SPARK Feature Highlight/Library Spotlight – August 2022

This month, we want to chat a little bit about print notices. These notices are set up similarly to the email notices your patrons get daily, except they are formatted to be printable/mailable. Print notices are most used for lost items, but they can also be used for overdue, courtesy, or holds notices To see your library’s print notices, you’ll use your staff login at this link, which can also … Read More

SPARK Feature Highlight/Library Spotlight – June 2022

We’re featuring a NoveList/Evergreen mashup tip this month: author pages + hold groups. You most likely have popular authors whose books fly off your “new arrivals” shelves, or that don’t even make it to the shelves before the holds queue is 15 deep. One way to distribute holds amongst groups of ardent C.J. Box or Danielle Steel fans is to use the “hold groups” function in Evergreen. This works well … Read More

SPARK Feature Highlight/Library Spotlight – May 2022

Welcome to another feature highlight, in which we share ideas for using some of the features that SPARK offers. Today’s topic is NoveList Plus and finding pop culture read-alikes for library displays and booklists! We were inspired by yesterday’s presentation from Caleigh Haworth at EBSCO – it was packed with good information about searching NoveList. As librarians, we get super excited when someone tells us they “don’t read” because a. … Read More

Security feature coming on June 1, 2022

To improve security, SPARK is going to be removing the ability of expired staff accounts from logging into the system starting June 1st. LibAdmin users will be responsible for maintaining staff accounts for their locations. To make sure you are notified, please make sure your work email address is in your SPARK login account. READ MORE

SPARK Feature Highlight/Library Spotlight – April 2022

When you’re a SPARK library, you have access to more than an Evergreen ILS. PaILS wants to inspire you to use the tools we provide to their fullest potential, so we’re highlighting some of the ways you can do that! Today’s topic is ChiliPAC booklists: scan it, share it, and alphabetize it! You can curate booklists in ChiliPAC to share at story time, for a holiday, or for another special … 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