With a network of 13 libraries, two bookmobiles, and an active presence in remote communities, Thompson-Nicola Regional Library serves a population of over 143,000 across a vast region in British Columbia. TNRL is recognized for its community-first approach, offering innovative programs, digital literacy services, and access to a wide range of resources. Its commitment to accessibility, inclusivity, and patron engagement makes it one of the most progressive regional library systems in Canada. 

As part of its continued investment in digital transformation, TNRL selected Vega Discover to modernize and streamline the patron discovery experience. With its dynamic, context-aware search, Vega Discover enables patrons to explore the library’s collections and digital resources through intuitive navigation and engaging content displays. The product’s ability to unify metadata from disparate sources and present it through accessible, mobile-friendly interfaces aligns perfectly with TNRL’s goal of eliminating friction in the discovery process and deepening community engagement. 

Sierra, known for its powerful workflows, scalability, and flexibility, provides the backbone for TNRL’s operations—from acquisitions and circulation to cataloging and reporting. With Vega Discover seamlessly integrated into Sierra, the library staff will have a more efficient, connected platform to serve their patrons. Vega Mobile further complements the ecosystem by offering patrons a library-branded mobile experience to manage accounts, discover content, and stay connected to their community. 

Vega Discover is a discovery platform designed to unify the patron experience across formats, services, and touchpoints. Through linked data, dynamic carousels, and personalized browsing, Vega Discover transforms the traditional catalog into a vibrant, user-centered portal. Together with Vega Mobile and other products in the Vega LX suite, libraries can offer a more engaging and inclusive service experience. 

To learn more about the Sierra ILS and Vega LX, request a demo here. 

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Vega Mobile is designed to meet patrons where they are, on their phones, with a seamless, intuitive app that brings the library into everyday life. From managing checkouts and holds to exploring events, Vega Mobile empowers users with a full-service library experience in their pocket. 

For PrairieCat, this move is about more than convenience—it’s about connection. With Vega Mobile, patrons will enjoy a unified, branded experience that reflects the identity of their local library while benefiting from the power of a shared system. Real-time updates through native integration with Sierra ensure that every interaction is smooth, secure, and personalized. PrairieCat is excited to bring this level of mobile access to their communities, so Vega Mobile aligns perfectly with their mission to make library services more accessible, inclusive, and engaging. 

As PrairieCat prepares to implement Vega Mobile, we’re proud to support their vision for a more connected, user-centered library experience. This partnership is another example of how Vega LX can help libraries of all sizes lead with technology that’s built for today, and ready for tomorrow. 

Want to find out more about how Vega Mobile can help your patrons search your catalog, place holds, renew and check out materials, register for events and more right from their phone? Request a demo today. 

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This partnership marks a significant step forward for the library, which has long been a hub for learning, creativity, and connection. By integrating Vega Mobile’s cutting-edge platform, Lithgow is making its resources more accessible, its services more intuitive, and its community engagement more dynamic. From mobile catalog browsing and event registration to personalized notifications and digital library cards, Vega Mobile is helping Lithgow reimagine what a library app can be. 

Libraries are evolving, and so are the expectations of library patrons. Vega Mobile allows libraries to meet people where they are—on their phones—with a seamless, user-friendly experience that reflects the heart of their mission. 

For Vega Mobile, this collaboration is a perfect match. Lithgow’s blend of tradition and forward-thinking aligns with Vega’s vision of transforming how libraries connect with their communities. Together, they’re proving that even the most historic institutions can lead the way in digital innovation. 

As Lithgow turns the page to this exciting new chapter, one thing is clear: the future of libraries is mobile, and it’s powered by Vega. 

To find out more about how Vega Mobile can help your library connect with patrons on the go, make sure to book a demo here. 

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Libraries have always been much more than repositories of books. They are dynamic, cultural, and educational hubs where communities converge to learn, connect, and grow. However, in today’s fast-paced digital era, public libraries face an unprecedented challenge: how to remain indispensable community resources while adapting to the demands of a tech-savvy, mobile-first world. These challenges require libraries to rethink their approaches and implement innovative solutions to meet evolving patron needs.
Gone are the days when simply lending books was enough to entice visitors. The digital-first generation expects their libraries to be just as modernized and accessible as the technology hubs they interact with daily. To thrive, libraries are leaning into modernization—embracing tools and systems that streamline internal processes, redefine patron interactions, and elevate the community-building aspect of their mission.

Libraries at the Crossroads of Technology and Community
Public libraries today stand at a critical juncture of reinvention. Pressures from digital giants like Google and Amazon challenge their relevance. At the same time, tech-savvy communities demand faster, more personalized services. The task is clear — libraries must pivot, integrating technology thoughtfully as they pursue sustainable solutions for their future.

Key challenges libraries face include:

• Competing with powerful digital platforms for visibility and patron engagement.
• Meeting the expectations of users accustomed to seamless, on-demand digital experiences.
• Automating repetitive tasks to allow librarians and staff to focus on fostering strong community ties.

Integrated technology solutions
Fortunately, the results of technological integration in libraries are highly encouraging. When institutions modernize, resource usage increases, events draw larger audiences, and patrons engage in creative and meaningful ways. For instance, libraries using advanced tools like Vega LX systems, Sierra, and Polaris are redefining what it means to serve their patrons, acting as both guardians of knowledge and forward-thinking leaders in their communities.

Follow the journeys of a library leader and a library power-user
If you’re a librarian or stakeholder wondering how to adapt your institution to meet today’s digital-first demands, we invite you to explore this new whitepaper, ‘Library success starts with engaged patrons’ which highlights the journeys of two personas, Isabel and Alicia. Through their stories, we see how technology not only simplifies operations but also enhances the lives of patrons and staff alike. Isabel’s experience underscores technology’s role in providing convenient access to learning and growth opportunities. Meanwhile, Alicia’s leadership shows how innovative tools can unlock a library’s full potential, helping entire communities reach new heights.

Limitless possibilities
If you’re a librarian, stakeholder or advocate for libraries, now is the time to lead the charge toward modernization. The possibilities are limitless when libraries blend tradition with innovation, creating spaces that are as vital tomorrow as they are today.

Download the free whitepaper today and explore how technology can energize your library to thrive as pillars of growth, connection and opportunity in a digital-first world.

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The CDL provides a center for information, education, culture, and recreation through collections, programs, and services. The library was established in 1993, has five branches, including the Local History Branch, which is the system’s original Carnegie library, located in Cassopolis, and services a total population of almost 37,000 people. 

With Vega Discover, libraries can highlight themed collections on any topic, from holidays and local events to staff picks and community interests. This helps patrons discover more of what your library has to offer. It’s a simple, powerful way to stay relevant and connect readers to the stories and resources that matter most.  To celebrate Earth Day this April, the CDL staff used Vega Discover to shine a spotlight on their environmentally focused collection. With just a few clicks, they created a dedicated showcase of books on sustainability, climate action, and green living, making it easy for patrons to explore and engage with meaningful content. 

 “After years spent working to modernize our library facilities, update collections, and diversify program offerings, we now have a staff and patron experience that feels really custom and very responsive to our community needs. The suite of offerings has helped streamline workflows and reduce redundancy, allowing for more staff time to be spent working on patron-focused initiatives,” says Brandi Roberts, technical processing manager at CDL. 

See why Polaris won a Platinum distinction at the Modern Library Awards this year. The Polaris Integrated Library System is a trusted and flexible solution that offers intuitive, web-based access for staff and customizable settings for each library. Polaris includes robust APIs and can integrate with third-party vendors and other resources outside the library.

One MLA judge wrote in their evaluation: “We switched from (competitive product) to Polaris over 6 years ago and have been happy with the switch, including adding complementary services. We just executed another 6-year contract because we’re so happy with our experience with Polaris and working with, now, Clarivate. I trust them in their forward-thinking development of services.”  

See it for yourself and request your personalized demo with no commitment here. 

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Springfield-Greene County Library District (SGCL) is a library system that operates in both Springfield and Greene County, Missouri. The SGCL has ten branches and a Mobile Library. The library offers free WiFi, study spaces, and specialized resources, including genealogy research, business funding databases, and language learning tools. The Edge Community Technology Center provides instructor-led tech classes, a 3D printer, and a Media Lab for public audio and video production. Ten branches serve as community hubs where information, technology, and culture are within everyone’s reach.  

“Transitioning to Vega WebBuilder has empowered our library staff to take greater ownership of website content, keeping it current and visually appealing without relying solely on IT support. We especially appreciate how seamlessly it integrates with Vega Discover, creating a more unified and intuitive online experience for our patrons,” says Stephanie Ruhe, ILS Administrator at Springfield-Greene County Library District. 

This project showcases what’s possible with our Custom Service Package for Vega WebBuilder — a true reflection of the library expertise we bring to the table. Unlike generic web solutions, our Standard and Premium Service Packages offer professionally designed templates tailored specifically for libraries, incorporating best practices in accessibility, discovery, and community engagement. These packages allow libraries to select from curated templates, and we bring their site to life using flexible, modular design blocks. Custom Service Package, however, is where vision meets craftsmanship. It empowers libraries to show their unique brand and functional needs to us, and together we create a site that reflects their identity and mission. 

That’s exactly what Springfield-Greene County Library needed: a modern, library-centric content management system that could retain the look and feel of their existing site. Through close collaboration, we helped them achieve a site that’s not only easier to manage but also better aligned with the expectations of today’s digital patrons. 

Join libraries like Springfield-Greene County in transforming patron engagement online — schedule your Vega WebBuilder demo. Find out more about how Vega WebBuilder can modernize your library website and attract more patrons. 

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For the fourth year in a row, Vega Discover received recognition at the 2025 Modern Library Awards (MLA). One MLA judge shared with us: “Leveraging Vega Discover has led to dramatic improvements in our public-facing interfaces. One key aspect we appreciate is the platform’s rapid development cycle, which consistently brings valuable enhancements that we can customize to meet the evolving needs of our patrons. We are confident that the Vega Discover platform is well-positioned to remain the best patron-facing web experience available for the foreseeable future, thanks to its strong development roadmap and strategic partnerships with library systems like ours.”   

What is Vega Discover?

Vega Discover is a sophisticated library catalog interface designed to enhance user engagement and streamline searches. With its intuitive design and powerful search features, it helps public libraries attract more patrons by making it easy to find and access resources they need. The platform offers personalized recommendations, interactive content, and a mobile-friendly experience, ensuring a seamless and enriching library journey. 

Since its launch, Vega Discover has transformed the way patrons interact with library catalogs, becoming a favorite for its advanced search capabilities, personalized recommendations, and seamless integration.  

“Reaching 100 million searches is a significant milestone that reflects the trust and reliance our partner libraries place in Vega Discover,” said Yariv Kursh, Senior Vice President (SVP) and General Manager at Innovative, from Clarivate. 

Key highlights: 

• Over 100 million searches: A testament to the platform’s popularity and effectiveness. 

• Widespread adoption: Vega Discover is trusted by 165 library systems today, including more than 65 consortia libraries in 7 countries: US, Canada, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Scotland – connecting millions of users to the resources they need. 

• Improving accessibility: Among our 90 fixes released in 2024, we’ve prioritized accessibility, ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.2 and EU standards to make Vega Discover more inclusive and user-friendly for everyone. 

Fun facts: 

• Peak usage: The busiest day for searches was March 17th, 2024, with almost 6 million searches conducted in a single day. 

• Top search: One of the top terms searched in 2024 was the word “Pokémon,” which shows the enduring popularity of a franchise that has captivated generations since the 1990s. 

• It’s no wonder that Colleen Hoover is one of the top author searches in 2024, because she’s mastered the art of making readers laugh, cry, and text their friends at 2 a.m. about fictional heartbreaks. 

• Device usage: 448,659 visitors used a tablet: 7,666,186 visitors used a mobile phone, and 29,212,782 visitors used a desktop computer to access Vega Discover catalogs in 2024. 

Innovative, from Clarivate, is committed to continually enhancing Vega Discover to meet the evolving needs of libraries and their patrons. We are grateful for the support and feedback from our community, which drives us to innovate and improve. Discover Vega Discover updates and new features from 2024, including new features that enhance user experience, streamline workflows, and drive library success. Libraries can create themed catalogs and interactive guides, allowing them to tailor the experience to their unique communities. Get a glimpse of how your library can do that here. 

See what our customers love about Vega Discover 

“We are incredibly excited to have partnered with Innovative to develop Vega Discover,” stated Nicole Turzillo, Administrator for Technology Services at the Suffolk Cooperative Library System. “This multi-year project reflects our commitment to providing patrons with the best possible catalog. Vega Discover offers patrons a more intuitive and efficient way to explore and access our extensive collection of books, eBooks, movies, and more. We are confident that Vega Discover will significantly enhance the library experience for all.”   

Join us in celebrating this achievement and looking forward to many more milestones in the future! 

Experience the difference with Vega Discover

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Vega Mobile just got even better! In Q1, Innovative unveiled a suite of exciting new features designed to make your library experience more intuitive, personalized, and engaging, whether you’re on the go or browsing from the comfort of home. 

With every update, Vega Mobile becomes more than just an app, it becomes a companion in discovery. The latest enhancements elevate the patron experience with smoother, more intuitive interactions and a refreshed, modern interface that feels as welcoming as your favorite comfy reading nook. New tab types introduce flexible layouts that breathe life into the home screen, allowing libraries to showcase rich, dynamic content that reflects the vibrancy of their communities. Thoughtful accessibility improvements ensure that every patron can navigate and enjoy the app with ease, embracing the principles of inclusive design. And beneath it all, performance optimizations work quietly in the background, delivering faster load times and rock-solid stability, so the experience is not only beautiful, but seamless. Vega Mobile continues to evolve with your needs in mind. 

For library staff, the latest release brings tools that simplify patron engagement and provide deeper insights into user behavior, helping you deliver even more value to your community. 

Want to see these features in action? We hosted a live webinar where our product experts walked through the updates, shared tips for maximizing the app’s potential, and answered questions from attendees. If you missed it, or want to revisit the highlights, you can now watch the full session on demand here.

Innovative Mobile is now Vega Mobile, bringing a more unified experience

This rebranding effort is part of our strategic initiative to create a cohesive and integrated ecosystem of products. By transitioning Innovative Mobile to Vega Mobile, we aim to streamline our offerings and enhance the user experience across all modules. This unified approach allows us to leverage the strengths of each product, ensuring seamless connectivity and functioning. Ultimately, this transformation supports our commitment to providing innovative, user-friendly solutions that meet the evolving needs of our patrons and staff, fostering a more efficient and engaging library environment, where our focus is always community engagement. 

Book a personalized demo of Vega Mobile and experience firsthand how its intuitive design, dynamic features, and seamless performance can elevate your library’s digital presence. 

Schedule your demo 

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Once available, users with automatic updates will receive the new version seamlessly; others must update manually. Keep reading for some of the newest features and updates, and how to configure these features in your CMS. 

What’s New in Vega Mobile 

• Image Loading Optimization – Backup images now load more efficiently for a smoother visual experience. 

• Calendar Integration – Patrons can choose their preferred calendar when adding events. 

• Dynamic Home Tabs – Customize your app’s home screen with flexible, user-focused tabs. 

• Notification Confirmation – Patrons now get a confirmation prompt when receiving notifications. 

• Stripe Payments – Secure, streamlined payments through Stripe (requires existing Stripe account). 

Enhanced Features for a Smoother Patron Experience 

• Improved Item Detail Popup – Cleaner popups in the Reading Tracker for easy access to key info. 

• Faster, Friendlier UI – Improved responsiveness, better image handling, and smoother navigation. 

• Improved Layout Alignment – Better spacing and consistent styles for a clean, modern look. 

• Accessibility Upgrades – Screen reader and large-text users now enjoy easier navigation. 

• Dynamic Home Refresh – Homepage updates based on your device’s accessibility settings. 

And many more! 

Vega Mobile offers a seamless and accessible way for patrons to engage with library services on the go. It provides easy access to library catalogs, event calendars, and account management, allowing patrons to search for and borrow materials, check due dates, renew items, and place holds directly from their smartphones. This mobile experience is vital for meeting the needs of today’s tech-savvy library users, while also helping libraries improve engagement, streamline operations, and provide a more personalized service. Plus, with real-time notifications and user-friendly features, Vega Mobile helps libraries keep their patrons informed and connected, anywhere, anytime.

Get a first-hand look at the new Vega Mobile features released in Q1 during a live demonstration and interactive Q&A session.

Join us on April 22, 11 a.m. EDT for a live webinar here.

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Vega Discover continues to evolve with features designed to enhance user experience and simplify catalog management. These improvements aren’t just features – they’re touchpoints connecting people to the library in meaningful ways. From improved accessibility to enhanced content management tools, here are the most impactful updates:

Themed Catalogs and Kids Catalogs – It’s been almost a year since we released this cool feature! With Vega Discover, libraries can create customized experiences tailored to their unique communities. They can define collection parameters, so catalog searches return items from specific categories, such as a Children’s Collection. Each themed catalog includes a custom homepage, designed with an intuitive page builder, to highlight unique resources—like showcasing historic newspapers for genealogy, vinyl records for music enthusiasts, or antique maps for history buffs.

Scheduled Showcases for Discover and search option – Library staff can now schedule homepage showcases with defined start and end dates, ensuring the content displayed on the homepage is always relevant and timely. This feature saves staff time, reduces manual updates, and enables strategic planning for content curation. A library hosting a Summer Reading Program can schedule showcases with book recommendations and event details in advance. Once the program ends, the system automatically transitions to a Back-to-School showcase, ensuring the homepage always features timely and relevant content without extra effort.

Vega Program Integration with the home page builder – Save time with “set it and forget it” dynamic events. All libraries can manually create a component row with 3 events in the home page builder. Libraries with the Vega Program module will be able to search their events and pull all the details directly from the Vega Program API to increase efficiency and accuracy. You are still able to add a static event to the home page.

Bulk Holds workflow in Bookmark Lists – Patrons can now place bulk holds directly from Bookmark Lists. This feature allows users to select multiple materials and place holds on all items at once, simplifying the process for patrons with large lists of materials.

Non-Integrated eContent Management – Polaris PAC feature that we’ve recreated for Vega Discover to benefit all our libraries using Polaris and Sierra This feature allows libraries to apply branding logos to eContent that they manage in the ILS. For consortia libraries, it also helps them control where the content appears by site.

Polaris Pick-up areas – Vega Discover now supports multiple pickup locations. Read more about it here!

Grid View icon updates – We reorganized icons alphabetically, making it easier for both staff and patrons to navigate through materials. New and updated icons for eAudiobooks, eBooks, and eMagazines, among others, now provide clearer visual cues. Additionally, the Vox icon has been renamed to Book + Audio for better.

Accessibility prioritization – Vega Discover is now 100% Compatible with Section 508 for Accessibility. In addition, Vega Discover has enhanced screen reader support and added new ARIA labels to distinguish bibliographic and item-level metadata, in line with WCAG 2.2 standards. You can read more about it here.

Many more feature updates were showcased in our latest Vega Discover webinar that you can watch here. Catch Angela Nolet and Samantha Cunning, Vega Product Managers, talk about more than 200 updates from last year.

What’s coming in 2025: Key developments for Vega Discover

With Vega Discover’s upcoming features (some of them already in beta testing), library patrons will experience a truly seamless journey from start to finish. Here are just a few of them: 

1. Single Staff interface – Vega LX Admin and Vega Discover settings can be managed in a single combined staff interface. Admin users see only the permissions they have been granted to administer for each product.
2. Social Media sharing – Picture being able to share your favorite book directly to social media with a simple click. Whether it’s a book, saved search, or resource, sharing will be quick and seamless, broadening your library’s reach and encouraging others to explore.
3. Search and Availability in personalized lists – Patrons will enjoy an enhanced experience by easily searching through personalized lists. They can check the real-time availability of their saved titles and instantly access a dynamic showcase of bookmarked items right on the homepage.

These innovations are designed to elevate both the staff and patron experience, offering a more efficient, engaging, and user-friendly way to interact with the library. It’s a glimpse into the future of libraries – where everything is connected, easy to manage, and always just a click away.  

Vega Discover is the responsive and accessible discovery module of the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite of patron engagement tools. Vega LX is a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage a full range of materials, programs, and services.   

Read more about these features and more on our Product Roadmap. 

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During the opening keynote, Yariv Kursh, General Manager and Senior Vice President at Clarivate, outlined our strategy for 2025, highlighted new product launches, introduced new partnerships to complement our unique and fully integrated ecosystem of solutions for public libraries and he re-iterated our support of the community to help lobby for Federal funding. 

While IUG is an annual event, our collaboration doesn’t stop there. We stay connected and engaged throughout the year!

The keynote was followed by 82 separate sessions during the next three days presented by users and by Clarivate staff covering everything from roadmap updates to “quick hits” to “how to’s” and brainstorming sessions. The level of energy and collaboration was extraordinary. 

A highlight of Clarivate announcements was the unveiling of AI-driven innovation, including the Vega Search Assistant and Metadata Assistant, designed to streamline library workflows and enhance discovery. These tools reflect our commitment to responsible AI that supports libraries in adapting to evolving librarian and patron needs. 

A Summary of New Products Unveiled at IUG 2025 

• Account Portal for Vega Discover, which streamlines account management, enables seamless navigation between linked accounts, and offers guardians control over minors’ library access.
• Vega Donate is a donation and online shop plug-in that empowers libraries to boost fundraising, manage donations, and create branded, user-friendly giving experiences.
• Vega Mobile Worklists, now available for both Polaris and Sierra, bring faster, more efficient workflows to library staff, enabling on-the-go check-ins, holds management, and inventory tasks—all from a mobile device.
• Partnership with Recollect, a powerful digital asset management and storytelling platform that helps libraries, archives, and cultural institutions preserve, organize, and showcase rare materials through interactive and engaging experiences.
• Rapido Consortial Borrowing redefines resource sharing by ensuring equitable access to knowledge while preserving each library’s workflows, reducing costs, and streamlining borrowing across consortia. Launching in 2026!
• Vega Reports provides a modern, interconnected interface for Polaris, Sierra and Vega LX reports.
• Innovative Phone Alerts and SMS are now part of Vega Interact, a cloud-based VoIP patron collaboration solution for Polaris and Sierra libraries, streamlining notifications and renewals, with more communication channels coming soon. 

Make sure to sign up for the Early Adopters program here!

Connecting with our Community 

Director’s Day Summit An invitation-only meeting of the minds, where Library Directors from across the country gathered to exchange ideas, explore innovation, and brainstorm the future of public libraries and their community impact.

Executive leadership panel The discussion reinforced our commitment to libraries, innovation, and the continuous evolution of both Sierra and Polaris. During the session, an audience member highlighted their appreciation of us joining COSLA in Washington DC to help lobby for library funding, recognizing the courage it takes to advocate for the industry.

Hackathon Congratulations to Jason Bedsaul (Online Dakota Information Network – ODIN-NDUS), Jason Tenter (Saskatchewan Information & Library Services Consortium), Somalia Jamall (Jacksonville Public Library), and Andrew McDonald (Saskatchewan Information & Library Services Consortium) for their winning projects at the IUG 2025 Hackathon & Lightning Round Presentations.

Crystal Awards Yariv Kursh, SVP, GM, Clarivate and Jeff Campbell, Chair of IUG Steering Committee 2025 took the stage at IUG to present the Crystal Awards to attendees who have participated for 15 consecutive years. Congratulations to all the recipients!

John Pierre, author of the book Pillars of Health delivered his most popular class, Pillars of Motion. Grounded in his holistic philosophy, the class emphasized balance, coordination, and skill-building to enhance stability and prevent falls. Participants engaged in mindful movements to strengthen posture, core strength, and agility, key foundations for lifelong wellness.

Dessert Reception The annual dessert reception brought back the dance floor, inviting attendees to let loose with great music, a photo booth, a chocolate fountain, and refreshing drinks. The energy was contagious and the partnership spirit of this community was evident! 

Innovative, from Clarivate – it’s worth the trust 

Your account manager and customer support teams are always available to assist you with any questions or support you need. Don’t hesitate to reach out! Stay connected and keep an eye out for all the great things we have planned for the rest of 2025 on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

IUG 

You can learn more about membership on the Innovative Users Group website. 

The IUG is an independent organization, fostering an incredible community connection for thousands of Innovative users around the world. Clarivate is a sponsor of this annual conference and an enthusiastic supporter of the IUG community. 

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Lester Owencroft, Vice President, Product Marketing opened the session by saying: “You can rest assured that we’re 100% committed to the development and support of both Polaris and Sierra.” 

Tom Jacobson, Vice President, Product Management added to that: “We are committed to further developing Sierra and Polaris—you can see our commitment in Mobile Worklists, for example.” 

During the session, an audience member highlighted the importance of standing up for libraries, recognizing the courage it takes to advocate for the industry. 

Yariv Kursh, Senior Vice President, General Manager: “Thank you for that comment. In times like these, when we see what is happening, we simply care too much about the industry to stay silent. A third of our company is made up of librarians, and it was clear to us that we needed to take action.” 

When Kursh asked attendees why they come to IUG, their responses highlighted the value of this community: 

“You guys listen to us, take our feedback to the back office, and develop exactly what we need.” 

“One of the biggest advantages of this conference is hearing directly from Innovative staff. You listen, people share what they’re doing, and we can ask questions to tailor solutions to our library’s needs.” 

“I hear a great idea, and I figure out how to scale it with your staff in one-on-one connections. This is why I keep coming to IUG.” 

This engagement is what makes IUG so impactful. Thank you to all who shared their voices! Kursh emphasized Vega as the answer and left attendees with a simple but powerful message: “Let us help you.” 

Beyond technology, IUG 2025 was about community—a space for sharing insights, learning from peers, and shaping the next chapter of library services together. The energy and passion of library professionals continue to inspire, and we are grateful for the meaningful conversations and feedback that will help drive future innovations. 

As we move forward, the ideas and discussions from IUG 2025 will continue to shape the roadmap ahead. Thank you to all who attended, contributed, and engaged. Until next year! 

Want to stay updated on what’s next? Follow us on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn as we continue building solutions that empower libraries and their communities. 

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Patrons can link accounts and seamlessly manage checkouts, holds, and renewals—all in one centralized dashboard. Parents or guardians gain the flexibility to oversee their child’s library activity, choosing from two levels of permissions: Adult and Minor, tailoring the experience appropriately. Additionally, quick login context switching allows users to move between linked accounts, eliminating the hassle of multiple logins. 

Developed by Innovative, from Clarivate, the updated interface enhances accessibility and consolidates key functions, ensuring a smooth and organized experience for every library user. No more juggling multiple logins or struggling to track borrowed materials—Vega Discover brings everything together in a modern, user-friendly portal that simplifies patron engagement. 

Account Portal also introduces exciting enhancements to further personalize patrons’ library experiences. Innovative, from Clarivate, has done extensive work on connecting other parts of Vega into this and tying everything together to enhance library workflows for everyone. Vega LX unifies and connects Discover, Program, Promote, and LX Starter into a single ecosystem with seamless single sign-on (SSO) access.  Patrons can toggle between linked accounts to browse bookmarked materials and view stacked cover displays in their saved searches. Plus, sharing discoveries on social media is now easier than ever with a built-in sharing option. 

For Discover Premium/Consortia libraries, parents/guardians can choose to link to a default catalog like a kids catalog, to protect what type of library resources minors can see. 

Previously mentioned features will be immediately available for beta customers, and Innovative team is working hard on additional features, such as: 

• Patron Personalization using default search filters customized to your searching needs.  

• Redesigned My Recommendations page, which showcases featured items from their For Later or other booklists. With linked accounts, users can seamlessly switch between profiles to view each person’s recommendations. In the future, this page will also feature Vega-generated recommendations for even more personalized discovery. 

• Updated Bookmarks and Saved Searches pages. 

• Updated Bills/Fines page.  

• Integration with Vega Program Events and Bookings. 

Polaris customers can be the first to test out and provide feedback as development continues on Account Portal. Fill out this form to become an early adopter. 

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Effectively navigating AI can be complex, as each user has unique needs and engages with libraries in different ways. Innovative, from Clarivate, anticipated these challenges and is introducing solutions to help libraries adapt with confidence. Through a carefully developed strategy and ongoing partnership with libraries, development of these AI-powered tools will eliminate uncertainty, streamline operations, and ensure libraries can serve diverse communities with ease and confidence. 

“Our products use responsible AI to deliver trustworthy information, fostering curiosity and confidence. Innovative, from Clarivate, partners with the community to apply AI thoughtfully, maximize its value, and set best practices. We help libraries navigate challenges and enhance operations with user-focused, easy-to-implement solutions that create a seamless experience for librarians and patrons,” said Yariv Kursh, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Innovative, from Clarivate.

Product announcements included the upcoming Vega Discover update, set to launch later this year as part of Vega Search Assistant—at no extra cost for customers using Vega Discover Premium and consortia libraries. This new tool will recommend similar titles based on what patrons are exploring and generate interactive quizzes to help readers engage with their selections on a deeper level.  

Vega Promote is equipped with an AI assistant that helps generate compelling newsletter copy for community outreach. It also enables on-demand AI image generation, making marketing communications more creative and efficient. Vega WebBuilder is a solution that allows libraries to craft visually engaging, AI-enhanced web experiences for their patrons and provide a positive online presence. 

Additionally, Kursh introduced plans for an AI-powered Metadata Assistant this year. Inspired by an existing Ex Libris solution, this tool allows staff to snap a photo of a book cover, automatically generating an initial MARC record to streamline cataloging. Since metadata assistant is based on taking pictures of book covers, and Mobile Worklists is used on mobile devices with cameras, this creates a resourceful union of functionality.  

Innovative has been using AI and machine learning for years. With a steadfast commitment to ethical AI practices, this strategy ensures that technology supports and strengthens library work while upholding the highest standards. 

The post Innovative unveils plan for AI strategy in product development appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Libraries are at the heart of every community, and now, with Vega Donate, fundraising has never been easier. This innovative donation and eCommerce platform is designed specifically for libraries, helping you expand your revenue streams, engage your supporters, and strengthen your impact—all from a single platform. 

“Libraries face ongoing financial challenges, and Vega Donate is designed to help by providing new funding opportunities with minimal effort. By introducing Vega Donate and Vega Shop, Clarivate empowers libraries with greater financial autonomy, enabling them to thrive despite budget constraints,” says Taylor Fisher, Senior Product Manager at Innovative, from Clarivate.  

Vega Donate makes fundraising effortless with a dedicated, customizable donation page that supports both one-time and recurring contributions. Libraries can seamlessly sell branded merchandise without the hassle of inventory management or fulfillment. The platform offers a simple, no-code setup, ensuring easy integration with existing systems. Patrons enjoy a smooth, secure giving experience with an intuitive, mobile-friendly design. Plus, built-in analytics provide valuable insights, helping libraries track sales and donations to refine their fundraising strategies. 

This means libraries can focus on what they do best—serving their communities—while Vega Donate manages the fundraising. 

Collecting donations gives you the opportunity to: 

• Empower patrons to invest in library programs and community initiatives. 

• Create custom donation campaigns with flexible one-time or recurring options. 

• Ensure transparency with donor tracking, automated acknowledgments, and real-time reporting. 

Establishing an eCommerce shop allows your library to: 

• Sell branded merchandise without the hassle of inventory or shipping. 

• Foster community connections and strengthen library engagement. 

• Leverage data-driven insights for smarter inventory and marketing decisions. 

By partnering with Clarivate, libraries gain the expertise and tailored support needed to maximize fundraising success. Vega Donate is a tool built for libraries, backed by library experts. Whether implemented as a standalone tool or bundled with Vega WebBuilder, Vega Donate provides a library-first solution that streamlines community giving and revenue generation. 

Libraries interested in contributing feedback for Vega Donate development can sign up today to become an early adopter. 

The post Introducing Vega Donate: Empowering libraries to fundraise and grow  appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Serving Fort Wayne, Indiana, and beyond, ACPL is home to 15 locations, including the renowned Genealogy Center, the largest public family research facility in the U.S. With over 4.1 million checkouts annually and a commitment to delivering seamless, user-friendly services, ACPL sought a modern, integrated library system to better serve its community. 

After careful evaluation, ACPL selected Polaris ILS, Vega Discover Premium, and Vega Mobile, ensuring a cohesive and engaging library experience for patrons and staff alike. By integrating these solutions, ACPL will benefit from: 

• Seamless catalog discovery with Vega Discover, offering patrons an intuitive interface, enriched search results, and dynamic content recommendations. 

• Streamlined staff workflows through Polaris ILS, providing robust automation, real-time data insights, and improved cataloging and circulation processes. 

• Greater operational efficiency with Vega Mobile, allowing staff to manage collections, track inventory, and handle shelving more effectively from mobile devices. 

ACPL benefits from enhanced patron engagement through personalized recommendations, seamless online renewals, and a unified experience across web and mobile platforms. The system’s scalability ensures the library can adapt to future needs and emerging technologies, while reduced administrative workload allows staff to dedicate more time to serving patrons rather than managing system maintenance.

“One of our biggest goals when choosing a new ILS was meeting the evolving needs of our public and our staff. And that is exactly what Polaris has done,” said Kim, Bolan, Chief Operating Officer at Allen County Public Library.
“What I love about the Innovative team,” she elaborated, “is that they really seem to care, and they want us to succeed. They’re committed to getting things to work the way we need them to work specifically for our library and community.” 

We are proud to partner with ACPL on this transformational journey and look forward to supporting their mission of lifelong learning and discovery.

Discover how ACPL is transforming its library experience with Polaris and Vega – read the full case study here.

To learn more about how Polaris and Vega can enhance your library’s services, you can visit our website. 

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If your library staff are regularly updating their Vega Discover Showcases, then they’ll love our new features in Vega Promote and LX Starter to make sure the most up-to-date resources and cover art are included in every email. Recent releases for Vega Promote and LX Starter, based on library feedback, deliver key updates that simplify workflows for including Discover Showcases in emails and managing patron records.  

New features include: 

• ‘Set It and Forget It’ Showcases in Emails 

Your emails now automatically feature the latest Discover Showcase updates, ensuring fresh content for both marketing and notice emails, so your staff can focus on connecting with the community instead of time-consuming administrative tasks. Before sending, the system checks for the latest Showcase and updates it if needed, bringing in fresh titles. Plus, we have a proofing method in place that ensures there are no empty showcases in emails. These features are available in our LX Admin interface for library staff, used by both Vega Promote and LX Starter customers. 

“When adding Showcases from saved searches, you can truly set it and forget it – your emails will always deliver the latest Showcase content automatically. Any update to a Showcase will also sync before each email send, so there’s no need to revisit it,” says Taylor Fisher, Senior Product Manager. 

• Additional Language Templates for All Notice Types 

Now libraries can have up to five templates (including the default template) per notice type in LX Starter. This allows you to better serve multilingual communities by offering library email notices in more languages. 

• Deleting Patron Records – Sierra Phase 1 

For libraries using Sierra 6.2, Super Admins and Admins now have an additional option for managing patron records within LX Admin. The admin roles in LX Admin can now delete patron records from the interface. The system verifies with Sierra before deleting a patron record, and if the deletion is approved, records are removed from both the ILS and LX Admin. If the ILS blocks patron deletion, the patron record remains in both systems. Deletions made in the ILS also sync with LX Admin for seamless updates. As we build an interconnected ecosystem for library management and community engagement, this two-way functionality enables libraries to see all of their contacts and make decisions from either interface. Libraries on Polaris will receive this functionality in a future release for the Vega Library Experience modules. 

Do you want to know about how LX Starter helped The New York Public Library connect more easily with their patrons by sending customized notices?  Read more about it here.  

Rochester Hills Public Library uses Vega Promote to modernize patron communication and foster a seamless experience for their patrons across catalog, email, and SMS. Read more about their launch of Vega Promote on our website or download their full library story here. 

Our Vega LX modules are new and improved every two weeks. If you’d like to stay up to date on what’s new in Vega, sign up for our release notes. Users with access to the Support website can sign up for the release notes and help register colleagues as well. You can also view all release notes for Vega Promote and LX Starter when logged in to the Innovative Knowledge Portal. 

Do you want to keep your patrons informed with relevant emails? To find out more about Vega Promote or any solution in the Vega LX engagement suite, contact us today.  To learn more about LX Starter* and how it can help you build stronger connections within the community, check out this fact sheet.  

* LX Starter is included in the subscription costs for the Sierra and Polaris integrated library systems. 

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Innovative, part of Clarivate, recently hosted a webinar with the Monarch Library System in Wisconsin to discuss how they chose Vega Program for event management across their 32 member libraries and found options that worked for the individual members and the consortium as a whole. The webinar presenters Riti Grover, Director of Monarch Library System along with Clarivate Senior Product Manager, Angela Nolet, discussed why Monarch chose Vega Program, their approach to implementation, and the unique features available for consortia.

The Monarch Library System in southeast Wisconsin includes 32 member libraries across 4 counties, offering shared resources, interlibrary delivery, and a shared online catalog. Member libraries host events like Free Coffee Fridays, homeschool art classes, crafting sessions, and book clubs, fostering community engagement for all ages. 

Why did Monarch choose Vega Program

Collaborating with Clarivate on development for Vega Program was a game-changer for Monarch, empowering member libraries across counties to come together, share expertise, and shape a library events platform that specifically supports their unique needs as a consortium. Furthermore, Monarch fostered collaboration at every step, making each library’s voice essential to building a stronger, more connected system.  

Grover discussed many of the ways Vega Program brings library events to life for her community. That is to say that patrons get instant access to event details, complete with location maps, event communications, and customizable library calendars. Room reservations and payment options? Seamless. And with consortium-wide calendar management, each library can spotlight its local events while patrons explore programs across the network. Therefore, event promotion was easier for her staff while community members had a more intuitive way to engage with their local library. 

Monarch was specifically excited about Vega Program’s latest feature for consortia, the Shared Calendar, where patrons get a seamless view of all programs across member libraries in one place, making it easier than ever for patrons to discover and register for programs they’ll love. The member libraries enjoyed greater insight into each other’s events, sparking fresh ideas and building a collaborative community of shared programs. Additionally, each member library still had their own uniquely branded events page as well.  

Panelists highlighted several features in Vega Program that made the most impact:

• Calendar view   showcases events in a visual way, making it easier for patrons to find and enjoy the events they enjoy the most. 

• Custom Notifications save time for library staff by eliminating the manual work of calling individuals to confirm their attendance and managing the waiting list. Now, sending email or text reminders is a quick and customizable process. 

• Multi-Lingual Support – Vega Program supports 25 different languages and includes a machine learning translation option to help with the process. 

• Guest Registration gives libraries the power to allow event bookings from anyone, regardless of membership status. 

• Multi-Day Events are now displayed across multiple days on the calendar so patrons can easily explore what events are happening over time. 

• Offline Payment Tracking – Vega Program integrates easily with Stripe, while giving you the flexibility to choose between online, offline, or both payment options. This feature is perfect for those who may not require a fully integrated payment system, allowing you to tailor your approach. 
• Room Fees allow library staff to charge a simple flat rate for room bookings that require it – making the process smoother and more transparent for both staff and patrons.

Vega Program releases new features on a regular basis and the full list of released features along with the roadmap of upcoming releases is available online. 

If you missed the session, watch the webinar here.

Discover how the Vega Library Experience (LX) platform can streamline your library’s communications and promote your full range of materials, events, and services – all in one cloud-based platform. Additionally, with tools designed to simplify event management and enhance patron engagement, Vega LX has already made an impact for libraries like the Monarch Library System. As a large consortium, Monarch regularly looks for new ways to display resources across member libraries while still empowering their members’ independence. In the same way they use the consortia roll-up calendar from Vega Program, they also use Vega Discover for their shared online catalog.  

 Contact us today to learn more about Vega Program and see a demo of all the available features.

The post Monarch Library webinar recap: One library consortium calendar to rule them all appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Highlights from the Vega Discover releases so far this year include:

Vega Discover is 100% Compatible with Section 508 for Accessibility

The most recent accessibility review for Vega Discover, managed by a 3rd party accessibility auditor in May of 2024, found that Discover is 100% compliant with Section 508 Accessibility Standards required by the United States Access Board. The review also included the recently published WCAG 2.2 standard and we continue to work on the small amount of updates required to meet this new standard for accessibility.

Home Page UX Improvements

With accessibility and user experience a top priority, user interface improvements have been made for both desktop and mobile users. These improvements include bolder and larger text that is easier to read, larger book covers, and better spacing and breakpoints for mobile users.

Table of Contents Added to Edition Info Popup

Formatted Table of Contents data has been added to the Editions information popup when available in the source record. To view all metadata details for data displayed in Vega Discover, check out this Supportal article (log in required).

Location Facet Experience Improvements

The Vega Discover location facet function has been expanded to help users better view and find materials at the locations that are relevant to them. Changes include showing all locations as the default view, floating preferred locations to the top of the facet, and sort options by hit count and A-Z listings. This feature is especially popular with large multi-branch and consortia members who have many locations to manage.

Home Page Collection Sites in Alphabetical Order

When a user has permission to view more than one collection site, they will see all the site names in alphabetical order from the drop-down menu on the homepage settings. Collection sites enable single library systems and consortia to host multiple catalogs with unique URLs, branding, and resources filtered for a specific location, audience, or collection. This feature is especially popular with large multi-branch and consortia members who have many locations to manage.

Updated Staff User Permissions for Showcases

Vega Discover Admin users can turn custom lists and saved searches into Showcases without needing a related patron account. This is the beginning of expanded staff user roles and permissions in Vega Discover; additional features are already in beta testing.

Generate Syndetics Cover Images

If you would like to use a Syndetics cover image in a social media post, blog post, or on a website, we now have documentation on how to generate a unique URL for a cover image from your collection based on your library code.

Holds Settings Updates

An optional Hold Activation Date field is now included for Requests and integrates with the Polaris ILS. A default Hold Expiration Date setting has been added for Sierra libraries. Hold Expiration Dates for Polaris libraries are set in the Polaris ILS and no longer appears as a field for patrons.

New Cookie Banner

A new cookie banner now displays at the beginning of each session when using Vega Discover, Vega Promote, and LX Starter. This banner will request user consent to use cookies in the products. Patron and staff users will see an option to select Strictly Necessary Cookies after they click on Manage cookie preferences.

We prioritize user privacy and aim to provide a secure and transparent user experience. By implementing this change, we align our products with company-wide policies and comply with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and regional requirements. This ensures that personal information is handled carefully and respectfully.

Other new features include a new fiction/non-fiction facet, translation enhancements, access to Discover training resources straight from Discover help, and more.

The Innovative product team also regularly works with libraries to beta test new features. We are currently running a beta program for Discover Admin roles and permissions settings for homepage access (as requested in Idea Exchange) and an Active Directory integration for Polaris. You can view more upcoming features on the Vega Discover roadmap or read more about our developments for consortia and the Vega Library Experience on our website.

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s new in Vega Discover, you can subscribe to release notes emails in the Supportal (log in required).

You may also be interested in these recent Vega Discover announcements:

• Showcasing your digital repository in Vega Discover
• Vega Discover Themed Catalogs available now
• Four Innovative solutions, including Vega Discover, awarded recognition in 2024 Modern Library Awards
• Watch now: How to Connect with Your Community using the Vega LX Suite

We’d also like to welcome new libraries to the Vega Discover family:

• Schaumburg Township District Library (Illinois) joins the Innovative family
• Navajo County Library District chooses the Polaris ILS and Vega Discover
• Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium join the Innovative Family
• Malmö Public Libraries in Sweden selects Vega Discover

Vega Discover helps patrons search, find, and browse resources through more relevant search results, related resources, and recommended items. Discover provides the modern online experience patrons have come to expect, using an intuitive interface and enrichment content to create an immersive library experience. Built on BIBFRAME formatting and linked data connections, it provides a user-friendly and search-engine-like experience. To learn more, download the Discover fact sheet or contact us today.

The post Vega Discover New Releases Include Accessibility, Security, and User Experience Improvements appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Innovative, Part of Clarivate

Pre-built Email Templates

Vega Promote’s pre-built email templates help libraries get started quickly when implementing Promote. Over 100 email templates have been added to the template library featuring beautiful, responsive html templates. Libraries can easily update each template with their logo and colors and then save their custom templates for quick use in the future. Different elements from each email template can also be saved to the design block library, making it easy for libraries to re-use certain content designs across multiple emails.

One-Click Unsubscribe

Your email recipients now have an easy and straightforward way to opt-out of marketing emails without scrolling to the bottom of the email. A new, one-click unsubscribe email header is now automatically applied to emails sent from Vega Promote. This will improve sender reputation and support compliance with new anti-spam guidelines for bulk marketing senders. More information on this feature is available on the Supportal (login required).

You can view more upcoming features on the Vega Promote roadmap or contribute ideas on Idea Exchange. If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s new in Vega Promote, you can subscribe to the Vega LX release notes in the Supportal.

You may also be interested in these recent Vega Promote articles:

• Rochester Hills Public Library uses Vega Promote to modernize patron communication
• Watch now: How to Connect with Your Community using the Vega LX Suite

Vega Promote is the marketing automation module of the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform, that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage a full range of materials, programs, and services. Vega Promote keeps community members and patrons informed through targeted and relevant communications, keeping promotion tied tightly to other library solutions and thus eliminating the need for libraries to use a patchwork approach to digital marketing and communications—empowering libraries to communicate what they want, when they want, to whom they want.

To learn more about Vega Promote, download the product fact sheet or contact us today.

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The MLAs are awarded to the top products and services in the industry, according to criteria including functionality, value, and customer service. Product submissions were scored by nearly 80,000 librarians.

“Innovative understands that the modern librarian deserves modern solutions,” said Toni Minick, VP of Product Management, “This outstanding recognition is a testament to our ability to deliver products that positively resonate with customers and librarians worldwide.”

The Innovative products achieving platinum recognition are:

• Vega Discover – Vega Discover helps patrons find search results and content with pinpoint accuracy and relevancy with a simple, intuitive interface that provides the modern experience patrons expect. Vega Discover earned a rating of 8.28 on a scale of 1 – 10.
• Polaris Leap – Polaris Leap has a web interface that can be accessed on a desktop, notebook, or tablet, enabling library staff to serve patrons with the power and functionality of the Polaris ILS from wherever it is most convenient, even when that’s outside the library walls. Polaris Leap offers a comprehensive web-based staff experience, and most library staff can complete all their work within Leap. Polaris Leap earned a rating of 8.53 on a scale of 1 – 10.
• Innovative Resource Sharing – Innovative Resource Sharing (INN-Reach) is an easy and cost-effective solution for libraries to offer patrons access to more materials and a better borrowing experience. Patrons love how easy it is to request materials and staff love its automated processing. INN-Reach was marked especially highly compared to competitive products. INN-Reach earned a rating of 8.8 on a scale of 1 – 10.

The Innovative products achieving gold recognition are:

• Mobile Worklists – One of the market’s first native mobile apps for library staff, Mobile Worklists continues to provide comprehensive features for Sierra libraries. It gives library staff flexibility for material handling tasks whether they’re at the desk or in the stacks.
• Polaris ILS – The Polaris ILS provides a robust and scalable solution with dynamic staff tools and an intuitive interface for patrons that is also open to connections with patrons and their social media, third-party vendors, and resources outside your library.

For more information about Innovative’s award-winning products, visit the Innovative website or call 510-619-3566 to request a demonstration. For complete survey results, visit the Modern Library Awards website: modernlibraryawards.com.

The post Five Innovative Solutions Win Recognition in 2023 Modern Library Awards appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

The West Bloomfield Township Public Library traces its history back to 1934, when members of the Keego-Cass Women’s Club started a library in their clubhouse before becoming a public library in 1939. In 2010, the Institute for Museum and Library Services awarded West Bloomfield Township Public Library the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the United States’ highest honor for libraries. The West Bloomfield Library offers a large collection and services that include literacy kits, 3D design and printing workshops, technology one-on-one sessions, book club kits, and more.

“We’re ready to provide a new generation of discovery for our patrons, and Vega Discover has the features and the intuitive interface that people have come to expect from their online experience,” says Cathleen Russ, West Bloomfield Township Public Library Director.

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated and automated smart showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics.

Vega Discover is the responsive and accessible discovery module of the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite of patron engagement tools. Vega LX is a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage a full range of materials, programs, and services.

Vega LX works seamlessly with ILS solutions Sierra and Polaris. To learn more about the Polaris ILS or the Vega LX platform, visit iii.com or contact Innovative today.

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Located on the northern shores of the Columbia River, Camas Public Library has been proudly serving its local population of 26,000 Washingtonians since 1923. In addition to over 347,000 annual checkouts, Camas Public Library offers community members of all ages the unique opportunity to learn about bees through its purple apiary. Camas also offers educational programming, a virtual road-trip series, and an onsite art gallery.

 “After finding success using Polaris and Innovative Mobile, we feel confident in moving forward with Vega Discover as the next tool to help our patrons get the most out of their Library experience,” says Connie Urquhart, Library Director.

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated and automated smart showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics.

Vega Discover is the responsive and accessible discovery module of the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite of patron engagement tools. Vega LX is a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage a full range of materials, programs, and services.

Vega LX works seamlessly with ILS solutions Sierra and Polaris. To learn more about the Polaris ILS or the Vega LX platform, visit iii.com or contact Innovative today.

The post Camas Public Library in Washington chooses Vega Discover appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

The Warren Library Association was founded in 1873, and the Warren Public Library has occupied its current location at 205 Market Street since 1916, adding additional space and joining with additional locations in Warren County along the way to form a five-library consortium.

The wider Seneca Library District includes 17 independent libraries in Cameron, Elk, Forest, McKean, and Warren counties, and offer a wide variety of services that range from a Digital Learning Lab at the Sarah Stewart Bovard Memorial Library to Checkers TV from Tidioute Public Library, and Foot Stompin’ Fridays at the Hamlin Memorial Library in Smethport, offering music and dinner.

“It’s a big deal for 17 independent libraries to all agree to implement and pay for something new,” says Kelli Knapp, Executive Director/District Administrator for the Warren Library Association. “I think that speaks to the product that Innovative provides. We are all excited about Vega, both on the staff end and the patron end.”

Polaris provides an intuitive web interface that brings the full power and functionality of the ILS to the web browser with the Leap staff client. Leap can be used on a computer or tablet, freeing staff to connect with patrons and complete tasks wherever it is most convenient—even outside the library walls.

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated and automated smart showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics.

Vega Discover is the responsive and accessible discovery module of the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite of patron engagement tools. Vega LX is a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage a full range of materials, programs, and services.

Vega LX works seamlessly with ILS solutions Sierra and Polaris. To learn more about the Polaris ILS or the Vega LX platform, visit iii.com or contact Innovative today.

The post Warren and Seneca Library Districts select Vega Discover and Polaris appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Vega Discover is the responsive and accessible discovery module of the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite of tools. Vega LX is a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage a full range of materials, programs, and services.

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics. Vega Discover also comes with enhanced exploration tools, powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, such as series data, reader reviews, browse by reading level and more, as part of an engaging library experience.

Without further ado, here are the latest library systems to join the Vega LX community:

Vega Discover

• Ocean County Library in Toms River, New Jersey
• Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library in Stouffville, Ontario Canada
• Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City, Missouri
• New Canaan Library in New Canaan, Connecticut
• Clinton-Macomb Public Library in Clinton Township, Michigan

Vega LX works seamlessly with ILS solutions Sierra and Polaris. To learn more about the Vega LX platform, visit iii.com or contact an Innovative Sales Rep today.

The post Innovative Libraries Join the Vega LX Community appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Libraries, as holistic centers of growth, need a tool that streamlines the complexities of event planning and management regardless of their size, format, or medium. That tool is Vega Program.

Built with librarian input expressly to serve libraries, Vega Program was developed to help facilitate the online aspect of event planning and administration. Vega Program integrates with Polaris and Sierra to simplify event and room management for patrons and staff, while providing libraries with tools to plan and advertise their community events.

From an administrative dashboard, library staff can:

• Establish policies and processes for events and room bookings
• Create library-branded event pages with built-in registration
• Manage and approve events and room bookings requests
• View patron bookings, email event attendees, or cancel registrations
• Handle transactions for event fees
• Autogenerate event pages, flyers, and brochures
• View and export Program metrics

Whether the event is part of a series or a one-off, virtual, or recurring, Vega Program’s intuitive design empowers library staff to deliver a breadth of engagement opportunities. From the administrative dashboard, staff can easily create, edit, or clone events, and handle advanced settings, such as transaction fees (via Stripe) and waitlist management.

There’s so much more to say about Vega Program. Those interested in learning more can request a demo and download our Vega Program fact sheet today.

The post Plan and Facilitate Your Library Events with Vega Program appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Despite what popular culture might tell you, if you build it, there is no guarantee that they will come. You’ve planned great programs, supplied much needed services, and built an impressive collection, but how are you keeping your community informed? That’s why your library needs the right tools to build library awareness and cultivate community relationships. Vega Promote is designed to help with these challenges and more.

Vega Promote is the marketing automation module of the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage a full range of materials, programs, and services. Vega LX is designed to deliver great experiences easily and at scale.

Why Vega Promote?

Libraries need to communicate with their patrons and community members for many reasons that go beyond circulation notices or account renewals. From advertising events to announcing new services or materials, or changes to business hours—library emails unrelated to ILS transactions are often handled through various third-party tools. Vega Promote eliminates the need for libraries to use a patchwork approach to marketing and communications efforts or risk exposing patron data, and it’s designed to work at scale regardless of your library’s size within one ecosystem that is directly linked to your integrated library system (ILS).

Using one, secure login, you can access all that Vega Promote has to offer from your web browser. From Vega Promote’s easy-to-use interface, you can:

• Create visually rich emails with access to Vega Discover showcases and a built-in image library
• Create targeted audience segments or tags
• Edit contact records and review patron campaign history
• Generate branded email templates
• Build, draft, and schedule emails
• View engagement data for sent messages
• Automatically handle bounceback and unsubscribe workflows

We’re only scratching the surface at the full capabilities of Vega Promote. If you’re interested in learning more about how Vega Promote can simplify your library’s digital marketing needs, head to our resource page to download our product fact sheet. You can also visit our Vimeo account to watch an on-demand version of our recent engagement webinar featuring Vega Promote.

You can also contact a member of our sales team to request a demo.

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Vega Guide for Discover allows libraries to easily post announcements on Vega Discover without any additional coding skills or requests to Innovative. In addition, libraries can create customized tours for users on any topic they want, such as guiding new users through refining search results or showing patrons how to make the most of their My Bookshelf features. Innovative will also provide personalized and established guides, messaging and design templates to help libraries immediately start using Vega Guide for Discover.   

Libraries can use Vega Guide for Discover to: 

• Introduce Vega Discover to new users and bring them up to speed quickly so they return as repeat customers 
• Improve the patron experience with personalized tours of My Bookshelf, helping patrons take action with their account and get the most out of patron features 
• Reduce library staff time spent on answering similar questions by providing the answer directly within Vega Discover 
• Communicate easily and effectively by publishing customized announcements that overlay on top of Vega Discover 
• Review usage data on guides and announcements to better tailor in-context help for your community 

“Vega Guide for Discover gives libraries more independence to post customized content on their catalogs and the power to personally guide users through their virtual library experience,” said Yariv Kursh, General Manager of Innovative. “It is a great opportunity that we have heard libraries ask for and that we have not seen in other solutions.” 

Vega Guide for Discover extends Discover’s premier accessibility features even further, ensuring all users, even those who need a little extra guidance, can realize the full potential of their virtual library experience. Vega Guide for Discover is available for Vega Discover libraries. To learn more, contact your Innovative Account Manager or contact us to schedule a demo. 

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About Innovative  

Innovative, part of Clarivate, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide   

About Clarivate 
Clarivate is a global leader in providing solutions to accelerate the lifecycle of innovation. Our bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world’s most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of science and intellectual property. We help customers discover, protect and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. For more information, please visit clarivate.com.  

Media Contact:  

media.enquiries@clarivate.com

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Thousand Oaks Library has two locations that serve over 1.5 million visitors each year. They are known for the large saltwater aquarium at their main location, and are also beloved for story times, dog days with certified therapy dogs, multiple opportunities for crafting, classes for new parents, technology training classes, literacy, and more.  

“Engaging with our community is part of the library’s mission, so when we had the opportunity to participate as a Vega Engagement development partner, it really was a perfect fit. We need contemporary tools that help us convey the full value of the library to our community, and I look forward to working with Innovative to help shape those tools,” says Melissa Hurtado, Interim Library Director, Thousand Oaks Library. 

Vega LX is developed in partnership with global leading libraries to create a complete library experience for staff, patrons, donors, and citizens. Development Partners help shape Vega’s development through advisory discussions, usability testing, and beta testing. The Vega Engagement Development Partner program is focused on Vega Interact, Promote, and Program.    

Vega works seamlessly with Sierra and Polaris. To learn more, read our eBook “Re-imagining the Library Experience,” or visit the Innovative website. 

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After completing his MLS from the University of Maryland Park College, Jacobson began his impressive career with Innovative, a part of Clarivate. Starting out, Jacobson absorbed all he could from his peers: learning about libraries and library automation, sales, service and support, everything in-between.

In his current position, Jacobson must listen before he speaks, acting as liaison between the team at Innovative and the libraries our solutions support—spending his days synthesizing and interpreting information from one party to be digestible for another.

Now it’s time for Jacobson to tell his own story. Below, in this brief interview, Jacobson offers his advice for libraries. From how to navigate the uncertain waters of 2022, to offering his advice on how to successfully implement change at your library in a meaningful way.

This interview has been trimmed for time and clarity.

This month, you presented to the LibLearnX crowd about the importance of engagement. Can you share a practical tidbit from that presentation?

Great question. I think of engagement as simply deciding what you want to be. Do you want your library to be the happiest place on Earth? The place where the customer is always right? The community living room? The people with all the answers? In short, what is your brand?

There is no wrong answer, but once you decide, work downstream to shape your services, your staff, and your physical and virtual presence around that brand. Do not let what you do define you, instead let who you are shape what you do.

On the topic of libraries deciding a direction for their brand, what tips would you offer to help them go about achieving that vision?

I would recommend following a simple methodology to address changes to library services.

• • First, decide what level of service you want to provide—a new level that’s in line with the new brand vision.
  • Second, identify and remove any barriers or friction that stand in the way of this new level of service.
  • Third, empower the staff to both understand and meet the new service level.
  • Finally, review your policies, and change or remove any that do not formally acknowledge and support the new service commitment.

For example, if a library wanted to implement a “choose your own due date” policy as a follow-up to automatic renewals and fines-free, they could then take the ultimate step in patron empowerment.

• • First, they would define the new service level and any exceptions or caveats. Such as allowing patrons to request a specific due date if there are no holds on the item, they ask a librarian directly, and the item is not part of an exempted collection like video games.
  • Overriding due dates may require special authorization in the ILS. So, libraries would need to ensure that all circulation desk workers are given the correct authorization to make it happen.
  • This point is important: Leadership needs to work with staff to explain the specifics of the new policy, and more importantly the goal of the new policy and how it fits with the library’s overall brand.
  • Finally, take the extra step to change the formal circulation policy to reflect this new patron empowerment. So, that it isn’t just something you say, but something clearly embraced and codified.

While this is just an off-the-cuff example, the point remains: You must define the problem before you can address it. You have to clearly imagine and articulate your service commitments and the modes of engagement that you want to offer your community before you can take any steps to meet those goals.

From your early work on INN-Reach to your current focus on Vega, what’s one driving principle that informs your work with libraries?

Listen to and respect our libraries. I learned early on to listen carefully to library staff. They know their libraries, they are hands-on with patrons, and they know how their services work and don’t work. They know what they are talking about when they tell me something new.

Sometimes what I believe to be true is the opposite of what they’ve told me, and always in the end they were spot on from the get-go.

Along the same lines, I learned early in my career to respect the librarians I work with. While delivering good news is always easy, being respectful and direct is key in delivering less than ideal information. Explain things in a straightforward manner, and then work to find the compromise through respect and open communication.

In 2022, what do you see as the biggest trend in public libraries library sciences?

The last two years we’ve been operating in crisis mode. I think 2022 will be the beginning of a return to normal and a redefinition of what normal means.

We just went through a time when our libraries were open, but the buildings were closed, and we learned how to deliver meaningful services in exciting new ways. So, how much of that do we keep moving forward?

Do we continue with curbside pickup? Will our programs remain virtual or shift back to in person?

The challenge will be deciding what this new normal will look like.

Can you speak to how industry trends/developments have/are informing Innovative product development?

Innovative is completely focused on providing libraries with a new generation of tools designed to help them retain existing and attract new patrons through meaningful interactions.

Over the last few years, traditional business practices in every industry have been challenged. What has emerged is a major new theme: customer experience matters.

At Innovative, we want to know how we can help our customers not only provide a service, but to do so in a way that is rewarding for everyone involved—both library staff and patrons, alike. Because we’ve been saying it for years: library success is our success—so how can we set our customers up for success for many years to come?

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Reviewing these topics can provide a firm understanding of where libraries are coming from as we approach the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead. Without further ado, here are our most accessed resources from 2021.

1. eBook: Re-imagining the Library Experience LX
2. Research Report: Impact of COVID Lockdowns on Public Libraries
3. 3 Ways Sierra Will Help You Deliver a Better Library Experience
4. Polaris ILS: Do more with less and deliver better patron experiences
5. White Paper: Are Library Late Fees a Barrier to Equity?
6. 2 Ways Sierra Will Reduce Your Library Overhead
7. eBook: What is Bibframe
8. Resource Sharing reduces library services overhead
9. Fact Sheet: Polaris Leap
10. Fact Sheet: Polaris ILS

To learn more about thought-provoking communications and free tools from Innovative, now part of Clarivate, you can find more on our Resource page.

Looking for more ways to get involved with Innovative in 2022? Later this month, Tom Jacobson, Executive Library Advocate & Strategist, will be presenting at the 2022 American Library Association Midwinter Conference LibLearnX. You can register now for this online event at alaliblearnx.org.

We also encourage you to visit the Idea Lab. Idea Lab is the website hub for our library-driven innovation process that informs Innovative product roadmaps. To participate, simply go to Idea Lab, and enter your username and password. If you don’t have an account yet, simply follow the instructions on the Idea Lab FAQ and join in!

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Newcastle City Public Library serves a community of over 250,000 people throughout the Australian state of New South Wales with over one million annual circulations across its nine physical branch locations and digital collections.  Library members enjoy access to free unlimited Wi-Fi, public computers, printing and scanning services, free eBooks, Magazines, DVDs, book borrowing and more.  

“Throughout our selection process, Innovative presented to us a modern, intuitive and streamlined system that offered members and staff an enhanced user experience,” said City of Newcastle Manager of Libraries & Learning Suzie Gately. “We are excited about the Vega features which will allow us to communicate with our members better, glean business intelligence insights and allow members to be more in control of a tailored library experience.” 

“Innovative is delighted to be a part of the City of Newcastle’s journey toward offering an inclusive, accessible service, available everywhere and at any time,” said Innovative ANZ Sales Manager Roger Read.  

The award-winning Polaris Leap web interface provides the power and functionality of the Polaris ILS workflows to library staff through their web browser. Polaris Leap can be used on a computer or tablet, freeing staff to connect with patrons and complete tasks wherever it is most convenient—even outside the library walls. 

Innovative Mobile is a full-featured library patron app with support for full search, account management, and consortia plus additional features for implementing social-distancing processes such as electronic checkouts, library self-checkout via barcode and RFID, and curbside pickup. Innovative Mobile is available for Sierra and Polaris libraries and works on Android and Apple iOS devices. 

The Vega Library Experience (LX) suite is a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. Vega is designed to offer an engaging library experience to staff, patrons, donors, and citizens. Newcastle City Public Library will be the first library system is Australia to gain access to Vega Discover—the first module of the Vega LX suite. 

Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics. Vega Discover also comes with enhanced exploration tools, powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, such as series data, reader reviews, browse by reading level and more, as part of an engaging library experience.  

Vega works seamlessly with the market-leading ILS solutions Sierra and Polaris. To see how Vega Discover works, you can watch our video, “Welcome to Vega Discover” or contact Innovative for a demo. 

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The conversation covered several important topics, including key features of Vega Discover, Vega Discover Development Partner program membership, and firsthand accounts on how Vega Discover has changed the library-going experience for patrons and staff.

Featured panelists from the public library sector were:

• Elizabeth E. Swift, Integrated Library Systems Administrator for Jefferson County Library Cooperative in Alabama. Jefferson County was one of Innovative’s initial six Development Partners for Discover.
• Alison Pruntel, Manager, Technology & Materials for Fauquier County Public Library in Virginia. Fauquier County was one of our first Early Access partners who helped the Innovative Services team test out the implementation process.
• Kathy McKinney, Coordinator of Automation for Farmington Community Library in Michigan. Farmington Community Library had just recently joined the Vega Discover family.

Presenting from Innovative was Lauren Schaefer, Manager of Bids and Product Messaging, and Tom Jacobson, VP, Executive Library Advocate & Strategist. The webinar featured one-on-one personal conversations with each librarian as they described their library’s implementation and launch of Discover.

As a Development Partner, Elizabeth E. Swift shared her experience working with Innovative on the products her library uses every day. One benefit that Swift appreciates is the opportunity to meet biweekly with Innovative staff in Product Management and Engineering.

“We really get to talk about what we think, and what we want,” Swift said. “We can talk about the roll-ups or the searching. Or things that the team has worked on, and still are working on, to make the product even better. So, we have been very happy with the process.”

Alison Pruntel knows that some patrons can be resistant to change. That’s why she shared one illuminating story about a longtime library patron who noticed the OPAC (Online Patron Access Catalog) had been updated to Vega Discover. Pruntel overheard him ask her staff, “What happened to the computers?” So, Pruntel went to the OPAC and showed him how to search for his book using Vega Discover.

“When the results came up in the rollup, he was thrilled to see he could see the book, the eBook, and everything else,” Pruntel said. “That really turned him around.”

Kathy McKinney has been using Polaris at Farmington Community Library for years. As Coordinator of Automation, McKinney is no stranger to the woes of launching new software and tools. When she and her team began the process to implement Vega Discover, she thought she knew what to expect.

“When it comes to implementing a new software, it usually takes a long time,” McKinney said.

Thankfully, McKinney found that wasn’t the case with Vega Discover.

“The implementation process and training—it was so easy,” McKinney said.

McKinney found that Innovative staff intuitively knew what questions she might have and were able to provide her and her team with ample, straightforward training throughout the process.

“It was not overwhelming at all,” McKinney said.

“And then one day we turned it on, and it was live,” McKinney added with a laugh.

For those who missed the conversation or would like to share it with their own staff, an archive of the discussion can be found online here.

We want to thank our three panelists for taking the time out of their busy schedules to share their stories, and for their continued partnership with Innovative.

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Using Vega Discovery, patrons can create reading lists, save reading history, and track search history. “We went with Vega Discover because we want our patrons to be able to explore our catalog to easily locate books, DVDs, eBooks and more, whether they are in the building or at home,” said Jon Gaskill, Acting Executive Director, “There is nothing more empowering than being able to search through the library’s shelves to see what jewels can be found.”  

At the Waukegan Public Library, patrons will have multiple ways to experience the library’s collection and resources. They can hunt through the stacks, work with a librarian to help them identify and locate materials or use Vega Discover, each with the goals of being able to easily locate items in the collection, access and use the items. The Waukegan Public Library, along with libraries everywhere, continues to adapt and expand resources and services to meet the evolving needs of their community. To learn more about the library’s collection, resources, and programs, please visit www.waukeganpl.org. 

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that delivers premier search results along with a patron bookshelf for custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics. Vega Discover creates an engaging library experience and encourages further exploration through enhanced discovery tools powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, such as series data, reader reviews, browse by reading level and more. 

Vega Discover is available for Sierra and Polaris libraries, and now includes custom showcases. To learn more, visit our website or contact Innovative for a demo. 

ABOUT THE WAUKEGAN PUBLIC LIBRARY  

The Waukegan Public Library is dedicated to empowering and enriching the lives of Waukegan residents through learning, from early childhood to adulthood. The main library is in downtown Waukegan at 128 N. County Street. The Hinkston Park Branch is located at 800 N. Baldwin, in the Waukegan Park District Field House. More information about library services can be found at www.waukeganpl.org 

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London Public Library serves a community of over 400,000 people through its 16 neighbourhood locations and its well-used online resources and platforms. With an annual circulation of over 3 million and popular programs and services, the Library plays an active role in the life of Londoners. In early 2022, London Public Library will launch a new website and a new strategic plan which identifies exceptional customer service as a priority value.  

“It is critical for public libraries to provide simple, intuitive access to our collections,” says Michael Ciccone, London Public Library’s CEO and Chief Librarian. “The London Public Library is excited to contribute to the development of Vega Discover, a new platform for discovering our collections that is simple, intuitive, authoritative, accessible and trusted.” 

“London Public Library has been a long-time Innovative beta testing partner, and we couldn’t be happier that they have joined our Vega Development partner program,” says Toni Minick, Vice President of Product Management at Innovative. 

Vega LX is developed in partnership with global leading libraries to create a complete library experience for staff, patrons, donors, and citizens. Development Partners help shape Vega’s development through advisory discussions, usability testing, and beta testing.    

Vega works seamlessly with Sierra and Polaris. To learn more, read our eBook “Re-imagining the Library Experience,” or visit the Innovative website. 

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC. 

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide 

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The Farmington Community Library in Michigan has two branches that serve over 600,000 visitors a year with traditional and electronic materials, frequent kid-friendly events, and a popular Online Chat with a Librarian.

“Polaris gave our library the freedom to serve our patrons the way we wanted,” said Kathy McKinney, Farmington Community Library Coordinator of Automation. “Our staff can bring the library experience to patrons, instead of waiting for the community to come to us. With the addition of Vega Discover—this is a true game changer. The tools are easy to use because they mimic what everyone is doing online, and it’s great seeing all of the formats roll up under one title.”

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics. Vega Discover also comes with enhanced exploration tools, powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, such as series data, reader reviews, browse by reading level and more, as part of an engaging library experience. Vega Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community.

Vega works seamlessly with Sierra and Polaris. To learn more, download the Vega Discover product overview or visit the Innovative website.

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“We see the library in a transformational state,” Minick said, “Through our extensive engagement with our development partners, we are creating and identifying solutions that will help them to operate and engage with their communities more effectively, in ways and methods their community members expect.” 

This optimism paired with Minick’s commitment to Design Thinking is at the core of every decision made by Minick and her team. At each step, librarians provide feedback, suggestions, and insight to product development through Innovative’s Vega Development Partner program.  

That immediate connection allows her team to take an iterative approach to development with their continuous deployment methods. This allows them to look for simpler solutions first—smaller tweaks or iterative improvement that help librarians meet patron needs more quickly. Then when more complex issues arise, Minick’s team is able to slow down to address it with the right methodology. 

“This lets us build the right solution instead of ‘just getting something out there’ or sticking to our original assumptions,” Minick said. 

Because of this approach, the product management team was able to make substantial improvements to Vega Discover’s roll-up design and automation rules, ability for staff to use the Discover interface to create and manage Showcases, and streamline implementation and onboarding steps. 

“Early on, we identified that direct patron input was incredibly important, and so we expanded our conversations accordingly,” Minick said. “Library patrons have changed, and their expectations are different than they were even five years ago. So, gathering input and testing solutions with patrons and community members is incredibly important to improving our products and services.” 

Thanks to patron testing, Minick’s team was inspired to expand the Bookshelf with account information and functions. Through usability testing, the design of the bookmarking and saved lists functionality was streamlined, making it easier for patrons to quickly mark and save resources that appeal to them. 

“In every way, the development partner program has met or exceeded our expectations,” Minick said. 

Minick adds that she’s proud to follow in the footsteps of tech industry giants like Google, Apple, Netflix, and Samsung—businesses that also utilize Design Thinking. 

“It’s really about deeply understanding the people you are building solutions for—developing empathy and a connection with them in order to solve their problems or address their needs,” Minick said. “Part of the process is to challenge assumptions and look outside to other industries or products for inspiration.” 

As necessity breeds innovation, Minick adds, “We are constantly asking ourselves, does it have to work the way it has for 20 years or is there a better alternative?”  

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The Helen M. Plum Memorial Library, named for the wife of Colonel William Plum, who bequested money to Lombard to found the library, serves its community with events for residents of all ages, including story times, computer classes, insurance counseling, and cooking classes. The library also offers safe options for curbside pickup or home delivery of materials, and lends out Museum Adventure Passes for Chicago-area cultural institutions. The library will continue to serve Lombard with a larger new building that broke ground in June 2021. 

“The Helen Plum Library recently completed a new 2021-2024 Strategic Plan,” says Alex Vancina, Technology & Metadata Services Manager. “During our planning process, we received community and Library Board feedback asking us to implement easier and more effective ways to find our materials. The addition of Vega Discover is a major step in that direction.” 

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics. Vega Discover also comes with enhanced exploration tools, powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, such as series data, reader reviews, browse by reading level and more, as part of an engaging library experience. Vega Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. 

Vega works seamlessly with Sierra and Polaris. To learn more, download the Vega Discover product overview or visit the Innovative website. 

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC. 

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. 

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Mason Public Library serves the city of Mason and Deerfield Township, a population of nearly 70,000, with traditional and digital collections, book clubs for adults and teens, free homework help and online tutoring for kids. They also offer outreach services to shut-ins and a variety of programs for all ages, including outdoor and online story times on their Facebook page and YouTube channel. 

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that delivers premier search results along with a patron bookshelf for custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics. Vega Discover creates an engaging library experience and encourages further exploration through enhanced discovery tools powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, such as series data, reader reviews, browse by reading level and more.

Vega Interact helps libraries build strong patron relationships through personalized messages and interactive conversations. Patrons can select their preferred communications methods to receive notifications and messages from the library through SMS, email, phone calls, push notifications, social media channels (like Facebook Messenger), or personal voice assistants (like “Alexa”), empowering libraries to meet and interact with patrons wherever they may be. Patrons can also initiate conversations with the library through their preferred channels or live chat, enabling them to approach the library whenever they need help. 

Discover and Interact are two modules in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily connect with patrons and communicate the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. 

Vega Discover is available for Sierra and Polaris libraries, and recently expanded the enhanced discovery content available from Syndetics Unbound. To learn more, visit our website or contact Innovative for a demo. 

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC. 

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. 

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Brownsburg Public Library serves its 20K+ cardholders with online fitness classes, book clubs, cooking classes, story times, and more to enrich their community’s imagination, discovery and personal growth. In 2020 Brownsburg was able to keep serving their community with 20,000 items picked up curbside! 

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics. Vega Discover also comes with enhanced exploration tools, powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, such as series data, reader reviews, browse by reading level and more, as part of an engaging library experience. Vega Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. 

Vega Discover is available for Sierra and Polaris libraries, and includes full integrations with multiple ebook vendors, including Hoopla. To learn more, visit our website or contact Innovative for a demo. 

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC. 

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. 

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The Mesa Public Library serves the city of Mesa, Arizona with a population of 518,000 and well over one million annual circulations. The library also provides programming that supports lifelong learning, from story times to educational guided tours of local areas to writer consultations and more. 

“We are always looking for ways to improve access to our many resources and are excited to add the Vega interface to our library website,” says Polly Bonnett, Mesa Public Library Director. “We hope that our patrons will enjoy all of the features Vega adds to their Mesa Public Library online experience.”  

Vega Discover is a full-featured discovery tool that not only delivers premier search results, but also features a patron bookshelf with custom reading lists, patron account management, library-curated showcases, and smart showcases on related resources and topics. Vega Discover also comes with enhanced exploration tools, powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, such as series data, reader reviews, browse by reading level and more, as part of an engaging library experience. Vega Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community.

Vega Discover is available for Sierra and Polaris libraries, and includes full integrations with multiple ebook vendors, including Hoopla. To learn more, visit our website or contact Innovative for a demo. 

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC. 

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. 

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EMERYVILLE, Calif. July 28, 2021 – Innovative, a ProQuest company and leading global provider of library software, announced today that Vega Discover is now in general release for Polaris libraries. 

Vega Discover, Innovative’s new public library discovery solution, has been under rapid development for the past twelve months. Four Polaris libraries have played a critical role in testing the software: Cooperative Computer Services (CCS) in Illinois, Livingston Parish Library in Louisiana, Miami-Dade Public Library System in Florida, and Pinnacle Library Cooperative in Illinois. As Development Partners, they’ve shared frequent feedback with the product development team. Today, more than 40 libraries have made the choice to move to Vega Discover as part of their commitment to improve their patrons’ library experience. 

“Our team is committed to delivering a modern, relatable library experience for patrons, library staff, and whole communities,” said Toni Minick, Vice President of Product Management. “Through our continuous release process, we have quickly expanded our capabilities this year and are excited that Polaris customers will now be able to take advantage of the superior experience Vega Discover provides.” 

Enhanced Discovery Powered by Syndetics Unbound 

This Vega Discover release also features an expanded list of Syndetics Unbound elements seamlessly woven into the Discover user experience, enabling patrons to browse the stacks virtually, search for titles that fit their specific needs and requirements, and take a serendipitous stroll through titles that match their interests. 

Similar to popular consumer technology platforms, Vega Discover goes well beyond helping a user find the item they need, immersing enrichment data into the user interface and experience, making it easy to discover more items of interest and encouraging further exploration. This enhanced discovery experience matches what patrons expect from modern search tools and offers guided exploration through additional content. Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content and metadata, free for Vega Discover libraries, fills in the scenic details of the additional content along the journey. Patrons can explore a library’s collection from multiple angles, whether that’s finding the next book in a series or the next series a reader will love, using Lexile and Accelerated Reader data cross-referenced with librarian-curated topics to identify high-interest titles for every reading level, or identifying fan fiction using browse by character. 

With the implementation of a new API from Syndetics Unbound, this process is now faster than ever, allowing libraries to automatically receive Syndetics Unbound content for all their holdings without the need to upload their database.

“It’s been such a pleasure to partner with Syndetics Unbound and optimize what we offer our libraries through their service,” said Jordan Fields, Senior Team Lead for Product Management. “We prioritized integrating their data in a way that matched Vega’s unique look and feel. Every library we have worked with so far has been really excited about the possibilities this will give their users.” 

Vega Discover

Built from the ground up, Vega Discover is a fresh approach to patron discovery. Vega transforms traditional MARC records into BIBFRAME, allowing those records to be connected through complex, linked data relationships. This unique approach empowers Discover to offer interconnected search results that are more accurate and relevant through an intuitive design that makes it easy for people to uncover content with the simplicity they expect from modern technology. 

“Our world experienced an exponential amount of change over the past 16 months and technology expectations are at an all-time high,” said Yariv Kursh, General Manager of Innovative. “Now, more than ever, libraries need to be available anywhere, anytime through modern technology that meets the user’s expectations. Vega Discover helps libraries exceed those expectations.” 

Vega is designed specifically to address many of the unsolved challenges inherent in current public library solutions. Features include: 

• Modern Discovery – Modern web search tools that match how users find and explore content on popular platforms. 
• Patron Self-Service – Personalized discovery experience with an always present bookshelf that’s easy to find and visually appealing. Patrons can save individual titles or searches, create custom lists, and update their preferences. 
• Work Roll-Ups – Eliminates endless scrolling by combining formats and editions into a single search result with one smart “hold” or “check-out” button, simplifying workflows and offering at-a-glance availability. 
• Integrated eContent – Place holds, check out items, and get started with your ebook or eaudiobook all through Vega Discover. 
• Showcases – Provide access to related materials, people, and topics in a visual interface that encourages people to explore and uncover further areas of interest. 
• Vega Context Engine – The BIBFRAME-based context engine, a database that uses modern data standards designed to integrate with the internet and other data elements. 
• Accessibility – Responsive user interface works across devices, adheres to latest accessibility standards, and supports multiple languages. 
• Cloud-based Design – Built as software-as-a-service, on a new multi-tenant platform. 

To see how Vega Discover works, you can watch our video, “Welcome to Vega Discover” or contact Innovative for a demo. 

Vega Library Experience

Vega Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, an ultramodern, cloud-based platform. Vega LX offers libraries a unified solution for managing their full range of materials, programs, and services and building ongoing relationships with their community. Vega LX enables library to communicate with users across multiple channels, all while keeping patron data, communication history, and analytics secure and in one place for library staff.

Vega LX is developed in partnership with global leading libraries to create a complete library experience for staff, patrons, donors, and citizens. Learn more about Vega LX in our eBook “Re-imagining the Library Experience” or visit the Innovative website. 

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE 

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, consortia, and corporate and special libraries. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.iii.com. 

The post Innovative Releases Vega Discover for Polaris Libraries to General Availability appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

By using BIBFRAME as a basis for organizing information, Vega Discover takes advantage of the intelligence behind library cataloging to expose resources that are relevant to your users without returning unrelated resources that happen to contain the keyword, or missing results that are relevant but may not contain the keyword in the title, author, or subject fields.  

For example, the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) had previously ingested online articles from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas (EOA) into their Sierra ILS, but their external discovery layer didn’t return these articles in results—or at least not in the first few pages of results.  

On the very first day CALS tried using Vega Discover, they found relevant EOA articles at the top of their search results! Vega Discover recognized that some EOA articles were about people, and some were about places. Vega automatically generated showcases of Related Resources by grouping articles about places together and articles about people together, exposing one of CALS’ most valuable resources. 

How did Vega know to make those intelligent connections? Because linked data creates complex relationships between BIBFRAME entities, exposing relationships between resources, contributors and topics. Vega makes the most of those linked data relationships to show patrons the most relevant resources at the library. 

For more details on BIBFRAME, Vega, and CALS’ experience, check out our recent webinar, “Just What I Needed” with Nathan James, the Deputy Executive Director of Technology & Collection Innovative at CALS. https://vimeopro.com/innovativeiii/webinars/video/557728929  

For an overview of BIBFRAME, see our article “How Does BIBFRAME Work?” or learn more at the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/bibframe/docs/index.html 

The post How Vega Discover Uses BIBFRAME to Help Your Patrons appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

BCCLS, pronounced as “Buckles,” is a consortium of 77 public libraries in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties. The BCCLS consortium serves over 800,000 patrons and has an annual circulation of over 12 million items.

“We are excited to assist in the planning and development process for the Vega LX platform,” said Eric Lozauskas, Director of IT for BCCLS. “By providing all the tools needed for online patron interactions combined with ease of reporting and visibility into those interactions through the Vega Engagement suite, libraries will be able to provide a more personalized and inviting patron experience. Having all those tools in one place, leveraging automation and emerging technologies to save staff time, and providing patrons with more engaging experiences is a great step forward in library innovation.”

The Vega Library Experience (LX) suite offers libraries a unified solution for building ongoing relationships with their community and communicating with users across multiple channels, all while keeping patron data, communication history, and analytics in one place for library staff. The Vega LX suite includes six products: Connect, Discover, Interact, Promote, Program, and Analyze.

Vega LX is developed in partnership with global leading libraries to create a complete library experience for staff, patrons, donors, and citizens. Development Partners help shape Vega’s development through advisory discussions, usability testing, and beta testing. The Vega Engagement Development Partner program is focused on Vega Interact, Promote, and Program.

Vega works seamlessly with Sierra and Polaris. To learn more, read our eBook “Re-imagining the Library Experience,” or visit the Innovative website.

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC.

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide.

The post BCCLS Library Consortium Joins Vega Engagement Development Partner Program appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

“Anything we can do to make it easier for our patrons to use the library remotely or online is important to us,” said Karen Knox, Director of Orion Township Public Library. “Especially after the impact of the pandemic, we were interested in a discovery system that makes it easier for our patrons to find materials on their own.” 

The Orion Township Public Library serves a population of almost 40,000 in Orion Township, Michigan, with an annual circulation of almost 500,000 items. The library works with local schools to increase literacy, provides unique outdoor programming, and offers an extensive collection of online resources to their community. 

“When selecting Vega Discover, the work-level roll ups were a significant feature for us,” said Knox. “We have many users who don’t realize there are other formats available because they have to scroll to find them. To see all of those formats listed in one place for an item with a tab for each format was amazing.” 

Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. Vega is designed to offer an engaging library experience to staff, patrons, donors, and citizens. 

To see how Vega Discover works, watch our video, “Welcome to Vega Discover” or contact Innovative for a demo. 

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC. 

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. 

 ABOUT ORION TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY 

The Orion Township Public Library is located at 825 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion, MI 48362 and is open Monday through Thursday 9:30 am-9:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday 9:30 am-5:00 pm. The library is closed on Sundays in the summer. Visit orionlibrary.org or call (248) 693-3000 for more information. 

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Middle Country Public Library (MCPL) in Long Island, New York operates using a flexible model of library service that is consumer driven and has given rise to new and innovative service models. MCPL offers comprehensive programs and services to local residents and provides leadership and training for libraries across Long Island and the nation. In 2020, they offered 2,499 programs, circulated 453,772 items, and conducted 2,700 curbside appointments.

Vega Discover will help MCPL continuously improve the customer experience they offer to their community. Developed in partnership with global leading libraries, Vega Discover is designed to create a fluid patron experience. Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community.

Vega works seamlessly with Sierra and Polaris systems. To learn more, download the Vega Discover product overview or visit the Innovative website. 

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 ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC. 

 Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. 

The post Middle Country Public Library Chooses Vega Discover appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

In a nutshell, the Library Experience (LX) describes everything related to how your community perceives and feels about your library. After listening to the challenges that today’s libraries face, we gave careful consideration to how leading with a community-first mindset and developing state-of-the-art technology through our new Vega platform could help you transform your library’s digital presence.

Explore our eBook, “Re-imagining the Library Experience” to learn:

• How Innovative approaches the Library Experience (LX)
• The 5 guiding principles of LX
• What’s included in the Vega suite of tools
• How Vega empowers libraries to deepen community connections and creates a full library experience

The post Bring the Digital Library Experience to Life with Vega appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Vega showcases are unique because they can be customized by library staff and automatically display throughout Discover using Vega’s proprietary Context Engine. Using complex connections through linked data entities, Vega can ensure that a showcase of resources is directly related to the source topic or resource, not just loosely connected by a broad keyword.

In addition, all Vega showcases are powered by Syndetics Unbound’s enrichment content, provided through a free subscription with every purchase of Vega Discover.

Showcases immerse patrons in a wealth of available information and options, re-creating the in-person experience of getting lost amongst the shelves as they browse Vega Discover. Finding one item of interest will lead them to ‘shelves’ (showcases) of other items, which leads to more and more. Libraries can personalize showcases to the needs of their communities and promote relevant or little-known items – from summer reading recommendations and class lists to local authors and related town history.

For example, a library staff member could make a list of summer reading recommendations and include “Love in Color” by Bolu Babalola. When a patron views “Love in Color,” they’ll see the showcase for summer reading recommendations below the item record and then discover “Of Women and Salt” by Gabriela Garcia and “Good Company” by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. Showcases allow patrons to browse library items online just as they would browse the shelves at the library.

“We believe a modern library experience should include the same features that patrons see in their other digital experiences,” said Toni Minick, Vice President of Product Management. “Showcases are just one example of how Vega bridges the gap between patron expectations and the library experience.”

Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. Vega is designed to offer an engaging library experience to staff, patrons, donors, and citizens.

To learn more, download the Vega Discover product overview or visit the Innovative website.

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC.

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide.

The post Vega Discover Features Curated Showcases for Libraries appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

The Metro Library Network was started in 1999 when Cedar Rapids Public Library, Marion Public Library, and Hiawatha Public Library came together to provide shared library services to the Cedar Rapids, Iowa metro area. The three public library systems operate independently but use a shared catalog under the Cedar Rapids name.

“After an extensive review, we chose Innovative Polaris for its ease of use and quality features,” said Dara Schmidt, Director, Cedar Rapids Public Library. “We found it to be the best option to support our shared missions to provide high quality library service to our communities. The Metro Library Network looks forward to transitioning to our new ILS this summer and working with Innovative to increase accessibility for all our patrons.”

The Metro Library Network is moving from SirsiDynix Symphony to Innovative Polaris, which aligns with 77% of Polaris survey respondents who chose Polaris for its breadth and depth of functionality as compared with SirsiDynix products (TechValidate survey, March 2019).

Polaris is the preferred library system for many consortia throughout North America. This includes Illinois Heartland Library System, the largest public library consortium in the United States, serving 520 member libraries, and Saskatchewan Information and Library Services Consortium, which encompasses all ten public library systems in the Canadian province, serving 306 libraries.

In addition, the award-winning Polaris Leap web interface, provides the power and functionality of the Polaris ILS workflows to library staff through a browser. Polaris Leap can be used on a desktop, notebook, or tablet, freeing staff to connect with patrons and complete tasks wherever it is most convenient — even outside the library walls.

With Polaris Leap and Vega Discover, the Metro Library Network will be able to provide their staff, patrons, and community a modern and engaging library experience. MLN has already started their implementation process and will go live this summer.

Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. Vega works seamlessly with Sierra and Polaris. To learn more, visit the Innovative website.

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC.

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide.

The post Metro Library Network Selects Polaris and Vega Discover for Consortia Needs appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

The Fauquier Public Library serves a population of over 70,000 residents in Fauquier County with the goal of connecting residents to resources, services, and experiences that educate, enrich and inspire. A member of the Vega Discover Early Access program, Fauquier has been testing Discover and influencing development prior to their launch.

“We see Vega Discover as the next iteration to make our catalog more accessible for patrons,” said Maria Del Rosso, Library Director. “I knew we had to provide access in a way that matched what community members were seeing in the marketplace.”

When selecting Vega Discover, Fauquier was impressed with Discover’s work-level roll ups, which show all formats for one title (such as audiobook, eBook, large print, etc) under one listing, and the Vega showcases which provide a visual display of titles within a category. For example, The New York Times Best Sellers showcase displays on each page for items within the showcase so that patrons can easily browse other best sellers. Patrons have also mentioned to library staff that they like the larger font on Discover, part of Innovative’s effort to build new software from the ground up that meets ADA and WCAG standards.

“We like that Discover is simple to use. It appeals to most of our patrons because you don’t have to be a librarian to search and find what you need,” said Alison Pruntel, Manager, Technology & Materials.

Vega Discover delivers a superior patron experience by providing a more accurate and relevant search than any other online catalog or discovery platform. Discover’s unique linked data architecture allows patrons to interact more deeply with library services, connecting them with great content they may not have otherwise found.

“Fauquier Public Library has worked with Innovative for over 20 years, and we’re honored to hold their trust in our products and to continue collaborating with them through our long-standing relationship,” said Raena Morrison, Vice President of North America Sales for Innovative.

Discover is one module in the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. Vega is designed to offer a new library experience to staff, patrons, donors, and citizens.

To learn more, download the Vega Discover fact sheet or visit the Innovative website.

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ABOUT FAUQUIER PUBLIC LIBRARY
The award-winning Fauquier Public Library is located in the beautiful Virginia Piedmont, 40 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. Three branches serve over 41,000 cardholders in a 600 square mile service area. Annual circulation totals more than 400,000 items. Learn more at https://fauquierlibrary.org/

ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC.
Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide.

The post Fauquier Public Library Launches Vega Discover for Better Patron Experience appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

With the integration, patrons can directly check out Hoopla items in Vega Discover and view all items on loan, including Hoopla resources, in their Discover patron account. Patrons also have the option to check-in Hoopla items directly through Discover. Vega Discover offers patrons a centralized place to view digital resources and check in or check out those resources without switching between multiple apps or websites. Vega’s modern user interface gives patrons a simple and effortless experience to easily navigate the library.

Vega is developed in partnership with global leading libraries to create a fluid patron experience and it’s being used by libraries across the U.S. The Hoopla integration was specifically prioritized by libraries in the Vega Discover Development Partner program. Development Partners help shape Vega’s development through advisory discussions, usability testing, and beta testing.

Innovative prioritizes building open solutions that integrates with other vendors and third-party applications. Vendor and community collaboration is an important part of building solutions that are successful for libraries. Vega is designed to be open to all integrations and will include a robust set of APIs.

To see how Vega Discover works, you can watch our video, “Welcome to Vega Discover.” Or contact Innovative for a demo.

ABOUT INNOVATIVE

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, consortia, and corporate and special libraries. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.iii.com.

The post Vega Discover Launches Full Hoopla Account Integration appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

• Syndetics Unbound is now included in every purchase of Vega Discover
• Vega Connect will be included with any Vega module
• The Vega Universal Messaging Service

The Vega LX platform offers libraries a unified solution for building ongoing relationships with their community and communicating with users across multiple channels, all while keeping patron data, communication history, and analytics in one place for library staff. The Vega LX platform includes six products: Connect, Discover, Interact, Promote, Program, and Analyze.

Built from the ground up using cloud computing, Vega employs the latest technologies and services that allow for speed, scale, and longevity. With extensive user testing and library input, Vega is designed to provide a better experience for all users: library staff, patrons, donors, and citizens.

“Experiencing the library digitally and virtually – through the web, an app, or any modern communication channel – should be as thrilling as walking in the library’s front door and taking in all the possibilities,” said Yariv Kursh, General Manager of Innovative. “The full library experience is made up of all these moments where the community experiences the library in-person and online and builds an impression of the library over time.”

Within the Vega platform, three modules (Interact, Promote, and Program) are highlighted as the Vega Engagement Suite. The suite allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community and personalized for their patrons. The suite will include individualized communication channels such as SMS, voice, chat, chatbots, social media and messaging apps as well as broad communications such as newsletters, campaigns, and event management tools.

Vega Discover is available today and additional Vega modules will be available in July 2021.

Syndetics Unbound is included in every purchase of Vega Discover

Syndetics Unbound will now be included in every purchase of Vega Discover. Libraries will receive Syndetics Unbound’s wealth of enrichment content and metadata from the Syndetics service will be integrated into the Vega Context Engine, providing richer opportunities to organize, display and explore the library’s holdings and services.

Libraries often have to weave together provider content and complicated integrations to try to provide a quality patron experience. With Vega Discover, every library has visually appealing, compelling content that is synced with the library’s catalog data through the Vega Context Engine. Vega Discover delivers a discovery solution with enrichment content from day one of implementation, enabling libraries to focus more on patron services and less on discovery maintenance.

Libraries who purchase Vega Interact, Promote, or Program will be able to use available images from Syndetics Unbound in their email communications. Syndetics Unbound content is available now for Sierra libraries and in July for Polaris libraries.

Vega Connect included with any Vega module

During 2021, new Vega customers will receive Connect at no charge with the first purchase of any Vega module. This includes Connect’s easy-to-use email designer and automated email service that covers registration and welcome emails, courtesy notices, renewal reminders, and anniversary emails. Also included with Connect is an initial set of statistics to understand user engagement with the communications.

“We believe these types of communication tools with enrichment content should become standard functionality for libraries, the same way we all expect the ILS to have cataloging and acquisition capabilities,” said Toni Minick, Vice President of Product Management. “Libraries are now competing with big technology companies who focus their resources on improving user experiences and journeys to match what we have all come to expect. Our goal is to give libraries scalable tools that better help them offer patrons the same personalized and effortless experience as other consumer companies.”

Vega Universal Messaging Service

Vega’s new modern messaging service will allow libraries to manage all of their communications, messaging and conversational channels in one place. In addition to email and SMS, options will include Facebook Messenger and other social media messaging channels, chat and voice channels such as Alexa or Google Voice, push messaging to Discover and mobile, and messaging services such as WhatsApp.

The service integrates messaging performance and channels with other information from Vega to provide a full picture of library and patron interactions and identify trends and opportunities. The services that exist in Sierra and Polaris today will begin to utilize VUMS in 2021.

To learn more about the Vega Library Experience platform, visit the Innovative website.

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ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC.

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, corporate and special libraries and consortia. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide.

The post Innovative Announces Vega Library Experience Platform for Better Patron Relationships appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

Vega Discover Development Partners help shape Vega’s development through advisory discussions, usability testing, and beta testing. The next phase of the Development Partner program includes working with consortia to ensure Discover offers a centralized search and unique patron experience to patrons across all member libraries.

“As a consortium of libraries, we always want to engage better with our patrons and more easily share the wide array of content available across our systems,” said Robert Drake, Assistant Director, Technology Operations at Nassau Library System. “Vega Discover appealed to us because it will improve both the patron and staff experience for finding and sorting materials. We are especially interested in the smart showcases, which offer lots of opportunities for personalized displays for both individual patrons and larger community groups.”

Vega Discover delivers a superior patron experience by providing a more accurate and relevant search than any other online catalog or discovery platform. Discover’s unique linked data architecture allows patrons to interact more deeply with library services, connecting them with great content they may not have otherwise found. Discover was developed in partnership with global leading libraries to create a fluid patron experience and it’s already being used by early adopters across the U.S.

Discover is one module in the Vega suite of solutions, a cloud-based platform that allows library staff to easily communicate and manage the full range of materials, programs, and services available to their community. Vega is designed to offer a new library experience to staff, patrons, donors, and citizens.

“We listen intently to our development and early access partners to ensure we are truly developing to meet the needs of public libraries and the communities they serve,” said Toni Minick, Vice President of Product Management. “We are thrilled to be joined by these exceptional libraries and to continue our collaborative approach to product development.”

Ongoing development for other Vega modules is regularly reviewed and tested with Development Partners and will be shared in more detail at the Innovative Users Group annual conference March 22-25, 2021.

Vega supports Sierra and Polaris public library customers worldwide. To learn more, visit the Vega overview page.

ABOUT INNOVATIVE INTERFACES INC.
Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, consortia, and corporate and special libraries. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.iii.com.

The post Four Public Library Systems Join Vega Development Partner Program appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

“Adopting new technologies to improve the user experience for our patrons is a high priority for our library system. Partnering with our long-term provider Innovative to develop the Vega platform gives us a voice in creating new solutions for our residents,” said Ray Baker, Director of Miami-Dade Public Library System.

Vega, an ultramodern platform, is built from the ground up to maximize engagement with collections of all types, helping public libraries strengthen and advance their essential role in communities across the world. Vega Discover was developed in partnership with global leading libraries to create a fluid patron experience and it’s already being used by early adopters across the U.S. Ongoing Vega platform development, including the next modules, Interact and Promote, will continue with the Development Partners, who advise on development and usability, and assist with testing.

“We welcome Miami-Dade into the Vega Development Partner program and are excited to build upon our long history in creating solutions that are best for libraries and the people they serve” said Yariv Kursh, General Manager of Innovative.

Vega supports Sierra and Polaris public library customers worldwide. To learn more, download the Vega Discover Overview.

The post Miami-Dade Public Library System Joins Innovative in Developing the New Vega Community Engagement and Discovery Solution appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

With recent events affecting library availability, easy online access to the library catalog and related activities have become more crucial than ever before. Now, library patrons can use any device to search your library’s catalog with Vega, which provides interconnected search results unlike anything else available today. Vega’s smart layout shows patrons what they’re looking for right at the top of their screen and provides visual showcases of library resources related to patron interests. Patrons can even check out and open eBooks on any device directly from Vega.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Vega Discover. We’ve performed careful testing and worked tightly with our development partners to create a system that works for patrons and for libraries, and we’re confident that new Vega users will agree Vega is simply the best discovery system available today,” says Jordan Fields, Product Senior Team Lead.

In addition to innovation in content, Vega Discover offers libraries a quick road to implementation, with early adopters going from square one to sharing with patrons in as little as 6-8 weeks.

“We are listening to and addressing the challenges libraries face to deliver technology that is unparalleled in today’s market and worked with patrons to understand their needs and challenges working with current online tools,” said Yariv Kursh, General Manager of Innovative. “Vega Discover is Innovative’s first release of a new era. The Vega platform is designed from the ground up to be modern, streamlined, and secure while intelligently using connections between resources to give patrons the best experience possible.”

For more information about Vega and the exceptional value it brings to libraries, visit the Innovative website, or call your account manager for a live demo today.

ABOUT INNOVATIVE

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, consortia, and corporate and special libraries. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.iii.com.

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EMERYVILLE, Calif. December 9, 2020 – Innovative, a ProQuest company and leading global provider of library software, today announced that The New York Public Library has joined the Development Partner Program for Vega, a new patron engagement and discovery solution for public libraries.

The New York Public Library serves over 16 million people across 92 locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, and reaches millions more online. Their vast collection contains over 46 million items, ranging from books to manuscripts and historical collections used by people around the world.

“At NYPL, we are in the midst of a digital transformation, so the decision to join our long-time partner Innovative to support the development of Vega is of great interest. Our ultimate goal is to make our resources available to the widest number of people in the most equal way we possibly can,” said Stephen Betts, Director of Library services Platforms at the New York Public Library. “We’re especially interested in making sure that our services are based on technologies that can keep up with changing patron expectations as well as supporting our own staff’s needs. We look forward to working with Innovative on this exciting venture to help us better connect our patrons with all we have to offer.”

Vega is a new ultramodern platform from Innovative and is designed to increase engagement with collections of all types, helping public libraries strengthen and advance their crucial role in communities across the world. The first release of Vega includes Discover, which offers interconnected search results that increase visibility across the breadth and depth of library resources. Discover has a fresh, intuitive design that makes it easy for people to connect with content in or out of the library. To ensure the solution is designed for our customers’ needs, the Development Partner Program offers advisory discussions, usability testing, and beta testing for Vega.

“We are excited to welcome the New York Public Library to the Vega Development Partner Program. As a worldwide library thought leader, our partnership with the NYPL is an important voice to ensuring that the solution we deliver best serves library patrons worldwide,” said Yariv Kursh, General Manager of Innovative.

Vega supports Sierra and Polaris public library customers worldwide. To learn more, visit the Vega overview page: www.iii.com/products/vega.

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About Innovative

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, consortia, and corporate and special libraries. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.iii.com.

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EMERYVILLE, Calif. November 6, 2020 – Innovative, a ProQuest company and leading global provider of library software announced today that three public library partners in the Innovative Vega Development Partner program have launched Vega as their discovery tool. The partners are: The Ferguson Library in Connecticut, MidPointe Library System in Ohio, and Jefferson County Library Cooperative in Alabama.

“It’s exciting to see three of our Vega Development Partners live on Vega Discover,” said Yariv Kursh, General Manager of Innovative. “We look forward to building on this progress to launch more libraries on Discover while we shape Vega into a fully-featured platform that sets a new standard for the public library experience.”

Vega Discover is the first product to be available using the new Vega platform from Innovative. It offers interconnected search results that provide enhanced relevancy in a modern, simple interface designed to meets patrons’ expectations. With the launch of this tool, libraries are empowered to better amplify collections and strengthen patron connections. Development partners shared their feedback on Vega including:

• “We knew when we started as Development Partners on Vega that patron self-service was becoming more crucial than ever, and I am happy to say that Vega is serving us well as the library and patrons rely more heavily on online services. Vega offers a modern, clean interface for our patrons to be able to help themselves” said Maisam Nouh, Information Technology Supervisor at The Ferguson Library.
• “Our experience with Vega is that it rises to the occasion of better connecting people with library content they may not have found previously. And it’s not just helping patrons; our staff also appreciate that Vega offers a way for patrons to easily manage their accounts, so staff can concentrate on the many other demands on their time and expertise,” said Travis Bautz, Executive Director at MidPointe Library System.
• “Vega Discover has really delivered on an easy way for library users to find relevant content. By combining rich conceptual linking, title deduplication and a focus on user experience, Vega offers the discovery interface we need. We’re looking forward to helping the Vega platform reach its full potential,” said Tobin Cataldo, Executive Director at Jefferson County Library Cooperative.

Vega Development Partners will continue shaping the full Vega platform, which will include intelligence, analytics, marketing tools and services for public libraries, and will easily integrate data and third-party software.

For more information about how your library can become a Vega development partner, contact your account manager. To learn more about Vega, visit the Vega overview page. 

ABOUT INNOVATIVE

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, consortia, and corporate and special libraries. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.iii.com.

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EMERYVILLE, Calif. August 31, 2020 – Innovative, a ProQuest company and leading global provider of library software, announced today that Suffolk Cooperative Library System in New York has joined six other public libraries in the Innovative Development Partner program for Vega, a new patron engagement and discovery solution for public libraries.

The Development Partner program advances Innovative’s products through advisory discussions, usability testing, and beta testing. The public libraries participating for Vega represent millions of patrons and a combined annual circulation of over 10 million.

“We’ve searched for a discovery tool that would meet our patrons’ needs, and we think Vega Discover is a promising discovery solution,” said Nicole Turzillo, ILS System Administrator for Suffolk Cooperative Library System. “The focus on patron engagement and experience aligns with our priorities. We are excited that Innovative is continuing their developments around the context engine and look forward to seeing our catalog through Vega Discover.”

For Innovative, the Development Partner program has been instrumental in building Vega Discover for public libraries. “Our development partners have been very engaged so far and provide us with valuable feedback as we develop additional capabilities into Vega Discover,” said Toni Minick, Vice President of Product Management at Innovative. “There are many moving pieces to designing new software and having development partner input on priorities, conceptual designs, and brainstorming solutions to common problems has been incredibly beneficial. It is exciting to see the transformation of their data as we bring it into the Vega platform and immediately see the benefits of the context engine.”

In addition to the Development Partner program, Innovative also has an option for qualified libraries to participate in Early Access to Vega Discover starting in early September. Early Access libraries will be able to test the Vega Discover solution and provide feedback on usability and services and support processes.

Public libraries interested in learning about the Vega Early Access program can attend the webinar, “Explore Vega Discover” on September 2 at 11 a.m. EDT to learn more. The webinar will discuss the Early Access program, future Development Partner opportunities, and demonstrate the Vega Discover offering. Presenters include Tom Jacobson, VP, Executive Library Advocate & Strategist; Toni Minick, VP of Product Management; and Jordan Fields, Senior Product Owner. Registration is open at https://go.iii.com/WBN-Explore-Vega-Discover.html

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About Innovative

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, consortia, and corporate and special libraries. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.iii.com.

The post New Developments for Innovative Vega Platform appeared first on Innovative Interfaces Inc..

EMERYVILLE, Calif. July 22, 2020 – Innovative, a ProQuest company and leading global provider of library software, today announced that six public libraries joined the Development Partner program for Vega, a new patron engagement and discovery solution for public libraries. The partners include The Central Arkansas Library System, The Ferguson Library, Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Mid-Hudson Library System, MidPointe Library System, and Springfield-Greene Library System.

Vega, a new ultramodern platform from Innovative, promises to increase engagement and amplify collections of all types, helping public libraries strengthen and advance their crucial role in communities across the world. The first release, Vega Discover, offers interconnected search results that are more accurate and relevant, and an intuitive design that makes it easy for people to uncover content with the simplicity they expect from modern technology. The Vega platform will expand beyond discovery to include intelligence, analytics, marketing tools and services for public libraries, and easily integrate data and third-party software. A rich set of APIs offer deep connectivity to digital content providers, catalog enrichment sources, and more.

“Now, more than ever, libraries need to be available anywhere, anytime. Like its namesake, the next North Star, Vega will lead people to a purposeful destination,” said Yariv Kursh, General Manager of Innovative.

Vega is designed specifically to address many of the unsolved challenges inherent in current public library solutions. Features include:

• Robust Discovery – Delivers personalized experiences with re-imagined lists, reading history, recommendations, and library outreach to promote higher-quality interactions.
• Work Roll-Ups – Eliminate endless scrolling by combining formats and editions into a single search result with one smart “hold” or “check-out” button, simplifying workflows and offering at-a-glance availability.
• Showcases – Provide access to related materials, people, and topics in a visual interface that encourages people to explore and uncover further areas of interest.
• Patron Engagement – A portfolio of tools, such as customer relationship management, marketing automation, website builder, and event management to strengthen libraries’ connections to their communities.
• Accessibility – Responsive user interface works across devices, adheres to latest accessibility standards, and supports multiple languages.
• Cloud-based Design – Built as software-as-a-service, on a new multi-tenant platform.

“We are honored that these institutions are partnering with us on Vega. Their feedback will ensure that the platform meets the unique needs of public libraries in today’s world,” said Kursh.

The Development Partner program advances Innovative’s products through advisory discussions, usability testing, and beta testing. The public libraries participating for Vega represent millions of patrons and a combined annual circulation of over 10 million.

• “As the world moves more and more to on-demand services, people expect the same from the library. We want to improve our ability to engage patrons with content and targeted communications, and we believe Vega is the right solution to accomplish that,” said Maisam Nouh, Information Technology Supervisor at The Ferguson Library in Connecticut.
• “We are always in pursuit of better ways to both engage people more deeply with library services and maintain our commitment to patron privacy, as well as avenues to connect people with great content that they may not have otherwise found to further demonstrate the value of their library. That’s core to the design of Vega and we believe our patrons and staff will embrace the new solution,” said Travis Bautz, Executive Director at MidPointe Library System in Ohio.
• “The Vega platform by Innovative Interfaces is a compelling option for library resource discovery and management. The adoption of BIBFRAME imagines new possibilities for discovery through data exchange across heterogenous systems, and a primary focus on community engagement empowers public libraries to respond to current and future demands for public service. With Vega, we are pleased to maximize our investment in Sierra and continue our long-standing relationship with Innovative Interfaces as we explore new library service paradigms and build a toolset that is responsive to evolving community needs,” said Tobin Cataldo, Executive Director at Jefferson County Library Cooperative in Alabama.
• “The year 2020 has not played out as any of us expected. Curbside service and limited public access to our facilities has made the need for intuitive virtual browsing and discovery of the depth and breadth of library collections and resources even more critical. I’m pleased that Innovative is making the investment and working with customers to deliver solutions that fill this need,” said Nathan James, Deputy Executive Director for Technology & Collection Innovation at Central Arkansas Library System in Arkansas.
• “Our library strives to be an integral part of our community and we need technologies and products that will support that vision. We are excited about the direction of Vega and look forward to a system designed for staff efficiency and an improved patron experience,” said Renee Brumett, Electronic Resources Librarian at Springfield-Greene County Library District in Missouri.
• “People expect libraries to provide modern tools, experiences, and outreach, and until now that technology has been behind. We’re excited about Vega modernizing that experience and the ease of use it offers – we expect no learning curve as it’s designed with the same principles that guide so many of our experiences today on services like Amazon and Netflix,” said Laurie Shedrick, Assistant Director and Technology Operations Manager at Mid-Hudson Library System in New York.

Vega will support Sierra and Polaris public library customers worldwide. Discover will be available for development partners in August 2020, with patron engagement capabilities to follow in 2021. To learn more, visit the Vega overview page: www.iii.com/products/vega.

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About Innovative

Innovative, a ProQuest company, provides leading technology solutions and services that empower libraries and enrich their users worldwide. Innovative offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of library automation products on the market today, serving academic, public, national, consortia, and corporate and special libraries. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Innovative has a global presence—serving thousands of libraries in 66 countries and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.iii.com.

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