Across the country, libraries are navigating tighter budgets, smaller teams, and growing community expectations. Yet instead of scaling back, many are finding new ways to expand their impact.
With modern systems like Polaris ILS and the Vega Library Experience (LX) suite, powered by intelligent automation and AI, libraries are simplifying work, connecting data, and reclaiming time to focus on what matters most: serving their communities.
Here are three ways libraries are getting more done with less effort:
- Unified workflows that give time back
For many libraries, managing multiple systems for cataloging, programs, and patron communication means spending too much time on routine tasks, and not enough on readers and programs.
With a connected ecosystem, those silos disappear. Libraries that have unified Polaris with Vega LX report smoother workflows, fewer duplicate steps, and faster staff onboarding.
The STELLA consortium, a group of 42 libraries, consolidated its tools into one integrated system of streamlining training, reducing administrative overhead, and freeing staff to focus on outreach and engagement.
Likewise, Cass District Library found that combining Polaris and Vega Discover reduced redundant workflows and created more space for community-focused initiatives. The library is also adopting Vega Mobile, Program, and Vega Promote, extending those efficiencies across patron engagement and programming. Their staff even used Vega Discover to create a themed Earth Day showcase, connecting readers with sustainability resources that reflected their community’s interests.
- Smarter staff tools that reduce routine work
Every minute saved behind the scenes means another minute available for patrons. Tools like Polaris Leap, the web-based staff client, help staff stay productive wherever they are on the floor, at events, or working remotely.
Behind these time savings are smart, AI-powered workflows that automate repetitive cataloging, acquisitions, and data entry so staff can spend less time on screens and more time supporting patrons.
The result isn’t about replacing human expertise, it’s about freeing it. When routine tasks run themselves, staff can focus on the kind of work that requires insight, critical thinking, and a personal touch.
Libraries using Polaris Leap have seen measurable improvements, spending up to 65% less time managing acquisitions and reports. At Allen County Public Library, staff now manage collections and inventory directly from mobile devices, turning once time-consuming tasks into quick check-ins that fit seamlessly into their day.
- Automated engagement that keeps communities connected
Email campaigns, event promotions, and patron updates are essential, but manual communication takes hours staff don’t have. Vega Promote automates and personalizes outreach, making it easier to keep patrons informed without adding new tools or technical complexity.
Vega Promote uses built-in AI capabilities to segment audiences and recommend content, helping libraries send the right message to the right patron without the manual lift.
It’s still the librarian’s expertise guiding what matters most. The message, the tone, and the timing. AI just helps make sure their insight reaches every reader faster and more effectively.
Recent updates to Vega Discover now let staff create and share collection showcases in bulk, saving hours of manual curation while improving discovery experiences for patrons who browse online.
Doing more by working smarter
Today’s libraries are already optimizing their workflows to make a bigger difference. They’re finding new efficiencies, connecting systems, and letting technology handle heavy lifting so staff can focus on people, not processes.
With Polaris and Vega LX, libraries are showing what’s possible when innovation meets purpose. This results in less manual work, and more meaningful impact, every day.
As AI becomes a natural part of library systems, tools like Vega and Polaris are helping libraries turn complexity into clarity. It enhances efficiency while keeping librarians fully in control.
It is important to highlight that AI doesn’t replace their expertise, it amplifies it, making decisions faster, smarter, and entirely human-guided.
Talk with us about how Polaris and Vega can help your library work smarter, not harder.
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