Contract Reading Kit | Unhinged Librarian

You don't need to hire a lawyer. You need to know what to look for.

Most librarians have never been taught to read contracts. You're expected to sign what vendors give you, negotiate nothing, and accept extraction as the cost of doing business. This toolkit teaches you the mechanics: the specific language, the common clauses, the patterns that lock you in.

I\'ve negotiated hundreds of vendor contracts. I built infrastructure at OverDrive, managed customer success at Trellis Law, watched Baker & Taylor implode. I know how vendor language works because I\'ve read the same clauses a hundred times, seen what happens when libraries don't push back, and watched the extraction model evolve. This kit is that knowledge, distilled into tools you can use now.

Three Tools to Read Contracts Like an Insider

Annotated Contract

See exactly how contract language works by example. Real vendor language broken down line-by-line: what it means, why it matters, and what it protects (or extracts). Learn the patterns so you recognize them in your own contracts.

View Annotated Contract

Reference Guide

Organized by clause type. Search for "payment," "termination," "data rights," or any section you need to understand. Each entry explains what the clause actually does, what language to watch for, and what fair terms look like.

View Reference Guide

Printable Checklist

A scanning tool to use when you're reading a real contract. 25 questions organized by category that help you spot red flags, understand scope, and catch the mechanics vendors are building in. Print and use in meetings.

View Checklist

How to Use This Kit

Start with the Annotated Contract Read through a real example to see how contract language actually works. This builds your pattern recognition so you can spot the mechanics in your own contracts.
Use the Reference Guide as You Read When you encounter a section you don't understand (payment terms, termination clauses, data rights), use the guide to decode what it means and what fair language looks like.
Scan With the Checklist Print the checklist and use it as a scanning tool when you're reading your actual vendor contract. Work through each question to identify extraction mechanics you're being asked to accept.
Bring Data to Negotiations You now know what's happening in the contract and why. Use this clarity to negotiate specific changes, push back on red flags, or make informed decisions about whether to accept terms.

Questions About Your Contract?

Use this kit to understand what you're reading. If you need help negotiating specific language or evaluating a real contract, reach out.