Library Technology Guides

BiblioCon '23 is taking place online on September 20-22. BiblioCon, the Online Public Library Conference hosted by BiblioCommons, is back this year and will be hosted online from September 20-22, 2023. Building on the success of past BiblioCon conferences, we are once again thrilled to host BiblioCon ‘23 virtually. This decision comes as a result of positive feedback from previous attendees who valued the accessibility and convenience of the online setting. Moreover, in our continued commitment to inclusivity, we are waving all registration fees for BiblioCon '23 to facilitate the participation of all public library professionals without any travel or financial constraints. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons appoints Marty Tarle as General Manager. BiblioCommons announced the appointment of Marty Tarle as the new General Manager of BiblioCommons as of July 1, 2023. Marty will replace Sebastien Lopes, who will transition into a new role within the parent company, Volaris Group, leading multiple companies in the library industry. Marty co-founded BiblioCommons in 2007 and has held multiple leadership roles in the company, including Chief Technology Officer and, most recently, Chief Operating Officer. During his tenure with BiblioCommons, he has established a proven track record of innovation in the library technology space and built strong relationships with public library partners. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCon '22 registration is open to all public libraries. BiblioCon, the Online Public Library Conference hosted by BiblioCommons is back this year with incredible new speakers and insightful sessions that cover various topics about the digital library experience. Like last year, this year's event will be held virtually to enable audiences from far and wide to attend. Registration is complimentary to ensure that BiblioCon is welcoming and accessible to anyone working at a public library. Conference attendees can join public library staff, industry leaders, and BiblioTeam experts on August 24 and 25. [Full Announcement].

New library partners subscribe to BiblioCommons in 2022. Two partnerships were formed between public libraries and BiblioCommons in the first few months of 2022. Glenview Public Library and Harris County Public Library are now members of the BiblioCommons shared digital platform. The BiblioTeam is thrilled to work with these two incredible libraries to help them unlock the full potential of the web to welcome, inspire, and connect their communities. [Full Announcement].

2021 Year in Review. As we look back at the past year, we recognize more than ever before how incredible public libraries are and how critical they are in bringing communities together. Unlike 2020, 2021 was the first full year where all nations around the globe faced COVID-19 challenges every single day of the year. While the new “normal” was different for everyone, we've seen unprecedented levels of communication, collaboration, and resourcefulness at a large scale across nations and in smaller circles across communities and neighborhoods. With strength and resilience, public libraries demonstrated their agility in serving their patrons and communities. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons welcomes new library partners in the second quarter of 2021. BiblioCommons formed new partnerships with public libraries across the United States and Canada in the second quarter of the year. The BiblioCommons team is excited at the opportunity to work with new consortia and public libraries of all sizes in urban, suburban, and rural areas across North America. [Full Announcement].

BiblioEmail is now Included with BiblioWeb as part of a digital experience platform. Connecting patrons to programs and services provided by public libraries is a fundamental goal of all libraries and their stakeholders. The most effective way for libraries to connect to users is via a holistic digital experience that includes engaging content, dynamic events listings, and relevant email communications. To that end, the team at BiblioCommons is pleased to share that BiblioEmail, the email marketing tool that was released in February of 2021, is now included with BiblioWeb, the most robust content management system and webpage builder for public libraries. [Full Announcement].

Nine new library partnerships formed in the first quarter of 2021. In the first three months of 2021, BiblioCommons formed new partnerships with public libraries across the United States. Newly subscribed libraries include Canton Public Library, Chandler Public Library, East Chicago Public Library, Elk Grove Village Public Library, Glendale Library, Arts & Culture, Herrick District Library, Kenton County Public Library, Strathcona County Library Board, and Tulsa City-County Library. These libraries are all on different ILSs (Integrated Library Systems.) Each will work closely with the BiblioCommons team to integrate their systems to the BiblioCommons product suite and elevate their online patron experiences. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons launches BiblioEmail: integrated, accessible, automated email marketing designed for public libraries. BiblioEmail is now available to all public libraries for pre-order as part of the BiblioCommons suite of services. BiblioEmail is specifically designed for public libraries looking to personalize their email marketing efforts. The new product's most notable feature is the ability to repurpose content that has already been created in BiblioWeb — making the email creation process much more streamlined and staff-friendly. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons welcomes new library partners during the Fourth Quarter of 2020. BiblioCommons announced that new libraries have come onboard as partners during the fourth quarter of 2020. The new partner libraries include Lakeland Library Cooperative, Hayward Public Library, OWLSnet Library Consortium, Margate City Public Library, Delaware County District Library, and Oakland Public Library. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCon '21 is online and open to all public library staff. BiblioCommons announced the launch of registration for BiblioCon ‘21, BiblioCommons' bi-ennial public library conference. This year's all virtual event will bring together public libraries and BiblioCommons team members for interactive sessions, networking events, and more. [Full Announcement].

Appointment of a new General Manager for BiblioCommons. BiblioCommons is pleased to announce that Sebastien Lopes has been appointed General Manager of BiblioCommons as of December 1, 2020. Sebastien Lopes will be replacing Matt Goddard, who will be transitioning to a sister company under the Volaris Group of companies. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons releases new enhanced discovery and online browsing. With public library buildings across North America closed or restricting access, connecting patrons with the library's collections online has never been more critical. BiblioCommons has released new functionality in the BiblioCore catalog that creates an enhanced online browsing experience facilitating endless routes for patrons to discover what to read, watch or listen to next — even when they can't physically browse the shelves at the library. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons launches new BiblioApps to deepen patron engagement. BiblioCommons announced the launch of the all-new BiblioApps for Android. Unlike other apps for public libraries, BiblioApps is designed in the context of the full patron experience. BiblioApps broadens and deepens patron engagement with the public library by providing an exceptional, personalized, modern mobile experience that is now available for both iOS and Android platforms. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons launches new features to support libraries in an online-only environment. The BiblioCommons Team is proud to announce a number of new feature improvements across the BiblioCommons platform to support libraries in serving their communities in an all, or mostly, online environment. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons acquired by Volaris Group. On February 10th, 2020 Volaris Group finalized the acquisition of BiblioCommons. Volaris is a Canadian software success story that is focused on acquiring, strengthening and growing vertical market software companies. Volaris is a worldwide software organization which operates as a division of Constellation Software, one of Canada’s largest technology success stories. BiblioCommons will operate independently while advancing via the guidance and expertise of the Volaris network. Two of the founders, Beth Jefferson and Patrick Kennedy have decided to transition from BiblioCommons but will continue as advocates. [Full Announcement].

Research shows higher overall library usage in public libraries that use BiblioCommons. In order to determine the impact of subscribing to its public library software, BiblioCommons recently retained an independent consultant to complete an in-depth statistical analysis of the impact of BiblioCommons online services on North American public libraries. What they discovered is that subscribing to BiblioCommons correlates with an increase in circulation per capita anywhere from 25% to 57%, and results in 9% more visits per capita on average, compared to public libraries that do not subscribe to BiblioCommons services. This is true when accounting for other potential influences, including population size and density, operating budgets, collection size, and historical circulation trends. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons announces new automated marketing product plus newly built BiblioWeb and BiblioApps. BiblioCommons shared new versions of BiblioWeb and BiblioApps, as well as introduce BiblioEmail, an exciting new email marketing service developed specifically for public libraries. BiblioWeb 3.0 offers all the valuable functionality that libraries have come to expect from BiblioWeb, but with more power, greater flexibility, and even better ease of use. A brand new page builder with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows library staff to design their own pages from scratch, or to simply insert their content into ready-made templates. Revamped taxonomies structuring the website content allow for even easier featuring and cross-promotion of blog posts, events, recommendation lists, and more. BiblioApps has also been completely rebuilt to reflect public libraries’ need to create more personalized, engaging library experiences. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons announces the next generation of its native apps for libraries: BiblioApps V2.0. BiblioCommons is proud to announce the development of the next generation of its native apps for public libraries: BiblioApps. The first generation of BiblioApps (then known as BiblioMobile), was released in 2011 and reproduced desktop catalog functionality in a mobile-friendly format. Now that the BiblioCommons BiblioCore catalog is responsive and works equally well across all devices’ browsers, the next generation of BiblioApps will extend what is offered in the browser application and build on the unique affordances of mobile devices and the native functionality of their operating systems. [Full Announcement].

BiblioCommons announces BiblioOmni: an omnichannel marketing platform for public libraries. BiblioCommons is pleased to announce BiblioOmni: an omnichannel marketing platform for public libraries. Building on the unique architecture and capabilities of the BiblioWeb website builder, BiblioOmni will allow public libraries to easily create brand-consistent, customized communications and marketing campaigns across all of the channels that they use to connect with their patrons -- a true omnichannel experience. [Full Announcement].