Paving the Way for Program Discoverability
Pioneer Library System
Innovation Synopsis
Libraries often struggle to create seamless experiences for customers due to many third-party vendor sites and the breadth of library services offered. After years of collaborating with business partners, PLS successfully integrated all programs, both virtual and in-person, into the public catalog, creating a more inclusive customer experience.
Challenge/Opportunity
PLS customers had to visit several different webpages to find all the library’s resources, often navigating away from the library’s website. The emergence of virtual programming added even more platforms for customers to click and search: YouTube or social media. PLS also recognized customers seeking information in the catalog may want to explore a topic across multiple channels or want to engage in learning through experiences as well as through books or materials; in order to do so, they had to search multiple places.
Key Elements of Innovation
In 2021, PLS became the first SirsiDynix customer to integrate events from Communico into the public catalog for a one-stop-shop searching experience for the customer. Customers can now discover programs taking place in their community or virtually, live or recorded, when searching for any topic. As a long-term customer of SirsiDynix, PLS was able to work closely with their team to explain and work toward the end goal of program integration into the public catalog.
Achieved Outcomes
Developing this one-stop-shop search has allowed customers to discover a variety of avenues to learn more on a topic of interest. Programs became more discoverable – YouTube views increased 278% and subscriptions increased 86% compared to the previous year. Through years of planning and coordinating, PLS paved the way for other libraries working with these companies to add this feature quickly for their communities.