Tamaqua Public Library, Shamokin and Coal Township Public Library & Schuylkill Haven Free Public Library signed PaILS membership agreements in January.

The PaILS cooperative will grow to 64 libraries in 2015! York County Libraries went live on SPARK in January, Lackawanna County Library System will “Go Live” in March and Pottsville Free Public Library, Minersville Public Library, Tamaqua Public Library, Shamokin and Coal Township Public Library & Schuylkill Haven Free Public Library will migrate later in the year.

It’s no secret that libraries are frustrated with their traditional ILS vendors. Dissatisfaction ranges from loss of control over development direction to surprise costs for new features and improvements. That’s why libraries large and small across Pennsylvania are joining the PaILS* cooperative and using SPARK, the open source ILS running Evergreen software hosted and supported by its developers at Equinox.

SPARK offers intelligent and library-centered design with remarkable levels of adaptability and customization. And membership in PaILS offers the opportunity for you to be directly involved in software development and setting the direction for the future of the ILS and the PaILS cooperative. PaILS is an organization of, by and for Pennsylvania libraries.

The ILS is one of your library’s most significant investments. Shouldn’t you love it and the relationship you have with its developers? Now you can…by participating in PaILS and SPARK to enrich the library experience for patrons and staff.

PaILS is now queuing libraries for 2016 migrations. If you are considering an automation change for your library and want to find out about PaILS and SPARK contact Lew Maurer, PaILS Executive Director Lew.Maurer@SparkPA.org.

Recent comments from Pennsylvania librarians:

The PaILS vision for a collaborative, participatory ILS for Pennsylvania libraries can result in better access to collections and more effective use of resources across the Commonwealth. We are excited to be among the early adopters of SPARK, and we encourage other libraries to take a closer look at this product.

Mary Garm, System Administrator
Lackawanna County Library System

An open source ILS can be intimidating for libraries that have limited technical staff. SPARK allows LCLS to step into the open source world by collaborating with other libraries in Pennsylvania. You can tell that it is an ILS designed by library staff because it supports what really happens at a library circulation desk or when a patron uses the catalog. Community, openness, functionality—everything we were looking for in an ILS.

Scott Thomas,Head of Information Technologies and Technical Services
Lackawanna County Library System

The OPAC looks great, and the staff is enjoying the new experience. I am very happy with our decision to move to SPARK.

Elaine Mykolayko, Director
Frackville Public Library

We are pleased to be able to join SPARK, the statewide, open-source ILS. We look forward to collaborating with other Pennsylvania libraries and be a part of its continuing growth and development.

Nancy J. Smink, Library Director
Pottsville Free Public Library

*This project is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Thomas W. Wolf, Governor.