Track App: Lowering Barriers in FOLIO Development
Spokane Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Spokane Public Library (SPL) became the first public library to adopt Future Of Libraries Is Open (FOLIO), an open-source library services platform that empowers libraries to collaborate and build technology together. To demonstrate what’s possible for other public libraries, SPL developed the Track App, a custom FOLIO application built with a Python backend rather than the traditional Java framework. This innovation proved that public libraries of any size can create scalable, affordable, and sustainable tools tailored to their own needs. By openly sharing boilerplate code, documentation, and lessons learned, Spokane lowered technical and financial barriers for others, strengthening FOLIO’s open-source ecosystem and helping libraries shape their own technology future.
Challenge/Opportunity
Creating the Track App tested whether a public library with modest resources could truly fulfill FOLIO’s open-source promise, that anyone could build and contribute tools to the platform. Like many urban libraries, Spokane Public Library needed a better way to track behavioral incidents and connect them with customer records. Existing security systems couldn’t integrate directly with the library’s core services platform, so SPL developed its own solution: an app that unifies circulation and conduct data in one place. Building it in Python rather than FOLIO’s default Java framework pushed the team into uncharted territory, navigating scattered documentation and compatibility hurdles. In collaboration with the global FOLIO community, SPL helped identify and fix an API bug, proving that meaningful innovation can come from any institution. The project showed that even modestly resourced libraries can shape the future of open-source technology.
Key Elements of Innovation
In collaboration with the Washington State Library and EBSCO, Spokane Public Library designed, coded, and launched the Track App inside FOLIO. A dedicated developer and cross-departmental team led the build, working closely with FOLIO contributors to refine API integration and documentation. The project’s goals were to replace scattered incident tracking with one transparent system, reduce reliance on vendor tools, and empower other libraries to adapt open-source solutions for their own use. Track is unique because it breaks technical barriers, using Python instead of Java, and demonstrates how public libraries can lead open-source innovation through practical, community-based design.
Achieved Outcomes
The Track App transformed Spokane Public Library’s incident and trespass reporting by centralizing data, standardizing workflows, and improving efficiency and accountability across seven locations. Real-time dashboards now track response times, incident types, and resolution outcomes, strengthening safety, compliance, and transparency. Openly releasing the code and documentation will allow other libraries to pilot the tool, expanding equitable participation in FOLIO development. Staff report reduced duplication and greater confidence in procedures, while leadership cites faster access to actionable data for risk analysis. The project elevated Spokane’s visibility through FOLIO workgroup participation and new partnerships with third-party software providers, setting the stage for a follow-up open-source app that will streamline materials requests and broaden community collaboration.
