Category Archive

We would like to welcome the Federated Library System of Bedford County to SPARK. This includes these libraries: Bedford County Library Everett Free Library Hyndman-Londonberry Public Library Saxton Community Library As you can see, the move to SPARK generated community excitement:  

PaILS has been mentioned in Compendium, a publication of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. You can read the complete article here.

The Ralpho Township Public Library is in the news and SPARK is mentioned!

Some of you who have worked in libraries for quite some time may catch the symbolism in this photo. Note the old Gaylord checkout machine next to the new PC. We are happy to announce that the Ralpho Township Public Library in Northumberland County will be joining SPARK this year and, in the process, automating for the first time.

Happy New Year to all of our members and friends! First, to recap 2016… * Instituted quarterly Access PA updates. * Began a Strategic Planning process. * Conducted a User’s Group meeting with 72 attendees. * Instituted a system for training catalogers. * Added 5 new members for a total of 103 Libraries. * Migrated 10 libraries in Blair and Monroe Counties. * Conducted a resource sharing pilot between Lackawanna … Read More

The Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg is now live on SPARK! Along with the beautiful and busy Hughes Library, they are also bringing along two branches and a Bookmobile. SPARK will allow Eastern Monroe to share resources and patrons with the Pocono Mountain Public Library, another recently migrated SPARK member that is also in Monroe County. Welcome Eastern Monroe!

Here is an updated schedule of SPARK activities that will take us through 2017: December Eastern Monroe Public Library Go Live (12/8/2016) January Upgrade to Evergreen 2.11 (1/11/2017) Access PA Export Authority Control Update March Bedford County Libraries Go Live (3/23/2017) April Access PA Export Authority Control Update May Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity Go Live (5/18/2017) June Bangor Public Library Go Live (6/15/2017) July Access PA Export Authority … Read More

The Pocono Mountain Public Library is now live! With a beautiful facility, talented and enthusiastic staff, and a location high up in the Poconos, we welcome them to SPARK. Expect more great news from Monroe County soon!

I had the honor of moderating a panel discussion entitled “SPARK Update…and More” at the Pennsylvania Library Association annual conference at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos. Also, we enjoyed talking with everyone who came up to the PaILS booth in the Exhibitor Hall.  

This week I had the pleasure of visiting the Juniata County Library in Mifflintown. This attractive facility is located near a public park and, at the time I was there, was host to a visit by enthusiastic middle school students. The lower level is home to the Juniata County Historical Society. Lots of great SPARK libraries to visit!