PaILS 2021 – the year at a glance

Hello SPARK libraries! We here at PaILS have put together a little ‘snapshot’ report of everything we had going on in 2021 — we hope you enjoy it! Thanks for everything you do to provide excellent library services in Pennsylvania! PaILS 2021 report – Katie, Katherine & Elizabeth

Welcome PaILS/SPARK’s Newest Team Member!

The PaILS team is thrilled to inform you that Elizabeth Davis will be joining the team as our Support & Project Management Specialist! We know she will be a wonderful asset to our consortium – please join us in welcoming her! Elizabeth Davis has been a member of the SPARK community since her library migrated in 2015, and she has chaired the Reports committee for 4 years. Most recently, Elizabeth … Read More

2022 User Group meeting schedule – SAVE THE DATE

Hi all,   This year, we’re breaking up the annual user’s group meeting into an event series! Attached, and below, you’ll find a schedule! All events will be hosted online, recorded, and uploaded to our YouTube channel 😊 More information about each event is forthcoming. If you have any questions or suggestions about content, please contact the event host!   Date & Time Event Host 05/04/2022 11 am EST Interlibrary … Read More

PaILS welcomes Catherine Greenleaf Martin

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Integrated Library System board of directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine Greenleaf Martin as our Executive Director.  Katie has been serving in the position as Interim Executive Director and her technology expertise, professionalism, and commitment to the SPARK community and libraries in Pennsylvania is unparalleled.  We are very excited and look forward to continuing working with Katie. Her official first day … Read More

Job Posting: Executive Director for PaILS

PaILS Executive Director Job Description The Pennsylvania Integrated Library System (PaILS) seeks a dynamic Executive Director with strong leadership and communication skills, strategic vision, and a track record of building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions. The Executive Director is the chief operating officer of PaILS, a non-profit corporation, and is charged with implementing the organization’s policies and programs, exercising administrative oversight of all the affairs and finances of … Read More

Monday Motivation Moment

Hello SPARK Libraries, I’m glad you are participating in the open source Evergreen software shared platform with many of your PA neighbors.  It’s better because we’re in it together. If you have questions about your library settings in the software, reach out.  There are adjustments right now so items aren’t due, fines don’t accrue, and holds lists don’t populate. The regular online meeting room I sent links to last week … Read More

Friday Fearless Focus on the Future

The most recent announcement about the closing of non-life sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania did not have a stated end date.  It’s a good time to take a deep breath, and relax.  Take care of yourself and all those around you.  Be kind. SPARK Libraries have shifted quickly, and are now providing different services to communities via online tools and resources and telephone.  Some staff are working from home, some are … Read More

Wednesday Work Update

Hello SPARK Libraries, If you are working today in an environment with social distance and no in-person public services, you are one of many library workers engaging remotely.  You are appreciated and your work matters.  Thanks for being a SPARK Library. What can you do this Wednesday?  Here are some ideas: Check the links on your catalog.  Is your POWERLibrary link working as it should?  If not, go find the … Read More

Two Idea Tuesday

The recent closing of public libraries in PA for this short period means you are not be serving the public in traditional ways right now, but there are many great things you can do to keep engaged if you are empowered to work remotely. Visit the PaILS/SPARK virtual meeting room to chat about ideas.  The room is open for SPARK libraries to use for collaboration or support. Here are two … Read More

Emergency Closing Features

Per Office of Commonwealth Libraries, advice was to close libraries for routine, in-person public library services until March 29, 2020. SPARK is working to implement this via our shared open source ILS to assist all members and will work toward this plan: Extend all due dates on items currently in circulation to April 7.   We can reassess this date at any time.  To accomplish this, PaILS staff will use … Read More