Fesemyer Consulting, LLC

Everyone thrives when the community is at the center of the decisions you make for your library.

Library Professional Specializing in Community Engagement

Library consulting services specializing in community engagement, strategic planning, coaching, facilitation, and staff and trustee training.

Reach out so we can work together to strengthen your library’s service to its community.

Cindy Fesemyer

Forthcoming Title

Small Public Library Management 2nd Ed. will be available from ALA Editions / Neal-Schuman Publishing in the Winter of 2026.

Services

Trainings

Cindy loves working with library staff and trustees! Her trainings range from two-hour events to multi-month cohort-style trainings. Areas of expertise include community engagement; data collection and analysis; leadership and management.

Cindy was trained in Harwood Institute techniques and has expanded her repertoire to include many effective community engagement techniques.

Client list

  • ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities Grants to Small Libraries 
  • Arizona State Library
  • Buckeye Public Library (AZ)
  • Evanston Public Library (IL)
  • Midwest Collaborative for Library Services
  • Nicolet Federated Library system (WI)
  • Skokie Public Library (IL)
  • Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (MN)
  • SouthEastern Wisconsin Area library collaborative
  • Southern Maryland Regional Library Association
  • Southwest Library System (WI)

Strategic Planning

Cindy teams up with other library consultants to provide comprehensive strategic planning for libraries and library-support organizations. Cindy’s area of expertise is the collection and analysis of qualitative data, typically in the form of focus groups and one-on-one interviews. These methods help libraries reach those elusive “non-users” in their communities and provide rich data about wider community wants and needs. Cindy also works with library boards and staff to craft their strategic plan using both qualitative and quantitative (survey) data. 

Client list

  • Athens Regional Library System (GA-with Fast Forward Libraries)
  • Bloomfield Township Public Library (MI-with Fast Forward Libraries)
  • Cheltenham Township Library System (PA-with Fast Forward Libraries)
  • Farmington Community Library (MI-with Fast Forward Libraries)
  • Oswego Public Library (NY-with Fast Forward Libraries)
  • Placer County Library System (CA, with Constructive Disruption))
  • RAILS Library System (with Constructive Disruption)
  • Santa Clara County Library District (CA-with Constructive Disruption)
  • Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (MN-with Library Strategies) 

Coaching

Libraries are stronger when their connections to their communities are solid. Engagement is at the heart of all of the services at Fesemyer Consulting.
New to your position at the library and in need of a little coaching? Cindy has coached staff in director and outreach/engagement positions. Learn a few new skills and plan your approach to the job with strategies, planning, and support.

Client list:

  • Oswego Public Library (NY)
  • Arlington Heights (IL)
  • Cheltenham Township Library System (PA)

Webinars & Keynotes

Webinar and keynote topics include:

  • Community engagement tools, tips, and techniques
  • Strategic planning
  • Library and community data
  • Facilitation
  • Self-care

Client list:

  • American Library Association
  • Iowa State Library
  • Michigan State Library
  • LACONI! (IL)
  • Public Library Association
  • Southern Maryland Library System
  • Utah State Library
  • WebJunction

Testimonials

A Fun Exercise

Thank you for facilitating such a fun exercise!  We all really enjoyed the process, as the information resulting from the process was extremely meaningful.  We are excited to share the information and virtual boards with the rest of our staff to provide context to our awesome community narrative.  Thank you again for the wonderful experience!  

Jaime Chew

Recreation Manager, City of Los Altos Recreation & Community Services

Inclusive and Respectful

Fesemyer Consulting facilitated a training for four of Wisconsin’s tribal libraries in response to grant funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS),  American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The hands-on training was inclusive and respectful of each library’s individual nature and provided thorough, useful, and thought-provoking material.  Additionally, the connection made between the four tribal librarians was a joy to see.  Connection is a powerful tool!  Thanks to Cindy and Amber of Fesemyer Consulting for this superb training opportunity.

Tracy Vreeke

Director for the Nicolet Federated Library System (WI)

Professional Coach to Assist and Advise

As I stepped into a new role as Executive Director of a four-branch library system, I sought a professional coach to assist and advise me through the transition. I was lucky enough to meet and learn from Cindy as she facilitated focus groups and stakeholder interviews as part of our organization’s Strategic Planning process, and later sought her out as a coach. Cindy is full of both practical ideas and lofty – but achievable – goals. She led the learning process by inviting me to be a thinking partner, providing the framework for me to discover, explore and reflect on my needs and those of the library system. Her background in the non-profit and library worlds allows her to recognize, understand and explain the complex relationships existing in these types of organizations. Through my work with Cindy, I learned how to empower my direct reports by encouraging them to take on greater responsibility and accountability, which allows me time to focus on planning, partnerships and Board relationships, and still find work/life balance. I give Cindy Fesemyer my highest recommendation as a coach and mentor.

Mary Kay Moran

Library Director for Cheltenham Township Library System (PA)

Ask.

Ask the right questions.

Listen.

Listen to all answers.

Act.

Create a plan of action

Recent Projects

Strategic planning for the Illinois Library Association serving libraries of all kinds across the state of Illinois.

Biannual Planning Retreat for the Winding Rivers Library system (WI) to learn from member directors their priorities in the coming two years.

Strategic planning for the Public Libraries of Saginaw (MI). Cindy teamed up with Fast Forward Libraries to create a new strategic plan for the library. Their plan is steeped in community and staff engagement and will direct their efforts for the coming 3-5 years.

Strategic Planning for the Calcasieu Parish Public Library (NC). Cindy teamed up with Library Strategies to create a new strategic plan for the parish library. Their plan is community-oriented and paved the way for a leadership transition.

About

Cindy Fesemyer is the Principal and Founder of Fesemyer Consulting, LLC.

Cindy taught academic and continuing education courses for nearly ten years for the UW-Madison iSchool . She served as a Trustee for the Madison Public Library for 8 years. Formerly she was served 2.5 years as the Community and Adult Services Library Consultant with the Wisconsin State Library and 7 years as Director of the Columbus (WI) Public Library.

Cindy holds an MLIS from the UW-Madison iSchool.

Connect