Libraries are more than buildings—they’re gateways to learning, opportunity, and connection. Yet, for too many, physical and transportation barriers make accessing these vital spaces difficult and even unsafe. ULC’s Safe Routes to Libraries initiative addresses this challenge head-on, ensuring everyone has safe, equitable access to the transformative resources libraries provide.

From 2024-2026, ULC and its national partners are engaged in a research and planning project to explore the feasibility of a national initiative to eliminate barriers to library access. By adapting proven strategies from the Safe Routes to School program, this initiative strives to help libraries collaborate with local partners to improve walkability, safety, and infrastructure, especially in underserved neighborhoods.

The Safe Routes to Libraries Planning Project will:

• Perform a national scan, building a comprehensive understanding of what work libraries are already doing to establish safe paths to their locations.
• Collect feedback from libraries on the Safe Routes program through listening sessions and surveying.
• Leverage existing national models for schools and parks to create a prototype Safe Routes to Libraries toolkit.
• Examine the feasibility of a full-scale Safe Routes to Libraries initiative.

ULC’s national partners are:

• Safe Routes Partnership
• Association for Rural and Small Libraries
• Dr. Noah Lenstra, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Contact Katie Sullivan, Senior Program Manager, regarding this initiative: ksullivan@urbanlibraries.org.