Libraries Transform. We Help.
The ULC Academy, a product of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), empowers public library professionals by providing accessible, practical certification and training that leverages ULC’s unique expertise and resources.
Through our courses, we foster essential skills, innovative thinking, and a commitment to community and civic engagement equipping library leaders to meet the evolving needs of diverse communities.
We are dedicated to fostering inclusive, equitable education that supports personal and professional growth, helping public libraries and their leaders thrive in an ever-changing landscape. Our goal is to prepare library professionals to be trusted partners, community conveners and connectors, tech facilitators, information experts, and lifelong learning advocates, evolving to meet the needs of rapidly changing information and community landscapes.
Current Course Offerings
Managing from the Middle: Branch Managers
Certificate Program - 20 Credit Hours
Registration Launching in May 2025
Though management is a core responsibility of many within the field of librarianship, it is not always a skill taught in library school or easily learned on the job. In order to be effective, a branch manager must understand how to build upon the needs, skills and talents of the staff they lead to achieve impact as a team. They also must carefully balance the needs of the branch and local community with the interests and priorities of the larger library system of which they are a part. Effectively managing and, further, confidently leading others requires self-reflection, intentional learning, and continued practice. This three-month course will instruct new or aspiring branch managers to build the skills necessary to achieve impact in their role. At the end of the course, successful participants will earn a certificate recognizing the expertise they have gained.
Urban Libraries Council Fellows: Libraries as Welcoming Public Spaces
Leadership Accelerator - 12 Month Program
Registration Opens on April 1, 2025.
ULC's Fellows Program is a year-long leadership accelerator designed to empower library executives to drive transformative change. Grounded in an innovation philosophy that positions libraries as catalysts for community progress, this program fosters visionary leadership, strategic risk-taking, and forward-thinking adaptability. Through immersive coursework, interactive workshops, and personalized coaching led by world-class experts in design, public policy, higher education, and global library innovation, participants gain the tools to future-proof their institutions and accelerate positive change in diverse communities. This program empowers mid-to-executive library professionals to expand their influence, deepen their strategic acumen, and forge the cross-sector partnerships necessary to keep libraries at the forefront of community development.
Learn More About This Offering
Included in Your ULC Membership:
Webinar Repository & Asynchronous Courses
As an exclusive members-only benefit, ULC offers high-quality self-paced courses on a variety of topics through ULC Academy. Topics include becoming data fluent, making your library an entrepreneurship hub, amplifying summer and STEM, and more. Additionally, through the Academy, members have access to an exclusive catalog of ULC’s members-only webinars in one easy-to-access place. Find courses and track your learning in the ULC Academy Platform.