Leading with Advocacy: Championing Urban Libraries

2025 ULC Annual Leadership Forum
Leading with Advocacy: Championing Urban Libraries
October 22–24 | Cincinnati, OH
Hosted in partnership with the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library

Advocacy isn’t a department. It’s how libraries lead.

In today’s climate, public library leaders are called to do more than manage—they’re called to advocate. For their institutions. For their staff. For the future they’re building every day.

Whether you’re securing sustainable funding, fighting for fair e-book pricing, pushing for new positions, or championing your own leadership role—advocacy is everywhere.

The 2025 ULC Annual Leadership Forum is your space to recharge, connect, and build your library’s advocacy power from the inside out. Join library leaders from across North America as we explore how to lead through advocacy at every level—internally and externally, locally and nationally.

At the Forum, you’ll explore how to:

• Advocate for your library’s growth—from funding and staffing to visibility and influence
• Navigate civic and political spaces with clarity and confidence
• Elevate your voice on critical issues like digital access and public trust
• Use data and storytelling to shape decisions and strengthen your message

This is more than a conference.

This year’s ULC 2025 Annual Leadership Forum is a catalyst for every leader who has ever had to make the case for why libraries—and the people who power them—matter.

Advocacy belongs to all of us.

Register now and join your ULC peers in Cincinnati!

2025 ULC Annual Leadership Forum Schedule (subject to change)

By attending the event, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition or reproduction to be used for newsletters, webcasts, promotional purposes, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media or any other purpose by ULC. Images, photos and/or videos may be used to promote similar ULC events in the future, highlight the event and exhibit the capabilities of ULC. ULC expects attendees to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on measures to reduce infection from COVID-19.The hotel will accept reservations until September 26 or until the room block is full. The final day to receive a full refund on your Annual Leadership Forum registration is September 5.