What our clients are saying…

“ReThinking Libraries did things we couldn’t have done. They were able to bring fresh ideas. They got teens and the community to be more open and give honest opinions.  Our strategic plan will secure us about $600,000 for a bookmobile and library annex.  It was such an easy process, I didn’t have to stress about it, and I could do my day job.  We don’t have time and experience on staff to facilitate this process.”

— Mary Abplanalp, Jennings County (IN) Library

“The consultants at ReThinking Libraries did anything we asked them to do.  They added on anything we asked for.  We started with a strategic plan, then it became clear we needed to rewrite the mission, vision, and values.  Then we added in some space planning. 

“ReThinking helped us look at the old concerns about conflict between the city and the county.  They helped us recognize that none of those concerns came true, so let’s look forward.  They did a good job helping the community move forward. ”

— Eric Smith , Mason County (MI) District Library 

“The master plan that ReThinking Libraries created gave validation that we were underfunded. It was instrumental in passing a levy in June 2023 with a 52% approval rate.   

“We are now able to hire staff.  We can be open seven days a week.  We doubled youth services staffing, added two safety specialists, hired a dedicated community engagement person, and expanded bookmobile service to six days a week instead of three. ”

— Susie McIntyre, Great Falls (MT) Public Library

“The process with ReThinking Libraries allowed us to use their expertise. They know how to reach people, ensure good return, conduct a focus group, and elicit the kind of info you need, not just get the answers you want.    

“They made it very clear they didn’t want to tell us what to do, just present the options and help us come to the best decision.  They were objective in leading the focus groups and facilitating the retreat.  ReThinking Libraries was invaluable. ”

— Marshall Webster, Mary Riley Styles Library, Falls Church (VA)

What the Modern Library Awards 2026 Judges said…

  • "Having participated in three previous library assessments and strategic plan developments, I can confidently say that the information and analysis provided by ReThinking Libraries was, by far, the most insightful. This data has been extremely useful in my conversations with board members and elected officials regarding funding levels and performance benchmarks."

  • "ReThinking Libraries was great to work with! Their team is highly professional and knowledgeable. They set us on a new path with our library."

  • "The strategic plan has been a very useful tool for my library and has helped us advance several goals, including our current expansion project, staff reorganization, and sustainability goals. They also continue to check in on our annual progress and have been very flexible in terms of our capacity, both in terms of budget, time, and other resources."

  • "They were great to work with. We learned so much from them. The Master Plan that they helped create was the basis of our successful Library Levy effort."

  • "Rob Cullin and his team are a pleasure to work with. Rob brings deep expertise in all aspects of library service—operations, facilities, and programming—and that knowledge truly informs their approach."

  • "Throughout the process, they were flexible and creative, using a variety of strategies to connect with different sectors of the community. Thanks to their efforts, we were able to reach new audiences and gather valuable insights that will help shape our library's future."

  • "The team excels at community engagement, creating a welcoming environment where people feel comfortable sharing their hopes and aspirations for their library. They also work exceptionally well with library staff, building strong relationships and fostering collaboration. "