Catherine Hakala-Ausperk

• I can help your library develop an easy, affordable, and effective strategic plan that truly reflects your community’s needs!

• I can help you successfully locate your next, great and set your governing board and leader up for success.

• I can energize your conference with an inspiring keynote and effective breakout sessions.

• I can develop leadership skills in both your brand new and seasoned managers, bosses, supervisors and directors.

• I can focus your governing board on being a healthy, professional team.

  I work with libraries around the country offering all of these skills and services. My goal as a consultant and trainer is to facilitate growth, motivation, and success. In addition to my work as a consultant, I also teach at The iSchool at Kent State, as well as for the American Library Association’s Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) Program, The Public Library Association, ALA’s eLearning Solutions, the Urban Library Council, InfoPeople, and multiple other organizations. You can follow and see more about my work and clients on my website librariesthrive.com. Feel free to also check out and “like” my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/librariesthrive or

One of the most rewarding elements of my career is the opportunity to teach graduate library students and mentor them as they begin their careers. My classes include “The Public Library,” “Management of Libraries & Information Centers,” and "Information Institutions and Professions.”

2024

• CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING: “(How to Get to) 5-Star Customer Service” for Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN)
• ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING: “Budget & Finance”; “Current Issues”; “Politics & Partnerships”; “Organization & Personnel Management” for The American Library Association’s Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) Program.
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: “Future-Proof Your Team” Webinar for Allen County (IN) Public Library leadership team.
• KSU GRADUATE SCHOOL COURSE: “Leadership in Libraries and Information Centers” & “Information Institutions & Professions”

2023

• STAFF DAY KEYNOTE: “Renew. Refocus. Recharge.” and breakout “Easy for You to Say!: Mastering Difficult Conversations” for The St. Tammany (LA) Parish Library.
• MANAGEMENT TRAINING: “That’s Where I Want to Work! : Great Managers = Great Teams.” All day managers’ skills development event for The St. Tammany (LA) Parish Library.
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: “How to Be a Great, NEW Boss!” webinar for The Chester County (PA) Library System.
• CONSULTING: “Staff Scheduling Re-Design” project for The East Baton Rouge (LA) Parish Library.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING: “Five-Star Customer Service” webinar for The Carver County (MN) Library.
• DIRECTOR COACHING: One-on-one Director Coaching, Metuchen Public Library (NJ).
• CHANGE MANAGEMENT TRAINING: “Cutting Edge Libraries: Innovative Leadership from the Front-Lines to the Boss’ Office,” day-long workshop for The Tampa (FL) Bay Library Consortium (TBLC), in Pinellas Park, Florida.
• ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING: “Budget & Finance”; “Current Issues”; “Politics & Partnerships”; “Organization & Personnel Management” for The American Library Association’s Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) Program.
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: “What Leaders Do,” 3-day, face-to-face Indiana Library Leadership Academy (leading this for the 5th time)
• KSU GRADUATE SCHOOL COURSES: “Information Institutions and Professions”; “The Public Library”

2022

• CHANGE MANAGEMENT TRAINING: “A Fearless Future” 5-part course for The American Library Association eLearning.
• CHANGE MANAGEMENT TRAINING: “It’s a NEW Day so Be a Great NEW Boss!” webinar for The Public Library Association.
• PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT TRAINING: “Yeah but, What if…": How to Hire and Evaluate Your Library Director (Even If You Need a Plan B) for The New Jersey State Library Trustee Institute.
• KEYNOTE: “Renew Yourself!” and BREAKOUT SESSIONS: “Everywhere Leaders” and “Volunteer for Success!” for the Tampa Bay (FL) Library Consortium Conference, Lakeland, Florida.
• INTERVIEW: with “Work Space Spark” re: 400 copies of “Build Great Teams” to be included in one of their Career Box.
• ALL STAFF TRAINING: “Tech Services Is From Mars, Reference Is From Venus: Effective Communication Across Departments Matters!” NETSL (New England Technical Services Librarians Conference) 2022 Conference
• DIRECTOR COACHING: One-on-one Director Coaching, Metuchen Public Library (NJ)
• BOARD TRAINING: “Celebrating an Effective Board” In-Person Trustee Retreat for Mentor (OH) Public Library
• INNOVATION TRAINING: “You’re Bringing That?!? Packing for the Future: What to Take and What to Leave Behind” for RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System)
• TRAINING: “Information Institutions & Professions” and “The Public Library” (Adjunct Instructor) for Kent State University (OH) iSchool
• ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING: “Budget & Finance”; “Current Issues”; “Politics & Partnerships”; “Organization & Personnel Management” for The American Library Association’s Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) Program
• KSU GRADUATE SCHOOL COURSES: “The Public Library”; “Information Institutions and Professions”

2021

• DIRECTOR COACHING: Director Coach, Metuchen Public Library (NJ)
• LEADERSHIP COACHING: Executive Coach for Florida's "Next Level Library Leadership Institute" (NLLLI)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Plan to Lead" for the State Library of North Carolina/Southeast Collaborative Conference
• STRATEGIC PLANNING TRAINING: "Strategic Planning for Libraries" (webinar & post discussion) for The State Library of California & ALA eLearning Solutions
• KEYNOTE: "A Worthy Goal" for The Tampa Bay (FL) Library Consortium Conference "Go for the Goals!"
• KEYNOTE: "You're Bringing That??" for "Packing for the Future: What to Take With You and What to Leave Behind" for the Ohio Private Academic Libraries (OPAL) Annual Conference
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Management 101" 6-part online course for Massachusetts Library System
• INTERVIEW: Featured in KSU iSchool's Alumni Conversations - "What Now!?"
• PUBLICATION: My 8th book released: "Build a Great Team: How to Harness, Create, and Be Part of Powerful Team," a Simple Truths Ignite Reads (Sourcebooks Publishing)
• TEAM TRAINING: "Great Teams' Toolbox" webinar for Sourcebooks Publishing
• KSU GRADUATE SCHOOL COURSES: Adjunct Instructor at Kent (OH) State University's iSchool; teaching: "Information Institutions & Professions" ; "The Public Library”
• ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING: Instructor for ALA's Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) courses: "Organization & Personnel Management" "Current Issues" "Budget & Finance" "Politics & Partnerships"

2020

• ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING: for ALA's Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) courses: "Organization & Personnel Management" "Current Issues" "Budget & Finance" "Politics & Partnerships"
• KSU GRADUATE SCHOOL COURSES: Adjunct Instructor at Kent (OH) State University's iSchool; teaching: "Information Institutions & Professions" "The Public Library"
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: for ALA eLearning: "Be a Great Boss" "Be a Great Boss During Not-So-Great Times" "Leadership Superpowers" "Meetings Matter (Now More Than Ever!) "Speak Up: Especially When Everyone Is Listening!" "Volunteers to the Rescue" "Recruitment & Hiring" (for small & rural libraries) "Strategic Planning Made Easy" "Getting the Most Out Of Library Volunteers "Mentoring Library Employees"
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Leadership Training Series for St. Charles LA Parish Library "Creating Culture: 4-Part Webinar Series"
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Leadership Training Series for Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records) "Be a Great Boss"
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Webinars for InfoPeople: "Maintaining a Safe & Respectful Workplace" "Leadership Superpowers"
• STAFF DAY KEYNOTE: for The Santa Clarita (CA) Public Library Virtual Staff Day: "From Catalogs to Covid: Everything The Same Has Changed"
• ALL STAFF TRAINING"Maintaining a Safe & Respectful Library" (SC State Library & Infopeople)
• ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING: "Organization & Personnel Administration," "Current Issues" and "Politics & Partnerships" (ALA Certified Public Library Administrator Program)
• ALL STAFF TRAINING: "Getting the Most Out of Library Volunteers" and "Build a Great Team" (ALA eLearning)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Future-Proof Your Team" (NICHE Academy)
• ALLL STAFF TRAINING: "Renew Yourself" (New Jersey Library Association's Annual Conference)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Plan to Lead:" (New Jersey Library Association's Annual Conference)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Plan to Lead!" (Kendallville Public Library)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Be a Great Boss" (State Library of Arizona)

2019

• ALL STAFF TRAINING: “Maintaining a Safe & Respectful Library" (SC State Library & Infopeople)
• ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING: "Organization & Personnel Administration," "Current Issues" and "Politics & Partnerships" (ALA Certified Public Library Administrator Program)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Getting the Most Out of Library Volunteers" and "Build a Great Team" (ALA eLearning)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Future-Proof Your Team" (NICHE Academy)
• ALL STAFF TRAINING: "Renew Yourself" (New Jersey Library Association's Annual Conference)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Plan to Lead:" (New Jersey Library Association's Annual Conference)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Plan to Lead!" (Kendallville Public Library)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Be a Great Boss" (State Library of Arizona)
• KSU GRADUATE SCHOOL COURSE: “Information Institutions and Professions”

2018

• KEYNOTE: "Renew Yourself" Keynote (ALABAMA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION: PUBLIC LIBRARY DIVISION MINI-CONFERENCE)
• ALL STAFF TRAINING: "Renew Yourself and Find Your Place in the Future" (KANAWHA COUNTY (WV) PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY
• ALL STAFF TRAINING: "Renew Yourself" (MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (MLA) MIDWEST CHAPTER CONFERENCE)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "It's All About People: Leadership Retreat (ST. TAMMANY (LA) PARISH LIBRARY)
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Don't Solve Everything! Build a Problem-Solving Team Instead" (LIBRARYWORKS WEBINAR)
• ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING: "Current Issues"; "Politics & Partnerships"; "Organization & Personnel Administration" (ALA CPLA courses)
• ALL STAFF TRAINING: "Maintaining a Culture of Safety" (INFO PEOPLE)
• KSU GRADUATE SCHOOL COURSE: "Information Institutions & Professions"
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING: "Build a Great Team"; "Be a Great Mentor in 90 Minutes or Less: You Can Do It!" (ALA eLearning)
• KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: "Everything The Same Has Changed!" ROTARY CLUB OF Chesterland (OH)

As Executive Director, I led and helped to stabilize and grow a regional system that supports libraries in any way needed. We trained, consulted, planned and innovated, so that our libraries could be successful. I worked with a team of five highly energized, talented and dedicated staff.

At a time when our library was facing exciting changes, such as a major renovation and the introduction of innovative new services such as a Welcome Desk and Roving Reference, as Deputy Director I was responsible for the overall excellence of all public services in our 4-branch system.

In positions from Circulation Clerk to Acting Branch Manager to Regional Adult Services Manager, I benefitted from multiple opportunities for growth and was surrounded and supported by outstanding mentors at CCPL.

Kent State University (1991) Master of Library Science (MLS)

Kent State University (1978) Bachelor of Arts - News/Editorial Journalism

American Library Association (2000) Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA)

Ohio Library Council - Ohio Certified Public Librarian

National Career Development Association (2015) Career Development Facilitator

Kent State University iSchool Alumni Network President (2018-2019)

ALA Learning Roundtable (LRT) - Board Member (2017-2020)

Chair, ALA Learning Roundtable’s Carterette Scholarship Committee (2014 -current)

ALA-APA Certification Review Committee (2012-2015)

Public Library Association (PLA) Conference Committee (2011-2013)

State Library of Ohio LSTA Advisory Council (2010-2013)

Alumni & Friends Council, KSU School of Library & Information Science

Northeast Ohio Regional Library System (NEO-RLS) Board of Trustees (2009-2011)

NEO-RLS Continuing Education Committee; Chair (2009)

NEO-RLS Long Range Planning Committee (2007); Chair (2008-2009)

NEO-RLS Library Leadership Ohio Selection Committee Chair (2008)

CAMLS Continuing Education Committee

PLA Public Libraries Magazine Advisory Committee (2005 – electronic member)

CAMLS Strategic Planning Committee (2004-2005)

Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) Reference Redesign Committee

CCPL Hiring Redesign Committee

CCPL Staff Development Day Committee

CCPL Web Page Committee (Chair)

Be a Great Boss: One Year to Success (ALA, 2011)

Build a Great Team: One Year to Success (ALA, 2013)

Renew Yourself: A Six-Step Plan for More Meaningful Work (ALA, 2017)

Future-Proof Your Team: Leadership Planner (ALA, 2019)

Win ‘Em Over: Leadership Planner (ALA, 2019)

Dynamic Discipline: Leadership Planner (ALA, 2019)

Hot Ticket Meetings: A Leadership Planner (ALA, 2020)

Build Great Teams: How to Harness, Create, and Be Part of Powerful Team (Sourcebooks, 2021)

“Reaching Little Heights”, a chapter in Children’s Services: Partnerships for Success (ALA, 2010)

“Grants and the Grant-Writing Process”, a chapter in Library Management 101: A Practical Guide (ALA, 2013)

“Waking Up the Neighborhood: Partnerships with Local Businesses and Art Communities”, a chapter in Partnerships and Collaborations in Public Library Communities: Resources and Solutions (IGI Global, 2012)