For Immediate Release:
EDMONTON, AB, October 18, 2019 – The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) recently announced the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) as an Innovations Initiative Honourable Mention award winner during the 2019 ULC Innovations Celebration held on Thursday, Oct. 17 in Salt Lake City. The annual Innovations award program recognizes leading practices from ULC’s member library systems across the U.S. and Canada.
A panel of expert judges selected Riversides: The Capital City Record as an Honourable Mention from 260 submissions in 10 categories that showcase out-of-the box thinking and creative applications of library resources. EPL received recognition in the category of Communicating the Library’s Value. Award winners were recognized for their level of creativity, ability for other libraries to adapt their work and the outcomes achieved. All 2019 ULC Innovations can be viewed at urbanlibraries.org.
“This year’s winners put forth bold ideas that will fundamentally bring about positive change,” said ULC President and CEO Susan Benton. “For this year’s Innovations Initiative, we received our most diverse and exceptional forward-thinking submissions to date. We celebrate EPL for presenting a groundbreaking initiative that is sure to transform their community and inspire libraries across North America”.
Riversides features tracks by Edmonton artists from the library’s Capital City Records collection that have never been released in physical format. The vinyl was produced at Moonshot Phonographs (a new independently owned local vinyl press) and features artwork by renowned Edmonton artist Jill Stanton. Tracks for the album were selected by a jury of celebrated Edmonton music scene supporters, including award-winning poet/rapper Cadence Weapon and music writer Sandra Sperounes. The release of this album was a first for public libraries across North America.
“We are thrilled to receive an Honourable Mention for this new anthology of remarkable Edmonton musical talent,” says EPL CEO Pilar Martinez. “Our project’s goal was to continue to collaborate with the local music community and give Edmontonians access to some unique content. Receiving this award is a testimony to this city’s amazing depth of musical talent.”
This project is aligned with EPL’s vision to delight and engage our customers with incredible content that reflects the passion and talent of Edmonton’s music scene, celebrate the diversity and talent of local musicians, and support the local music community.
All 2019 ULC Innovations entries can be viewed at urbanlibraries.org.
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About the Edmonton Public Library
The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is proud to be 2014 Library of the Year, as well as the first public library in Canada to win Canada’s Most Admired™ Corporate Cultures award by Waterstone Human Capital, as of 2018! We’ve come a long way since 1913 when books were all you could find on our shelves… and we’re just getting started! Today, EPL carries everything you care about. We are Edmonton’s largest lender of all manner of information and entertainment. Our professionally trained staff take you beyond Google with the knowledge, discernment and desire to help you navigate a universe of information. The second most visited place in Edmonton, every year EPL hosts over 15.4 million in-branch and online visits across our 21 branches and website. We deliver our incredible content to you everywhere – in the library, at home or on your handheld device. Unmatched access and unrivalled value – that is today’s EPL. EPL is a registered charity and relies on donations to enhance services. Spread the words. www.epl.ca/give
About Urban Libraries Council
The Urban Libraries Council is an innovation and impact tank of North America’s leading public library systems. ULC drives cutting-edge research and strategic partnerships to elevate the power of libraries as essential, transformative institutions for the 21st-century. More than 150 urban member libraries in the U.S. and Canada rely on ULC to identify significant challenges facing today’s communities and provide new tools and techniques to help libraries achieve stronger outcomes in education, digital inclusion, workforce and economic development, and race and social equity.
For more information, contact:
Marina Fernandes
Communications Specialist
Edmonton Public Library
Office: 780.442.5019
Cell: 780.819.4337
Email: marina.fernandes@epl.ca
