advocacy roles with little formal training or support. This four-part ULC Academy series from Due East Partners offers practical, engaging tips and tools to strengthen your library’s fundraising capacity and deepen your connection to current and future supporters. Open to ULC Members AND Non-Members. Register Now!
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ULC Academy | Managing from the Middle: Branch Managers - REGISTRATION OPEN
Back by popular demand! This three-month ULC Academy course is designed for new or aspiring branch managers. It focuses on the unique challenges of branch management, from nurturing staff talents to balancing local community needs with broader system priorities. Open to ULC Members AND Non-Members. Register Now!
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New Publication | Unlocking Teen Potential: How Public Libraries Productively Engage Opportunity Youth
ULC is proud to announce the release of our newest white paper, Unlocking Teen Potential: How Public Libraries Productively Engage Opportunity Youth. This publication highlights insights and impact from 11 ULC member libraries that participated in our three-year Creating Youth Opportunities initiative, supported by the Walmart Foundation. From 2022–2025, the CYO cohort designed, tested, and implemented innovative, locally tailored programs to support opportunity youth—helping reconnect teens and young adults to education, employment, and supportive networks.
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2025 Library Insights Report Now Available!
The Urban Libraries Council’s 2025 Library Insights Report captures how urban libraries are evolving to meet community needs, revealing continued growth in both in-person and digital engagement. Now in its third year, the Library Insights Survey draws on four years of member data to illuminate trends in library programs, staffing, budgets, and operations—offering a clear picture of where libraries are today and how they’re shaping the future.
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New Case Study on AI in Libraries from CTG UAlbany
ULC and the University at Albany’s Center for Technology in Government (CTG UAlbany) are partnering to examine how libraries can empower communities to better understand Artificial Intelligence and ensure its ethical design and application. Just published in November, the third case study of this project reports how Palo Alto City Library introduced AI initiatives, particularly in the form of robotics programs for youth. The case study reviews the library's AI programming and the benefits associated with implementation.
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New ULC Analysis: Downtown Libraries Are Driving City Revitalization
In-person visits at major city central libraries have risen significantly, and those visits are driving patrons to local businesses and area attractions, according to a new data analysis from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC). Using innovative anonymized data techniques, ULC looked at five flagship library branches in major cities across the country — Austin, Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, and San Francisco — in order to assess how visits to the library influenced visits to other nearby community offerings. Read the analysis now.
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Put Numbers Behind Your Library’s Impact—Explore the Updated BVC Today!
ULC’s updated Business Value Calculator (BVC) helps libraries put real numbers behind the contributions of libraries’ business services—strengthening advocacy efforts and making a compelling case for continued investment. Want to learn about how ULC members have used the updated BVC? See the new BVC Impact Report to read about seven ULC libraries that have used the updated tool to calculate their business services value—a total value of over $17 Million!
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"A Guide to Engaging Elected Officials and Cultivating Library Advocates in Government"
Urban Libraries Council’s newest toolkit is crafted to help library professionals build strong relationships with elected officials, demonstrating firsthand the vital role libraries play in literacy, information access, and lifelong learning. It provides step-by-step guidance to plan impactful visits, including customizable outreach templates and a detailed checklist to ensure a memorable experience for visiting officials.
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