Polaris Library Systems is owned by Innovative Interfaces, Inc. effective April 1, 2014.

Breeding, Marshall. Polaris Creates Social PAC. March 2013. Smart Libraries Newsletter. Polaris Library Systems has created a version of its online catalog that offers a distinctively social flavor. Through a partnership with ChiliFresh, the Social PAC brings the social networking features of ChiliFresh Connections directly into the Polaris PowerPAC interface. Rather than layering the ChiliFresh content and social features, as was previously possible, the Social PAC uses behind-the-scenes APIs to seamlessly blend them into the product.

Breeding, Marshall. Illinois Heartland Library System, Largest Library Consortium in the US, Opts for Polaris for Shared Automation. September 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. The Illinois Heartland Library System, recently formed out of the merger of four antecedent consortia, has selected Polaris to provide its shared automation system. With a total 588 members, 450 of which will initially participate in the implementation of Polaris, aptly named SHARE (Sharing Heartland's Available Resources Equally), this consortia stands as the largest consortium in the United States in terms of libraries served.

Breeding, Marshall. Polaris delivers Full Integration with the 3M Cloud Library. May 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. Collaboration between Polaris and 3M has resulted in a full integration of e-book lending within the PowerPAC or MobilePAC patron interface of the Polaris Library Management System. This integration enables patrons of libraries using the Polaris automation systems to search and access e-books using the same interfaces offered for other library materials.

Breeding, Marshall. Management Buy-out at Polaris. April 2010. Smart Libraries Newsletter. Polaris Library Systems announced that it has changed ownership through a management-led buyout of the company.

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March 31, 2014. Polaris Library Systems introduces live chat support service. Polaris Library Systems proudly introduces a new live chat feature that will allow customers to instantly communicate with Polaris staff beyond that of the traditional phone call or email.

March 26, 2014. Scottsdale Public Library chooses Polaris Library Systems as new ILS vendor. Polaris Library Systems announced that Scottsdale Public Library has selected Polaris as its new integrated library system. Scottsdale Public Library will join over 90 libraries in Arizona who have implemented Polaris software, including Phoenix Public Library and the Maricopa County Library District.

February 26, 2014. Polaris to highlight new technology trends and the impact on public libraries at PLA 2014. Polaris Library Systems will be attending the Public Library Association 2014 Conference to discuss the impact technology trends have on public libraries and solutions for increasing the connection between libraries and their communities.

February 19, 2014. Polaris receives top ratings in annual Library Automation Perceptions Report. Polaris Library Systems, a trusted provider of library automation software for public libraries, has received top ratings in the seventh annual Library Automation Perceptions Report.

January 30, 2014. Polaris customer named to advisory council for 3M Cloud Library in Canadian expansion. Polaris Library Systems announces Polaris customer Brampton Library was selected as a member of the Advisory Council for the Canadian launch of the 3M Cloud Library eBook Lending System.

January 22, 2014. Polaris Library Systems announces Year of Connection at ALA Midwinter 2014. Polaris will unveil its Year of Connection at the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting, demonstrating how every decision the company makes, in terms of products and partnerships, will have a distinguishable impact on library workflows and the dynamic services offered to patrons. Librarians attending ALA Midwinter will have the opportunity to explore various Polaris products, such as the web-based application LEAP, Community Profiles, the Polaris API and Fusion. Attendees will also have a first look at the OverDrive e-content integration.

January 2, 2014. Polaris Library Systems Announces Continued Success and Growth in 2013. Polaris Library Systems, a trusted provider of library automation software for public libraries, has experienced significant growth in 2013. This year, 44 libraries have selected the Polaris Integrated Library System (ILS), representing over 130 new locations adopting Polaris library software throughout the United States and Paris, France.

October 18, 2013. Polaris Library Systems announces Library App Challenge for New York State. October 18, 2013. Polaris Library Systems today announces the launch of the Polaris App Challenge, aimed to spark the creation of unique software applications for library staff and patrons.

October 10, 2013. Polaris Library Systems partners with EnvisionWare to offer enterprise ecommerce services. Polaris Library Systems announced an integration partnership with EnvisionWare, a leading provider of self-service and library-efficiency solutions. The partnership offers patrons and staff one modular, integrated system for self-service payment throughout the library.

October 9, 2013. Polaris Library Systems unveils next generation library Automation Software. Polaris Library Systems unveiled the development of a new product, LEAP, considered to be the next generation of library automation software. LEAP, a web application that brings the Polaris power and functionality to the user through a browser, can be used on a desktop, notebook, or tablet.

Mar 31, 2014 Innovative Interfaces acquires Polaris Library Systems
Through a transaction that closed on March 31, 2014, ownership of Polaris changed hands from its Syracuse-based private investors to Innovative Interfaces, which is in turn owned by private equity investors, HGGC (formerly Huntsman Gay Global Capital) and JMI Equity.

May 20, 2003 Gaylord Information Systems renamed GIS Information Systems
Gaylord Information Systems announced that the name of the company has been changed to GIS Information Systems, Inc. This change follows on the announcement that DEMCO, Inc. has acquired the Gaylord library supplies and furniture division of Gaylord Bros., Inc. from the Croydon Company. Croydon, which has owned Gaylord Bros. for more than thirty years, will continue to own GIS Information Systems, Inc.

May 01, 2003 Croydon Company sells Gaylord Bros to Demco, retains ownership of Gaylord Information Systems
Gaylord Information Systems, a leader in library automation with its Polaris and GALAXY integrated library systems, announced today that the name of the company has been changed to GIS Information Systems, Inc. This change follows on the announcement that DEMCO, Inc. has ac

May 25, 1999 Katherine Blauer appointed President, Gaylord Information Systems
Ms. Blauer comes to GIS as a proven and successful leader in the library industry. Prior to joining GIS, Ms. Blauer spent two years at Information Access Company in Foster City, California as Vice President, Sales. Ms. Blauer also brings a wealth of knowledge about libraries, information management, and automation solutions to her new position. She spent 11 years with OCLC in a variety of positions, five of those years as Director, National Sales. Prior to her work with OCLC, Ms. Blauer spent 15 years excelling in technical and public services positions at public, academic, and special libraries in the United States and the United Kingdom. Most notable of this experience is work at the Carnegie Mellon University, American Electric Power, University College London, the University of Glasgow, and Glasgow Public Libraries.

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2013 Polaris Library Systems Accomplishments Narrative

2013 was a year of great change for both Polaris employees and customers. In a nutshell, libraries invested in us and we invested right back into supporting our customers by increasing staff, releasing a major upgrade to Polaris and introducing our vision for our 3,100+ installed sites with our newest platform: LEAP.

Bursting out of our office space in Syracuse, NY, the Polaris staff grew by 20 staff members, bringing our total just short of 100 employees a full third of them, credentialed MLSs.

49 new contracts in 2013 kept our customer support and implementation staff busy.

Notably, the first public digital library of its kind, BiblioTech, in San Antonio, Texas went live on Polaris, joining Salt Lake City Public Library and Salt Lake County Library Services, Richland Library, in Columbia, SC, and the new Illinois Heartland Consortium, the largest consortium in North America.

Our highly rated Customer Service and Implementation staff incorporated new software and procedures into their workflow to streamline processing tickets and shortening the time from contract signing to being live on Polaris.

In 2012, Polaris Library Systems (PLS) heard librarians ask for a better approach to incorporating e-books into their PACs. We listened and created the first deeply integrated system with 3M Cloud Library that is considered by most to be the defacto gold standard. 2013 brought new partnerships with Overdrive and Baker & Taylor, and customers will be delighted to integrate their e-suppliers of choice by the end of first quarter 2014.

In June, we released Polaris 4.1.R2 which had 100+ significant feature and functionality enhancements. This update improved patron services, increased efficiencies in circulation, cataloging and acquisitions and provided new features for PowerPAC, Mobile PAC, Community Profiles, Fusion and SimplyReports.

Perhaps most significantly, in October of 2013, PLS introduced LEAP, our next generation web application for libraries. The LEAP platform provides browser-based access to staff functions, and is designed to work on tablets and desktop machines, and it is designed to unchain librarians from their desks – allowing them unprecedented workflow customization. LEAP reimagines the current ILS but most importantly, does not require any porting of data: it brilliantly utilizes the current MSQL database and business logic already built into the Polaris ILS.