Here’s how our customers are innovating, and here’s how our products helped support that work.
Across our library community, 2026 has already been filled with new ideas, ambitious projects and practical innovations. From expanding access beyond library walls to rethinking discovery experiences for children, our customers have continued to find new ways to connect people with information, services and each other.
Libraries leading the way
Our customers continued to find creative ways to improve access, discovery and engagement in their communities. Several of those efforts were recognized through the 2026 Clarivate Library Innovation Awards.
Rochester Hills Public Library received the 2026 IUG category award for developing a Kids Catalog with Vega Discover. Designed around how children at different developmental stages browse and discover materials, the catalog uses a more visual approach than a traditional text-based search experience. The library has also shared its approach with peers interested in similar initiatives.
Other libraries focused on expanding access beyond traditional service models. Santa Clarita Public Library was recognized as a finalist for Library Express, a mobile library that brings services directly into neighborhoods, schools and community spaces. Suffolk Public Library was recognized for its project extending access to a rural branch beyond staffed hours.
While each project addressed a different challenge, all three focused on the same outcome: making library services more accessible, engaging and responsive to community needs. Supporting those efforts remained a focus throughout the first half of the year. New capabilities across Polaris, Vega Discover and Vega Mobile were designed to help staff work more efficiently while improving the patron experience.
Michael Marino, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator at Santa Clarita Public Library, noted: “Polaris makes it possible for us to reach people who might not otherwise come into the library.”
Creating better patron experiences
Several libraries invested in new ways to strengthen discovery, engagement and patron services during the first half of the year.
Sonoma County Library System selected Polaris ILS, Vega Discover, Vega Mobile and Vega Interact to support services across its urban, suburban and rural communities in Northern California. In Australia, Shorelink Libraries selected Polaris and the Vega LX suite to support its cooperative network serving Sydney’s Lower North Shore, while City of Moreton Bay Libraries and Jacksonville Public Library also announced plans to expand and modernize their library technology environments. Göteborgs Stadsbibliotek launched Vega Discover in March.
Product development focused on helping libraries better understand patron behavior and deliver more seamless experiences. Vega Reports for Discover became available in April, providing insights into how patrons search, browse and engage with collections. Libraries also gained access to the new Account Portal experience in Vega Discover, while Vega Discover Preview introduced a way to review and provide feedback on upcoming enhancements before general release. Additional update included Account Notifications in Vega Mobile, enabling libraries to send automated reminders and hold pickup notices directly to patrons’ devices.
Learning from the library community
Throughout the year, conversations with library leaders, system administrators, outreach teams and frontline staff helped shape many of the developments and stories highlighted here.
At IUG in Chicago, we expanded those efforts by speaking directly with library directors, systems librarians, marketing teams and technology leaders about their priorities, challenges and successes. Across those conversations, several themes emerged consistently: the importance of responsive support, reliable systems, community outreach and continued product improvement.
Nate Burnard, Systems Services Manager at Allen County Public Library, said: “The support from start to finish was phenomenal.”
Customer feedback also continues to influence product development. During the first half of the year, Sierra libraries gained access to Vega Mobile Worklists, making inventory, circulation and holds management available from mobile devices. Libraries also benefited from ongoing enhancements across Polaris and Sierra, along with partnerships with OverDrive and Amazon Business that help connect library systems with services already used in collection development, acquisitions and discovery.
IUG also showcased new tools and resources, including a Vega Discover enhancement for managing Hoopla records in consortium environments and the Unified Knowledge Portal for documentation, training and support resources.
As another customer reminded us, technology decisions are ultimately about more than software: “When you’re trying to select an ILS vendor, you’re not really just selecting a product, you’re selecting a partner.” – Eric Lozauskas, Executive Director at STELLA
Product announcements introduce what’s possible. The real insight comes from our libraries, whose experiences help shape how technology fits into everyday workflows and where it can create the most value for staff and patrons.
Carrying forward what matters most
Across every conversation, implementation and innovation highlighted in the first half of 2026, one theme surfaced repeatedly: libraries are finding new ways to extend their impact in their communities.
The most meaningful progress continues to come from libraries willing to experiment, share ideas and learn from one another, whether through improved discovery experiences, expanded access models, stronger outreach programs or more efficient staff workflows. We are proud that our products play a role in supporting that work and grateful to the libraries that continue to share ideas, challenge assumptions and help shape the future of our products.
Your work remains the most meaningful measure of progress.
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