Library F.U.T.U.R.E.S.™
Welcome!
Welcome to Library F.U.T.U.R.E.S.
Library F.U.T.U.R.E.S. isn’t your average professional development newsletter; it’s a storytelling-driven space designed to help library leaders, staff, and educators think differently about what’s next.
What It Is
This Substack explores the F.U.T.U.R.E.S. of libraries: Focused, Understanding, Transformative, Unifying, Reflective, Educational, Strategic, through stories that teach. Each post combines narrative, humor, and strategy to connect the theory of library leadership and learning with the human reality of daily practice.
What It Does
Here, we use storytelling and strategic narratives as tools for professional growth. Instead of another 47-slide PowerPoint, you’ll find vivid learning stories, sharp insights, and practical frameworks that help you connect ideas to action. Stories don’t just inform; they stick. They activate empathy, memory, and reflection, turning lessons into lived understanding.
Why Storytelling Works
PowerPoints can tell you what to think.
Stories help you see and feel why it matters.
When you hear a story, your brain lights up across regions: visual, emotional, linguistic, and sensory. Storytelling is how humans have always transferred knowledge and culture; it’s how we make sense of complexity. In a profession built on information, stories remind us that learning is ultimately about meaning.
Make It Yours
Every post, idea, and framework here can be customized: for your library, your audience, or your specific challenge.
Want a post on leadership for your management team?
Need a narrative to train staff or communicate your strategic plan?
Just let me know; I take requests.
I also offer:
Online and in-person presentations of learning content
Consulting services on leadership, knowledge management, and strategy
Executive coaching for library leaders and teams
Speaking services for conferences and organizational events
About the Author
Dr. Larry Nash White is an educator, storyteller, and strategic thinker known for transforming how libraries learn, lead, and adapt. A professor and consultant with three decades of experience in library leadership, knowledge management, storytelling, and organizational strategy, he has developed the STORIESS™ and PIPE™ frameworks—innovative models linking storytelling, critical thinking, and strategic foresight. His workshops, talks, and writings have inspired library professionals worldwide to build clarity, understanding, and purpose into their work and lives.
If PowerPoints tell you what to do, Library F.U.T.U.R.E.S. shows you why it matters.