There’s a lot in leadership we can learn from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The book’s concepts have stayed with me over the years, and I revisit them often. The principle I reference most is “Don’t make assumptions.” Many of the challenges we face in life, in relationships and within our organizations are because we assume truths instead of seeking clarity. This is why defining terms can be so useful. As leaders, we may assume everyone knows what the word “brand” m

Our Peter and Stace dolls hit the streets of Myeong-dong. Luckily, we don't take ourselves too seriously. This is part three of three from my reflections on the NEXT Library Satellite Seoul conference. Read parts one and two. When Aarhus Public Libraries Facilitator Peter Jørgensen and I began planning our conference session, we knew we wanted to take a show-it-not-tell-it approach. Audience engagement and participation are essential to how we both do our work, so it felt rig

Our sustainability group gathered in the garden of the Seoul KFEM headquarters to learn about the work of environmental activist Haemin Cho (left) with translation assistance from SeeArt Foundation Chief Strategy Officer Yoonmi Eom (right). This is part two of three from my reflections on the NEXT Library Satellite Seoul conference. Read part one here. Sitting beneath a 400-year-old tree in the garden of the Seoul Korea Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) headquarter

One of the displays from "50 Fantasies of NEXT Library," an interactive installation created by SeeArt Foundation staff that engaged attendees around what it means to library. This is part one of three from my reflections on the NEXT Library Satellite Seoul conference. Part two and part three available now. Some experiences are a flash in the pan. They sizzle and then drift into foggy memories like steam. Some experiences are so rich, so wonderful that they simmer like a hot

Our first introduction of Embolden by Design (ExD) to the library world happened at NEXT Library Satellite Seoul in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 22, 2026, during my presentation with Peter Jørgensen, "The Heart of Town: Designing for Meaningful Engagement." During the session, we shared examples of the types of creative strategies for community building ExD will bring through this training experience. In August 2025, Amanda Mininger and I met at Cuba Cuba in Denver’s Golde

Jon Fishman vacuum solo during Phish's 2026 Sphere run For Phish fans, the deep incantation of the a cappella line, “I didn’t know…” is a signal, a sign, a rallying cry for what’s about to unfold. Last weekend, I spent three nights at the Sphere in Las Vegas with 18,600 of my closest friends seeing our favorite band. Over 167,000 individually amplified speakers and 160,000 square feet of LED screen (approximately 4 acres) line the interior, making this a concert experience l

A mural in my neighborhood. I've been calling this one a “poemish” - part personal essay, part poem, part brain dump in notes trying to make sense of the world. Today was a strange day Jan. 7, 2026 It’s writing day - the day I look forward to the most I woke up motivated ready to go inspired and Cooking up all kinds of things from my dreams Started by speaking to a friend about the writing process and second guesses We said go go go The headlines got worse as the minutes

Smythe's Accordion Center in Petaluma, Calif. I met with a psychic recently. She said that next year, I would meet the love of my life. Next door to her brick corner space in downtown Petaluma, Calif., was Smythe’s Accordion Center. I peered in the windows of the shop as we waited for the psychic. She arrived five minutes later, popping out of the passenger side of a sedan with her pho dinner in hand and profuse apologies. In the shop next door, there were accordions of all

I'm currently writing a collection of fables. From time to time, I will share them here in various states of revision. This one is still in progress. The Dream Collector By Stacie Ledden The dream collector lives in a modest cottage in a clearing on a mountainside. The thatched roof and whitewashed walls are flanked by a wildflower patch, a vegetable garden, and a willow grove just beyond. Past the grove, a narrow creek curls below a green-tufted bank till it runs parallel to

In August, I got this idea in my head that I needed a retreat – to carve out time this fall to reflect on the past year, identify what I can build upon, what needs to shift. For much of my life, I didn't take that kind of time. I pummeled through projects and experiences like a steamroller, straight on to the next one. Life can still feel like that sometimes. But it's become crucial for me to build in thinking time, for both my creative life and my business. Thanks to the gen

Camp participants explore the Library Field property. Counter-clockwise: Lisbeth Maerkedahl, Aarhus Public Libraries; Andrea Davis, Alameda County Library; Becca Quon, METRO; Grif Peterson, Froghouse; and Shannon Mattern, METRO. Photo courtesy of Froghouse. During our lunch break at NEXT Library 2023, Helene Bruhn Schvartzman, project manager at Aarhus Public Libraries, flagged me down. “Follow me!” She assembled a small group of us on Dokk1’s famous ramp – all individual

Photo by Andrea Davis On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, my colleagues Shamichael Hallman , Tommi Laitio and I gathered on the NEXT Library 2025...

NEXT Library 2025 attendees sing Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" while speakers (L-R) Tommi Laitio, Shamichael Hallman and Stacie Ledden sing...

Maizey speaking to Doherty High School's Class of 2025. This week, Maizey Jaye Gufarotti graduated from high school. It's wild watching...

View from my afternoon perch at Denver Library's Woodbury Branch. Seems appropriate that my internet would be wonky during National Library Week . Of course, the first thing I thought was to come hang at Denver Library 's adorable Woodbury Branch. I’m writing this blog post now showered in its natural light, teens gaming on one side of me and a family reading and chatting on the other side. Even after working in libraries for 16+ years now, I have a whole new appreciation us

A banner from the "Our Wishes" installation by Alejandra Abad featured at PLA 2022. Photo by Stacie Ledden. As I started my own business,...

Photo by Merrie Sherman. Protestors at the Colorado State Capital on Wednesday, Feb. 5. There will be a tipping point, where many folks...

Timothée Chalamet outside the Hotel Chelsea in the movie A Complete Unknown I recently did something I have never done before. I went and...

Photo of Doechii by John Jay A few lists for you list-lovers of 2024 personal favorites, epiphanies and more - in no particular order. 10...

I did it. I just finished The Artist’s Way . It was Thursday, June 27, of this year that Julia Cameron's book ended up on my doorstep...