Written by Brooks Rainwater, President and CEO, Urban Libraries Council...

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Cleveland Public Library, Columbus Metropolitan Library and Shreve Memorial Library are participating in the Barbershop Books Pilot for Libraries​, an initiative in partnership with the Urban Libraries Council and Barbershop Books​ and supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Hear from ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater about the intersection of people, power and place in the scope of North American public libraries. Plus, learn more about the 2023 ULC Annual Forum.

Hear from ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater about ULC members' recent work to protect democracy. This blog features ULC's most recent leadership brief: Libraries as Cornerstones of Democracy.

Eleven representatives from leading libraries gathered in Washington, D.C. from May 31 to June 2, 2023, for a convening focused on developing program plans that will effectively serve opportunity youth. Opportunity youth are at the highest risk of involvement with the criminal justice system.

Hear from ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater about the importance of libraries as physical convening spaces. Through creative development of these spaces, libraries can contribute to the wellness, civic engagement, and productivity of their communities.

There is a lot of work to be done in cultivating more equity in STEM careers. Who better than librarians to help move the needle, ensuring all of the patrons we serve have the ability to compete for jobs in the STEM field?

With the support of the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity, the Urban Libraries Council is working to build a body of research on how libraries are working with African American youth. This initiative is called Creating Youth Opportunities.

Hear from ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater about the underrepresented value of libraries as entrepreneurial hubs. Libraries are supporting the development of their patrons through one-on-one support, skill-building programs, premier public space and more.

ULC continues to stand with and for North America's public libraries to fight for free information and access for all through initiatives like our Declaration of Democracy and the Democracy Advocacy Group.