Innovative, from Clarivate, recently hosted a live webinar on how Polaris helps libraries streamline operations, empower staff, and better serve their communities. The discussion was moderated by Carey Miller, our Senior Product Sales Manager who guided the conversation and audience Q&A, creating space for candid insights from our guest speakers.
Joining the session were Nathaniel Burnard from Allen County Public Library (IN) and Chris Frezza, IT Technology Director at Suburban Library Cooperative (MI), who shared their first-hand experiences and perspectives on how Polaris continues to evolve through collaboration with its users.
What resonated most was how the discussion tied real-world challenges to tangible benefits. Rather than simply listing features, the speakers showed how Polaris helps simplify routine tasks, reduce unnecessary steps, and give staff more time to focus on patrons-all while reflecting the priorities and input of the library community.
Questions we tackled live
As always, the best moments came from the audience. Attendees asked questions that got right to the heart of library operations, such as:
- How do the new updates reduce staff workload in high-volume environments?
- What changes have been made to searching and record management?
The answers sparked thoughtful discussion and showed how the updates translate into practical improvements for staff and patrons.
Curious about the answers? Watch the full session to find out.
A conversation worth catching
Both librarians commented during the live webinar how impressed they are to see how community feedback helps shape updates in Polaris as well as in Vega LX solutions.
In fact, nearly 90% of the enhancements in the Polaris 7.8 release came directly from librarian input.
One example – available now in Leap – is the ability to create and manage MARC import profiles directly in the browser, enabling staff to handle cataloging tasks like creating, editing, copying, or deleting profiles without switching back to the staff client.
It also highlighted Polaris Leap, the web-based interface that allows staff to manage circulation, cataloging, and patron services from any connected device, in or out of the library.
Together, these enhancements show how user input directly shapes Polaris while streamlining workflows and freeing staff to focus more on patrons.
If you missed the live session, the full recording is available on demand, complete with demos, audience Q&A, and practical insights into how Polaris ILS supports libraries every day.