Learning Starts Here

Deepen your library's impact through Urban Libraries Council's ULC Academy, the hub for data-informed learning building on the member-driven work ULC leads. 
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Why ULC Academy

The ULC Academy empowers public library professionals by providing accessible, practical certification and training that leverages Urban Libraries Council’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. 

Empowered Leaders

ULC Academy improves library leadership teams' capacities to be nimble, innovative and responsive to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.

Ongoing Peer Support

ULC's peer cohort learning model ensures that library leaders will have continued support and access to real-world problems and solutions during the learning and beyond. 

Continual Innovation

ULC's role as a responsive, member driven organization, and as a research-driven action tank, allows us to constantly develop new material that responds to the current needs of the modern library leader. 

Two types of ULC Academy learning experiences:

Hybrid/Live

Courses that include both live meetings and, usually, some pre- or post-work sessions. These courses usually have a cost associated with them, and are offered at specific times through the year.
ULC Members receive a discounted rate. 

Self Paced/Asynchronous

Courses that include entirely self-paced learning. This includes longer, multi-module courses as well as access to ULC's exclusive catalog of webinars. These are available at any time and can be completed on your schedule. 
Free for all ULC Members. 

Our Courses

What do our learners have to say?

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The value of peer learning

"It was great to get input and ideas from other library organizations that are similar to mine. I feel like that doesn't happen in a lot of the other classes/learning opportunities that I've taken part in."
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Practical skills

"I wish I had learned some of this in library school!" 
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Get there faster, together

“Sometimes you feel like you’re alone. [Participating in this cohort]
brought new ideas to the table and I’ve appreciated all of you for
sharing. It’s helped me move further along in the process than it
would have had I not attended.”