Honoring innovation in the electric city
From the Electric City to a powerful new platform, Schenectady County Public Library’s move honors its heritage and invests in its future.
Innovative, from Clarivate, is excited to announce that Schenectady County Public Library (SCPL) has officially gone live on the Polaris Integrated Library System (ILS) version 7.8 – marking a major milestone in the library’s evolution. A city celebrated for its pioneering past, Schenectady once powered the country as the home of General Electric. Today, that same spirit of innovation is alive at SCPL as it takes the next step in transforming community access to knowledge, services, and discovery.
A strategic leap toward localized library service
As part of the upgrade, SCPL is now running Polaris 7.8 with Vega Discover Premium, providing a seamless, modern search experience that helps patrons connect with materials faster and more intuitively. In the new year, the library will further expand its patron engagement toolkit by implementing LX Starter, Innovative Phone Alerts (IPA) for automated notifications, and the Vega Mobile, offering increased convenience and expanded access.
“For SCPL, launching our own Polaris system represents more than a technical milestone – it’s a strategic investment in local service delivery,” said Charity Thorne, Executive Director at Schenectady County Public Library. “Polaris 7.8 gives us greater autonomy and flexibility, while Vega Discover opens the door to a richer discovery experience. With LX Starter and other enhancements on the way, we’re well-positioned to build a library experience that truly reflects our community’s needs.”
An independent platform to serve a growing community
This new system launch follows SCPL’s separation from the Mohawk Valley Library System/Southern Adirondack Library System (MVLS/SALS), a long-standing Polaris customer. By moving to its own Polaris instance, SCPL gains full control of its technology and services, a strategic step to better serve its diverse and growing community.
Empowering a city of stories and spirit
Schenectady is a city rich with character and creativity – from being the birthplace of Marvel’s Doctor Octopus to Ann B. Davis, the beloved “Alice” of The Brady Bunch. Schenectady County Public Library reflects that same vibrant spirit. With its new technology and renewed independence, SCPL is embracing its role as a dynamic community hub, empowering every resident to discover, learn, and connect in ways as unique as the stories the city is known for.
Product Feature Highlights
With Polaris 7.8, SCPL benefits from enhanced web-based administration, expanded Leap functionality for technical services, and new notification options like SMS exports-all designed to simplify workflows and give staff more control with fewer clicks.
Meanwhile, Vega Discover Premium delivers a modern discovery experience with clean design, dynamic search results, curated showcases, and mobile-friendly access. It helps patrons find and explore resources more easily while giving libraries powerful tools to customize engagement.
Partnering for what’s next in library service
Innovative is proud to partner with SCPL on this new chapter – one rooted in independence, innovation, and a heartfelt commitment to community, and learn more about how Polaris and Vega work or request a demo.