Brooks Rainwater is the New President and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council

Here’s the Full Text of an Announcement by ULC Board Chair, Mary J. Wardell-Ghirarduzzi:

On behalf of the ULC Executive Board, I am very pleased to announce Mr. Brooks Rainwater as the next President and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council.Brooks is currently the Senior Executive of the National League of Cities and the Director of the Center for City Solutions. At NLC, he is responsible for the organization’s research agenda and develops institutional partnerships with philanthropic, corporate, university and media organizations. Brooks has ensured that NLC’s work is data and outcome driven. He is a champion for urban spaces and recognizes the value and importance of the urban public library.

Brooks leads NLC’s strategic plan on diversity, equity, inclusion and access. NLC has a Center-wide Racial Equity Working Group for digital equity, inclusive economic development and other critical urban issues. He is committed to anti-racism and equity.

I am excited that Brooks is joining the ULC family. I know that he will continue to lead and support the work of urban libraries. He begins his tenure with ULC on July 11.

Finally, I want to recognize the ULC Executive Board and the board’s search committee for their work and dedication to identifying the new leader for ULC. The following members served on the search committee:

Karl Dean, former Mayor of Nashville (ULC Vice Chair/Chair-Elect)
Sarah Campbell, Executive Director, Portland Public Library
Jesus Salas, Library Trustee, Toledo Lucas County Public Library
Roosevelt Weeks, Director, Austin Public Library
Vickery Bowles, CEO, Toronto Public Library
Mary J. Wardell-Ghirarduzzi, San Francisco Library Commission (ULC Chair)

To all ULC members, thank you all for your continued commitment to this wonderful organization.

Warmly,

Mary J. Wardell-Ghirarduzzi

Chair, Urban Libraries Council

Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and

Professor of Communication, University of the Pacific

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