How This Site Is Organized
Most sites are organized by solution (products, services, tools). This site is organized by problem. This matters because the problems you face aren\'t usually simple. They\'re usually about vendor relationships, contract dynamics, technology risk, and institutional power.
The site has several entry points depending on where you're starting from and what your role is. Pick yours below, or scroll down for guides organized by topic.
Find Your Entry Point
New to this site?
Start with the 90-minute guided reading path. You'll understand the core narrative, the pattern of vendor capture, and where practitioners find agency.
Follow Reading PathI'm a librarian
You want to serve patrons. Vendors want to extract margin. Get decoded contracts, patterns to recognize, and how to maintain agency.
Start HereI'm on the board
Your librarian is probably right about the vendor problem. Get board-ready language, fiscal questions that expose extraction, and numbers that work in meetings.
View Board DeckI'm a patron
Your ebook waiting list is 6 months long. That\'s not scarcity. It\'s a business model. Understand the monopoly and what actually needs to change.
Understand the PatternI'm stuck on something specific
You\'ve read the material. You know the patterns. But you're looking at a contract and something feels wrong. Call. I've been on all sides of this.
Consulting ServicesI have a quick question
You\'re renewing a contract or inherited a bleeding budget. Ask me specifically and I\'ll tell you what I\'d do from someone who\'s been in your chair.
Ask a QuestionStart here
New to This Site?
Start here if you're not sure where to begin. Overview of the different areas and how to use this site.
View GuideFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about consulting, contract review, AI governance, and working with me.
View FAQContract & Vendor Issues
Contract Red Flags Checklist
The five contract traps that keep libraries locked in. What to look for during vendor negotiations.
Read ArticleAI Clause Warning Signs
What AI clauses in your contracts really mean. Red flags and what to negotiate.
Read ArticleVendor Independence Playbook
Step-by-step strategies for reducing vendor lock-in and building real independence.
Read ArticleConsortium Negotiation Tactics
How to use your consortium for leverage in vendor negotiations and reduce total cost of ownership.
Read ArticleAI Governance & Policy
Frontline Staff AI Training Guide
How to train your actual library staff to understand AI tools, risks, and responsible use.
Read GuidePrivacy Policy Updates for AI
What your privacy policy needs to address with AI tools in use. Practical policy language.
Read GuideEU AI Act: Compliance Guide
What the EU AI Act requires and how it affects libraries that use AI tools.
Read ArticleColorado AI Act: What's Due
Colorado's AI Act requirements for libraries and timeline for compliance.
Read ArticleAI Training & Library Content
What vendors are doing with your library data. How to protect patron and staff information.
Read ArticleGet Your Data Back
How to request data removal from vendors and protect library data going forward.
Read GuideSecurity & Crisis Management
British Library & Toronto Attacks
Case study: What happened, what was exploited, what you should learn from it.
Read Case StudyUS Library Ransomware Cases
Ransomware attacks on libraries: patterns, vulnerabilities, and prevention strategies.
Read ArticleBoard Budget Scripts
How to justify cyber security spending to your board. Language and talking points that work.
Read GuideSmall Library Tech Stack Essentials
What small libraries actually need for technology. Avoiding overspending on the wrong things.
Read GuideOne-Person IT Survival Guide
You're the IT department. How to stay sane and effective with limited resources.
Read GuideIndustry Intelligence & Context
Fix the Workforce Crisis
The library sector is losing staff. What this means and what you can do about it.
Read ArticleBaker & Taylor's Collapse
What happened and why it matters for library vendor relationships and independence.
Read ArticleInternet Archive Lawsuit
Publishers v. Internet Archive: what it means for libraries and digital preservation.
Read ArticleAI Legislation Tracker
Real-time tracking of state and federal AI legislation affecting libraries.
View TrackerComprehensive Resources
Resources
Templates, checklists, research papers, and tools you can use directly in your library.
Browse ResourcesAll Articles
Complete archive of articles and guides on library technology, contracts, and governance.
View All ArticlesConsulting Services
Bring in expertise for your specific situation. Contract review, strategy, training, and more.
Learn About Consulting