Providing consulting, training and planning services to community-serving organizations such as libraries, nonprofits, educational institutions and government agencies.
When we think about crisis preparedness for libraries, we often focus on emergency plans, communication protocols, and service continuity. But there’s another crucial step that can make or break your ability to respond effectively to a crisis: removing barriers to library access and use—before a crisis hits. This just one piece a larger conversation about… Continue reading Remove Barriers Now So You’re Ready Later: Crisis Preparedness for Libraries
One of the most common questions I hear from library professionals is: "We are offering so many programs, but how do we know if they are the right programs?" I used to ask those same questions, too. Then, in the early 2010s, I had the opportunity to work alongside some brilliant and forward-thinking colleagues at… Continue reading How Strategic Thinking Transformed Library Programming—and You Can Do the Same
What if the reason more people don’t use libraries isn’t because they don’t want to, or even don't know about the services and programs, but because we’ve unintentionally made it too hard? That’s the central question I kept coming back to as I listened to the recent Freakonomics podcast series on a concept called “sludge.”… Continue reading Are Libraries Serving “Sludge?”
I listen to a lot of public radio on the weekends. This past weekend, I was listening to an episode of Hidden Brain on NPR, Relationships 2.0: The Price of Disconnection, and it got me thinking. Sociologist Allison Pugh was talking about something she calls connective labor, the emotional work we do to make others… Continue reading Connective Labor And Library Marketing
Dear Friends and Colleagues, March has been a month of preparation, reflection, and new beginnings. I've been gearing up to start traveling again, starting with the Friends of Michigan Libraries Annual Membership Meeting in April. At the same time, I’ve been enjoying the arrival of spring—spending spring break with my family, and appreciating the change… Continue reading CAC Updates March 25 2025
Cordelia Anderson Consulting 