Grounded in the teachings of John Pierre’s The Pillars of Health, this class emphasizes the integration of balance, coordination, and skill-building to enhance stability and prevent falls. Drawing on his holistic philosophy, participants will engage in mindful and fun movements designed to strengthen their foundation for lifelong wellness.
Through dynamic exercises that challenge the body and engage the mind, this class will help improve posture, increase core strength, and develop agility. Participants will also explore strategies to counter the sedentary effects of modern lifestyles, with an emphasis on maintaining an active and joyful approach to movement. Perfect for all skill levels, this class fosters a supportive environment where physical confidence and safety are prioritized. Join us to discover how movement can transform your life and support the foundation for vibrant health and well-being that John Pierre inspires.
About the Instructor: John Pierre has captivated and entertained audiences around the world. With a fascinating blend of science, humor, and practicality John Pierre offers life-changing strategies in an easy to understand method. A pioneer in the brain building field for the elderly, John Pierre created the first brain-building programs utilizing a plant-based diet and nutraceuticals over 25 years ago. With more than 35 years of experience in the nutrition and fitness field, John Pierre has developed cutting edge programs with a blend of science and ancient modalities. John has authored two books, along with cooking DVDs, exercise videos, and numerous online programs. His heart of service is a nonprofit called Living With Harmony that works to heal, inspire, and transform the lives of people, animals, and the planet, through the education of “PLANET-Based Living.”
Write Better SQL The first of a 2-presentation series delivered over two successive days. The goal is to be largely product-agnostic and to focus more on common concepts without deep dives into the database structure of either product. As these sessions are geared toward those already using Sierra/Polaris SQL, no session time will be devoted to getting connected to a database and writing basic queries. Topics will include: Understanding the different types of joins; common uses of unions; common table expressions (CTEs); adopting a consistent style for readability; producing Excel-friendly output. Audience members are encouraged to chime in at any time to round out the presentation with input from multiple perspectives. Likewise, questions will be encouraged throughout, including on tangential database topics. I will be working with one or more Polaris SQL experts to develop examples for the Polaris attendees.
In 2011, 4 consortia in central and southern Illinois said, 'Go Big or Go Home,' and became the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), out of which the SHARE (Sharing Heartlands Available Resouces Equally) Consortium was born.
SHARE is the largest automated consortium in North America, and we will pull back the curtain on day-to-day operations with over 360 members at 480 locations.
During this presentation, attendees will get an inside look at SHARE's day-to-day operations, including insights into System Administration, Bibliographic Services, and custom in-house IT developments. These innovations enable efficient management of such a large network while preserving each library's individuality and autonomy.
SHARE and IHLS staff will be available to answer questions and provide demonstrations of additional software we utilize.
Like death and taxes, weeding library collections is an inevitability. Determining the who, what, how, and why of weeding can be complex and time consuming, not to mention what to do with all the discarded materials! In this session, our panelists will cover everything from the nitty gritty of gathering collection data for weeding lists to planning large scale weeding projects for collections in desperate need of clean-up. We will discuss the dynamics of combining data with collection knowledge to create consistent weeding workflows. And, of course how to deal with that one librarian who does not want to weed their beloved books.
When you work with Polaris, have you faced some challenges that the clients cannot help? For example: An item's material type does not match collection code, where is it? Are there patrons that are over 85 years old and have at least one long term overdue? Are there patrons that are over 85 years old and are inactive for more than 3 years? Can I have a list about my collections that each item's circulation count of lifetime are 5 or less? Are there any patrons that are over 18 years old but the patron code is still juvenile? How may I know that some of the items on a specific shelf are not inventoried? How many bibliographic records that have the coding of pre-publication? How many bibliographic records that the target audience is absent? May I know how many items my department ordered, and how much money has been encumbered? During any period of a year? May I know how many items we ordered are received, paid, or cancelled? During any period of a year? If you have the similar questions but have no answers, welcome to join in this presentation! You will also learn how to be able to create successful reports through SimplyReports. Plus what specific needs cannot be done by SimplyReports but Polaris Support Team can help.
This session is for new circulation supervisors or parameters administrators in need of a refresher. We will cover loan rules, circulation tables, and circulation system options.
This session will explore how libraries are transforming the out-of-the-box experience of Vega Discover by leveraging its flexibility for deep customization. Presenters will showcase how they've modified Vega Discover Premium to enhance patron engagement and create more user-friendly interfaces.
Attendees will learn about specific customization techniques, including the use of header and footer code injections, homepage edits that streamline communication with patrons, and standalone children's kiosks featuring heavily customized catalog homepages deployed through Google Kiosks. These real-world examples will demonstrate how libraries can move beyond default settings to deliver a more personalized experience.
By highlighting these varied approaches, these presentations will provide practical insights into how libraries can tailor Vega to meet their specific needs and improve the patron experience.
Library data security is more important than ever. This session will explore practical strategies to protect patron information and comply with privacy regulations. Attendees will gain insights into potential threats, including phishing attacks and financial motives behind cybercrimes, and learn how to strengthen security without overwhelming staff with technical complexity.
The presentation will cover key security guidelines, emphasizing the importance of email vigilance, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and smart password management. Attendees will also discover technical measures such as vendor credential management, anti-malware tools, and secure backup strategies to safeguard critical systems.
Creating and automating reports is an effective way to gather data, distribute weeding lists, and any other task that you may find yourself performing regularly. Go beyond basic scheduled reports in SimplyReports and take them to the next level with Excel. In this session I'll show you:
1) How I've taken advantage of advanced publishing to schedule weeding lists for branches 2) How to work with regularly scheduled reports in Excel 3) Tools I've created using a combination of scheduled reports and Excel 4) Examples of formulas I use to help manage our collections.
When a new city-wide website was rolled out, the classic catalog DNS of library.mountainview.gov was requested to be the new library website URL. Learn how Sierra was updated to a new domain name, including updating 3rd-party software configurations, WebOptions, and numerous Sierra html files. Gain an understanding of the work that was completed inhouse and how Innovative contributed to the project. While we prepared and updated the links deemed necessary, there were surprises when the new website went live. Join me and learn how to successfully update your domain name.
LX Starter is a new interface for designing the output of patron email notices. See what the emails can look like, learn the contributing components including AI elements, and review the administration interface and analytics.
Libraries are standing at multiple intersections of change where the roads extend not only into different directions, but different dimensions. AI isn't going away and it's coming for your library, whether you like it or not. Indeed, 'whether you like it or not' is the mantra of AI development and innovation. There are questions about the legalities of licensing vs ownership, the foundations of copyright, and the ownership of the past. Let's take a look at the landscape of Electric Libraryland, from traditional libraries to the underground. What happened, what's happening, and what might happen tomorrow? And what might you need to know when tomorrow becomes today?
Come and learn more about the MEEP process. We will discuss the life of an idea and how it gets submitted to then get voted on for enhancement. We will also cover how to get involved and answer any questions you have about the process.
With ransomware and cyber attacks on the rise, a review of how Clarivate handles system security. It includes a look at the security built into our software, the security of our hosting services, and how we review security with third-party partners.
All tech services staff are invited to join in a discussion of anything and everything related to cataloging and acquisitions in Polaris! Our conversation will guide the forum so please bring all your burning questions and conundrums. Potential topics include cataloging for Vega, developments in the cataloging and acquisitions modules in LEAP, and API acquisitions.
Catalogers, tech services staff/managers, ILS administrators and the cataloging curious: here is your chance to ask questions about cataloging with Sierra and learn from your colleagues. Tips, tricks, hacks, problems, questions, and ideas are all welcome! This forum will also feature a discussion of the new load profile editor.
Dive into SQL with Our Beginner’s Guide! Discover the essentials of SQL, explore the Sierra database structure, access key documentation, and learn a basic query.
Join this session to learn all you need to know to create a Vega Discover kids catalog or a special collections site, including home page configurations.
If you’ve ever broken into a cold sweat when asked to “take a quick look” at a MARC record, this session is for you. We’ll help you navigate the mysterious world of tags, subfields, and the dreaded fixed fields (which are definitely more fixed than you’d like).
We’ll break down the essentials of cataloging in a way that makes sense for ILS System Administrators, covering key concepts like metadata standards, record maintenance, and how your choices in the Polaris ILS can make or break discoverability.
By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with a newfound appreciation for cataloging, and the confidence to help tackle cataloging issues without fear, and maybe even find yourself a new favorite MARC tag.
Join us for an engaging forum dedicated to addressing the current challenges and innovations in library circulation. This platform is designed for librarians to share insights, strategies, and best practices in managing circulation processes and policies, tackling issues such as inventory management, patron engagement, and the integration of new technologies. Whether you're facing challenges with overdue materials, exploring digital lending options, or seeking ways to enhance user experience, this forum provides a collaborative space for discussion and problem-solving. Share your experiences, ask questions, and learn from your peers to enhance circulation services in your library.
Do you find yourself running the same reports for staff? Are you tired of running stats every month? Do you cringe every time you find an item with the wrong location code? Has the number of items marked missing gotten out of hand at your library? Many of these tasks can be automated on a regular schedule using Python, SQL and Task Scheduler. Emails with spreadsheets containing record data are sent to designated staff without you ever having to run another list again. Get ideas for scripts and timelines that can clean up errors, streamline your stats and accelerate your weeding.
This session is all about fiscal years and funds. From setting up your hierarchy to getting your reports. How to manage your funds and feel confident doing your fiscal year roll over.
Come commiserate with your colleagues on Sierra circulation issues. Are you implementing a new notification system like LX Starter or IPA? Changing a loan rule? Adding a new item type? Going fine free? Do you need a little help? Learn from others who have been through these things & more. With III staff on hand, we will also get a brief look at what's ahead for Sierra Circulation functionality in upcoming releases.
Deep dive on the integrations available for Vega Discover, spanning content, home page configurations, enrichment, Vega Program, and possibilities for custom header. Bring your questions and ideas!
I will go over the various disasters that have affected my library system since 2017 (Hurricane Irma (2017), an county-wide cyberattack (2019), Covid (2020), Hurricane Ian (2022), Hurricane Milton (2024)) and what we did before, during, and after to try and lessen the negative impacts on our users. Then it will be opened up to the attendees to share similar experiences, make suggestions, and ask questions. Although I will discuss actions that were done with our ILS (Polaris), I will also talk about what was done with other vendors (i.e. OverDrive) and other general actions (i.e. cyber security training implementation), so it's more of a General forum than necessarily Polaris-specific.
Minuteman Library Network (MLN) went live with libraryIQ in 2024. MLN is a particularly tough customer, posing plenty of challenges to both parties. MLN does not prefer to provide direct access to the server, and IQ wasn’t exactly sure what to make of 7,000+ collection codes which led to misinterpreted data on both sides. But thanks to a highly collaborative partnership we were able to work through all conflicts and had a successful launch. Come and learn how a library and vendor both approach the onboarding process and can work together to ensure that the ongoing needs of both parties are met. Co-presented with Sara Roberts and Cori Iannaggi of libraryIQ .
We're not going to lie to you: An ILS migration is messy, complicated, and rarely goes according to plan. Maybe the databases are incompatible. Maybe one ILS is Linux based and the other runs on Windows Server. MARC is a standard format until you try and move it between two different ILS products. Don't forget about staff training and those who will tell you that you can pry the old ILS out of their cold, dead hands. Join us for a panel and forum discussion about ILS migrations that can help you prepare for the pitfalls and navigate the insanity. Carrie Gehrer, Wes Osborn, and Daniel Messer have migrated multiple ILS systems over to Polaris including Polaris to Polaris migrations, which you might think are easier. (Spoiler alert: They're not.) So bring your questions, concerns, and comments and, at the very least, we'll commiserate on the process while trying to help you out. Even if you're not migrating to Polaris, we can likely help you along on your journey.
Come see how System Admin is moving from the client into a web-based interface. Not everything is accessible yet, but this is where system admin is moving.
Join this session for a fresh overview of Vega Program and tips to customize the experience to meet the needs of an individual library or a consortium. The Saint Louis County Public Library System (SLCL) will share the features they use to manage complex workflows and provide best practices from their implementation. SLCL is a vital community resource serving the residents of St. Louis County, Missouri. As the busiest public library in the state, SLCL circulated over 11 million items in 2023 across its 20 branches, including the main Headquarters branch located in Ladue. SLCL participation to be confirmed.
Whether you’re aiming to boost your open rates or attract more visitors to your library( both physical and online) this session will provide you with the essential tools and insights to elevate your email marketing game using Vega Promote.
