IUG 2026 Annual Conference

Ease your way into this year's conference with our all-star assortment of IUG experts who will present a full afternoon of activities for those looking to expand their library data toolbox. Through a series of mini-talks, some speed geeking and lively conversations, attendees will have opportunities to learn about a wide range of techniques for working with both Sierra and Polaris data.

Individual Sessions

AMH Insights: Turning Log Files Into Actionable Data - Automated Materials Handling (AMH) systems generate valuable operational data, much of which resides in plain-text log files that are rarely analyzed beyond troubleshooting. This ILS-agnostic lightning talk introduces a practical approach for extracting insights directly from AMH logs to better understand item flow, bin utilization, and system behavior.

Using TechLogic as an example, while keeping the methodology applicable to other AMH vendors, the session outlines how libraries can automate the collection of AMH log files from the system’s main application computer and deliver them to a centralized location for analysis using common automation tools such as PowerShell and WinSCP. By examining this data over time, libraries can identify heavily used bins, uncover patterns in items routed to Exceptions, and use volume-based evidence to inform bin redistribution, mapping adjustments, and operational tuning, independently of the ILS.

DASHboard Confessional: Revealing the Secrets of Data Visualization - In this quick session we'll explore how to structure and manage data in order to create a variety of data visualizations and see plenty of examples of data dashboards that have been constructed for the Minuteman Library Network.

Thousands of Tables and Four Farthings: Building a (De)Centralized Data System for Multiple Libraries

From Create Lists to Action: Empowering Staff with API-Driven Micro-Projects

I heart Datasette: A Tool for Exploring and Publishing (Library) Data - Datasette is a free and open-source software platform designed by Simon Willison to make it easier to share and publish data. At the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library I have been using Datasette in a variety of ways to help explore and share Library data in useful and meaningful ways that I’ll demo here.

Out Here in the Fields: Lessons Learned from a Different Database - You may not believe this, but there is an entire world of library management systems outside professional librarianship, each with their own databases and schemas that bring their own pros and cons. And get this: None of them use MARC. I mean, can you imagine?! Let’s take a quick walk through a project that manages bibliographic data in a completely different way, and what we can take away from that.

Putting Privacy First: Making Due with Less Data - The Minuteman Library Network has historically taken a privacy first approach to its policies and data retention practices. We only store a month of circ transaction data in Sierra, take great caution with the data we share with other vendors and refuse to use a number of standard features such as linked patrons. Massachusetts is now on the verge of implementing a new data minimization focused privacy law that has had us looking at reducing data collection even further (do we really need patron addresses? Yes, but we thought about it). Come and hear how we are able to balance these considerations with our vast reporting needs and still manage to operate a successful consortia.

Vega Kiosks

Python Command Line Processing with argv[] and the argparse Module - Python’s argparse module makes it easy to write user-friendly command-line interfaces. The program defines what arguments it requires, and argparse will figure out how to parse those out of sys.argv. The argparse module automatically generates help and usage messages. The module will also issue errors when users give the program invalid arguments.

In this session you'll see an example of this module in action and how it can be utilized in a Python program which places holds on the items/bibs in a review file, a program with numerous required and optional arguments.

Come join like-minded people to discuss thoughts, questions, procedures, etc.

Building on the success of our 2025 IUG Forum session, join us for an in-depth look at innovative customer implementations across the entire Vega product suite. This interactive session showcases how libraries are leveraging Vega Discover, LX Starter, Mobile, WebBuilder, Promote, Program, and Interact to create unique, community-focused solutions. During this session, you'll experience live demonstrations and pre-recorded walkthroughs of real customer environments, creative customizations and workflow solutions from libraries of all sizes, practical implementation strategies and lessons learned, and Q&A opportunities with presenters and fellow attendees. This session is ideal for library staff considering Vega products or planning implementations, current Vega users looking to optimize their configurations, technical staff interested in advanced customization techniques, and anyone seeking inspiration for enhancing their library's digital presence.

A session to highlight all of the recent features added to Polaris since the last IUG.

Session to highlight all of the recent features in Discover.

Don't know how to do something in Polaris or wondering how the system can accomplish what you want to do? This forum is a chance for Polaris libraries to ask questions of and provide answers to other Polaris libraries.

In 2025, The Regional Automation Consortium (TRAC)-comprising four library systems and representing over 180 libraries across Alberta-undertook the implementation of Vega Discover. The TRAC environment is characterized by multiple layers of collaboration and decision-making across all areas, from cataloguing and system administration to public services. Because of this complexity, the implementation of a system as extensive and impactful as Vega Discover necessitated numerous adaptations to established practices, often diverging from the approaches employed by other libraries or consortia. This presentation will outline TRAC's implementation process from the initial research and evaluation phase through configuration, cataloguing modifications, and staff training. It will examine key challenges and successful strategies encountered throughout the project, present feedback from patrons, and discuss anticipated next steps in the ongoing development and optimization of Vega Discover within the consortium.

The entirety of Polaris operates on sprocs, which is short for stored procedures. Almost anything you do in Leap or the Staff Client will trigger one or more stored procedures to update the database and present data in some way. But the thing is, those sprocs aren't just for Polaris, they're there for you too! If you've ever been curious about what's really going on in the Polaris database and how it functions, we'll pop the hood and (safely) take a look at some of the thousands of stored procedures you'll find there. We'll take a look at what they do and how they're built. But more importantly, we'll look at how to build your own stored procedures and how that can help make your library life that much easier! This is an intermediate level talk and all are welcome to attend. However, it will be helpful if you have a familiarity with T-SQL and the basic structure of the Polaris database.

As Vega has evolved, libraries have developed creative strategies to ensure their materials roll up (or don’t roll up) appropriately within the system’s MARC-to-BIBFRAME conversion and roll-up logic. Join colleagues from three different libraries—representing both standalone institutions and consortia—as they share how they approached a range of challenges, including video games, series statements, travel guides, and more.
Although some of the solutions discussed may no longer be necessary due to recent Vega upgrades, they provide practical insight into the kinds of decisions and adjustments libraries have made along the way. These examples may be especially helpful for libraries considering a transition to Vega or refining their records to better serve users and reduce frustration when searching for specific formats. This session will be an opportunity not only to learn from real-world experiences, but also to exchange ideas—attendees are encouraged to bring their own perspectives, questions, and strategies to enrich the conversation.

This session provides a collaborative space for Sierra systems administrators to connect, share best practices, and discuss key challenges and solutions. Whether you are a veteran of the role or brand-new to it, this forum is an opportunity to network with peers, exchange insights, and ideas to deepen your understanding of managing Sierra.