Experience

I bring 20+ years of experience working in all areas of public libraries and 10+ years at the executive and senior leadership level. I have extensive experience supporting boards, staff, and communities through change, conflict, crisis, and transformation.

Domains

Governance & Board Relations

Worked directly with Library Boards on policy, oversight, and executive accountability.
Navigated politically sensitive environments with municipal funders.

Organizational Change & Risk Management

Led restructures, staffing strategies, service realignments, and culture shifts.
Addressed staff conflict, burnout, and morale issues.

Strategic Planning & Foresight

Built and implemented multi-year strategic plans.
Led future focused planning
Written multiple plans, strategies and frameworks.

Facilities & Capital Planning

Led planning and design for new and renovated library spaces.
Key decision-maker in 15+ building projects.
Written multiple operational plans for new services and buildings.

Types of Challenges I've Handled

Over my career, I've worked inside libraries dealing with:

underfunding and budget cuts
governance conflict and political pressure
leadership turnover
community backlash
rapid service changes
organizational crisis
Labour disputes

These experiences directly inform how I support libraries with risk awareness, readiness assessment, and strategic decision guidance.

Email

melissa@paperstreetsolutions.ca

RESILIENCE | STRATEGY | IMPACT