Recently, I took a moment to update something I hadn’t looked at in a while—an infographic I first created in 2023 to capture my public speaking work over the past five years.
At the time, it felt like a useful snapshot. But when I sat down to refresh it, I realized the story had grown in ways that were worth stepping back to see more fully.
Since 2012, I’ve had the opportunity to deliver more than 130 speaking engagements for 70 organizations, traveling to 20+ cities and connecting with thousands of library staff, leaders, and partners along the way. In just the past five years, that work has included nearly 100 presentations, the majority of them virtual—something that reflects how much our field has adapted and expanded its reach.
What struck me most in pulling this together wasn’t just the number of talks. It was the consistency of the conversations.
Across conferences, webinars, workshops, and staff days, the same themes keep coming up:
- How do we better connect with our communities?
- How do we communicate our value in a way that resonates?
- How do we move from promotion to real engagement?
And maybe most importantly—how do we do all of this in a way that feels sustainable and true to the work?
Over time, the topics have evolved. I’m talking less about any single tactic and more about how all the pieces fit together—marketing, communications, customer experience, and strategy. But the core goal hasn’t changed: helping libraries strengthen their relevance and build meaningful connections with the people they serve.
Putting this updated infographic together was a small exercise, but a meaningful one. It’s easy to move from one project or presentation to the next without pausing to reflect. This was a reminder of how much has been built—and how much more there is to explore.
If you’ve been part of this journey in any way—by inviting me to speak, attending a session, or continuing the conversation afterward—thank you. It truly means a lot.
And if you’re thinking about bringing this kind of work to your organization, I’d love to talk. Request a Speaker Here!
