EMERYVILLE, Calif. May 7, 2021 – Innovative, a ProQuest company and leading global provider of library software, announced today that Vega Discover, Innovative’s modern discovery tool, now offers library staff the ability to create curated showcases. Showcases display a visual carousel of items to the library’s specifications and will automatically appear throughout the Vega Discover interface when relevant, helping libraries promote their entire catalog of items and encouraging virtual exploration.
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.