PARTNERING WITH LIBRARIES FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.

Learn more about recent projects and be inspired to start your library on a path to higher performance.  Click here to see our client list.

EMPOWERING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE FOR STRONGER LIBRARIES.

Fast Forward Libraries is passionate about helping libraries achieve the results they desire. Inspired by the positive impact strategically focused libraries can have in their communities, we work with libraries ready to strive for high performance.

Fast Forward Libraries specializes in strategic planning, fundraising, and coaching. We help libraries transform into learning organizations by incorporating organizational development principles in our work. We help clients learn and grow by engaging in evaluation and continuous improvement, leadership development, and reflection and dialogue. Since we are a small consulting group, we offer flexible, unique solutions to meet the needs of our clients. Our team and collaborating consultants are all MLIS librarians, each with decades of experience in libraries.

Amanda Standerfer is the Founder and Lead Consultant with Fast Forward Libraries. Her passion is helping libraries and nonprofit organizations advance so they can create meaningful impact in their communities. Since 2002, Amanda’s has worked with libraries and nonprofits on strategic planning, fundraising, organizational development, and capacity building. Amanda has 15 years of experience at various positions in public libraries, most recently as the Director of Community Engagement for The Urbana (IL) Free Library. She also has 7 years of experience working in the philanthropy sector. She has a BA and MA in History from Eastern Illinois University and a MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Laura Huddleston is an Associate Consultant with Fast Forward Libraries. She has a special interest in the “how” of public libraries and loves to learn about ways they can thrive to benefit patrons and communities. For ten years, Laura led the children’s department at the Mattoon Public Library where she helped design and launch the MPL’s inaugural Book Buggy mobile library to reach underserved neighborhoods, piloted the First Grade, First Card program to bring library cards to local first-graders, and served on the ISLMA/AISLE Monarch Award Committee. Laura also worked in philanthropy for six years supporting impact evaluation and organizational learning for a family foundation. Laura currently serves as a public library trustee and as an advisor for a community foundation fund. She holds a BA in Spanish and secondary education from Eastern Illinois University and an MLIS from Indiana University.

Kirstin Gebhart is an Assistant Consultant with Fast Forward Libraries. She is a communications and development professional who has coordinated annual campaigns for a variety of industries, from higher education to nonprofits and libraries. She honed her fundraising skills as an engagement communications specialist at Penn State University during their most recent multi-year campaign which generated over $2.2 billion. More recently, she has focused on creating compelling messages for national nonprofits and library foundations.

Collaborating Consultants

Helping information organizations see the big picture as they strive for equity and social justice is Cindy Fesemyer’s passion as the Principal of Fesemyer Consulting, LLC. Community engagement, qualitative assessment, strategic planning, engaged leadership, staff & trustee training, and keynoting are her areas of expertise. She was previously employed for 2.5 years at the WI State Library as their first Adult and Community Services Consultant. Previously she served seven years as Director of the Columbus Public Library (WI), named a finalist for Library Journal’s 2017 Best Small Library in America. She served 8 years a Trustee for the Madison Public Library and currently teaches academic and continuing education courses for the UW-Madison iSchool.

Librarianship is Cindy’s second career. After 14 years managing non-profits, she earned her MLIS from UW-Madison in 2012.

Cindy often partners with Fast Forward Libraries on the engagement elements of strategic planning processes.

Access and equity are the cardinal values that drive Martin Alvarado’s professional practice and consulting work. He has worked in public libraries for over two decades, most recently focusing on providing equitable support for diverse entrepreneurs, oral history archives, and digital inclusion.
A native of Mexico City, Mexico, Martin grew up in a bilingual and bicultural household and sees his role as helping connect and build understanding across cultures. Currently working as the Community Engagement Librarian for Business and Technology, in Madison (WI), he also participates in municipal initiatives around resident engagement for civic participation, DEI, language access, and digital inclusion.
Martin has an MLIS from UW-Milwaukee with an IT Concentration. He also has experience in human-centered design and a certificate from the Bloomberg-Harvard City Leadership Initiative: Innovation Track.