Urban Libraries Council
Project Title
For project support of the Civic Labs for Youth pilot launch across selected Carnegie libraries
Date
Mar. 05, 2026
Duration
24 months
Description
Beyond the classroom, libraries serve as essential nonpartisan spaces where students can learn how civic systems operate, recognize their role in them, and gain the confidence to participate meaningfully. For fifty years, the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) has connected public library leaders, driven advocacy, and supported nearly 200 library systems to enrich urban communities across North America. With this proposed grant, ULC will launch Youth Civic Labs across a coordinated network of Carnegie libraries that empower young people to practice democracy—through activities such as identifying community issues, debating solutions, and taking collaborative action—while strengthening media literacy and leading positive community change. ULC will select ten library systems with Carnegie library branches where possible to implement the model, using data from Carnegie grantee Opportunity Insights (led by Raj Chetty) to identify communities with below-average economic mobility and limited civic infrastructure. This pilot will offer hands-on civic learning experiences and structured opportunities for youth-led action projects that complement school-based education, with an anticipated reach of over 12,000 students across all participating library systems.