Listening, collaborating, and delivering
At Innovative, from Clarivate, every release begins with listening. The latest updates to Polaris 7.8 and Sierra 6.4 demonstrate what happens when libraries guide the journey. These updates reflect features prioritized and voted on by library staff. They’re not just software improvements, they’re a direct response to what matters most in daily library work.
Community engagement at the center
Public libraries thrive on collaboration, and so does our product development. Polaris 7.8 is a direct example of this: Library staff across the country voted on the features that mattered most to them, and those priorities shaped the release. From fine-tuned system administration tools to workflow refinements, these updates are not theoretical, they are practical improvements built for everyday tasks.
Both Polaris 7.8 and Sierra 6.4 build on the same foundation. Listening to libraries and translating their input into meaningful updates. While the details differ across each platform, the principle is the same for our products -features are shaped directly by input from librarians, designed to save time and strengthen daily operations.
One of the most requested improvements was a streamlined patron merge process, which staff voted to prioritize. In Polaris 7.8, this functionality is faster and easier, saving staff valuable time while reducing errors in patron records.
“This was another long-standing enhancement request that came up through the MEEP voting to add the renewal count statistics.”
– Samantha Quell, Product Manager
Sierra 6.4 carries the same spirit, highlighting the power of partnership. By listening to librarians and acting on their recommendations, Sierra continues to evolve as a flexible and resilient platform. The latest release introduced several community-driven enhancements that simplify circulation, streamline staff operations, and expand options for local configuration.
The changes in 6.4 aren’t flashy, they’re the kind that save your staff ten clicks a day. And over time, that’s what really matters.
In both releases, the message is simple: you told us what mattered, and we delivered.
Here are some new feature highlights for both:
Polaris 7.8
- New system administration enhancements to give libraries more control and efficiency.
- Updates inspired directly by staff votes, bringing “wishlist” items into daily workflows.
- Refinements across staff interfaces, reducing clicks and saving time.
Sierra 6.4
- A series of circulation and staff-side improvements designed in collaboration with libraries.
- Greater flexibility in managing local configurations.
- Expanded reporting and insights, supporting smarter decision-making.
- Enhancements to hold shelf management simplify how staff track, pull, and fulfill requests, creating smoother experiences for patrons.
These highlights show not just software growth, but proof of a process where the library community leads the way.
Why trust matters
Confidence in a library platform isn’t won with a single update, it’s built through consistency. With each release of Polaris and Sierra, libraries see their input translated into tangible improvements that make daily work easier. When challenges arise, we work through them together, and when you ask for changes, we deliver them.
This trust is mutual. We know that adopting new features or upgrading systems requires you to believe in the reliability of our platforms. Each release is our promise back to you. Your confidence is well placed, because we continue to deliver what you ask for.
The power of partnership
The Sierra 6.4 release demonstrated once again how partnership drives innovation. As one product leader said during the webinar: “The best features we deliver are the ones we build with you.” That ethos runs through both Sierra and Polaris development.
By engaging directly with staff through voting, advisory groups, and webinars, we ensure that each release is not just a technical update but a reflection of shared goals. That is how library software remains future-ready: not through technology alone, but through strong partnerships.
Looking ahead
Polaris and Sierra remain trusted platforms for public libraries because they are never static. The journey from wishlist to workflow is ongoing, and it is only possible because of the trust we build together.
For those who joined the release webinars, thank you for sharing your insights and feedback. If you missed them, recordings are available for you to explore the full depth of features introduced in Polaris 7.8 and Sierra 6.4.
These releases also reaffirm a larger truth: innovation in public libraries is strongest when it is shared. By building alongside you, we ensure Polaris and Sierra remain not just tools, but trusted partners in your community’s growth.
Together, we will continue to shape the future of library technology, one release at a time.