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Announcing the 2024 Innovations Award Winners!

For 15 years, the Urban Libraries Council has proudly highlighted and honored our library members through the Innovations Initiative. We are so excited to announce the 2024 Innovations Awards Top Innovators and Honorable Mentions!

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2024 Top Innovators Homepage

Take Your Library to the Next Level with Edge 360

Edge 360 is a benchmarking and evaluation tool designed to help you assess your library’s current offerings, identify best practices, set strategic goals, and hold yourself accountable to meeting them. In addition to getting access to all the benchmarking and learning tools in Edge, subscribers get exclusive access to peer cohorts. Over six weeks, participants are guided through completing their self-evaluation while learning more about the topic and getting personalized support from an expert facilitator and their peers from around the country.

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Take Your Library To The Next Level With Edge

ULC Members Featured in New Report on AI and libraries

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. The first report from this three-year research project is now available online, along with an interactive map.

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Leadership Brief: Countering Misinformation, Disinformation & Social Isolation in the Age of Generative AI

The rise of artificial intelligence, especially generative AI, has dramatically increased the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation in our daily lives. A new report from the Urban Libraries Council explores how libraries are tackling misinformation, disinformation, and social isolation in the age of generative AI. Learn how libraries can promote digital literacy and foster social connections to strengthen communities.

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ULC Publishes New Science of Reading Toolkit

At a time when reading proficiency levels for students in the United States and Canada are in a decline, libraries can play a critical role in advancing literacy and ensuring equitable access to quality education. To support this position, the Urban Libraries Council developed a Science of Reading Toolkit with guidance on implementing evidence-based reading strategies that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young readers.

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White Paper | Community Engagement Matters: Learnings from the Barbershop Books Pilot for Libraries

ULC and Barbershop Books supported a small cohort of four library systems as they sought to develop barbershop-based reading spaces and increase reading opportunities for boys of color in their local communities. This new report from ULC highlights lessons learned from the pilot and each library's best practices for community engagement.

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A Case Study on Public Libraries and Economic Vitality

How are libraries recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic? This is a big question that frequently guides the research conducted by the Urban Libraries Council. While libraries with a downtown location historically contribute a significant amount of steady foot traffic and daytime population and serve as trip attractions, has that been happening since the pandemic? ULC is sharing some of our preliminary research around the connection between public libraries and economic vitality in a new case study about what is happening at the DC Public Library, and its impact on Downtown DC foot traffic.

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ULC's Policy and Legislative Priorities

Through engagement with lawmakers in Congress and U.S. federal agencies, ULC is advocating for several key policy positions that center the critical role that public libraries play in urban communities. ULC’s advocacy strategy seeks to garner more support and funding for policies that strengthen and advance the essential role of public libraries.

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Advocacy Homepage

For over 50 years, the Urban Libraries Council has served as an outcomes-driven research and innovations network of more than 180 leading North American public libraries.

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Impact Stories

Discover how ULC member libraries invigorate and inspire public libraries on our blog.

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Newsroom

Find out the latest news and updates on the vital issues facing ULC members.

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Innovations

Get inspired by cutting-edge work that addresses key issues among the ULC membership.

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Edge 360

New benchmarks for anti-racism, digital equity, economic opportunity and education.

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Strategic
Focus
Areas

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Preserve Democracy

ULC believes libraries are cornerstones of democracy.

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Promote Education and Literacy

We believe libraries are critical to a knowledge economy and that education and literacy transform lives.

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Propel Economic Vitality

We believe libraries are fundamental to local economies, supporting the workforce and entrepreneurs.

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Advance Equity and Inclusion

We believe libraries are essential to helping all citizens realize their full potential.

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The Voice of Public Libraries

ULC provides a forum for library leaders to share best practices and innovative ideas that inspire programs that support 21st century learning, a strong economy and an active democracy.

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Interested in Membership?

Find out how ULC membership empowers hundreds of leading library systems across North America.

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