{"id":12772,"date":"2022-04-02T14:04:30","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T18:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-clarivate-innovative.pantheonsite.io\/?post_type=blog&p=12772"},"modified":"2022-05-03T14:05:45","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T18:05:45","slug":"the-race-to-improve-library-engagement-an-interview-with-raena-morrison","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.iii.com\/whats-new\/the-race-to-improve-library-engagement-an-interview-with-raena-morrison\/","title":{"rendered":"The race to improve library engagement: An interview with Raena Morrison"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author and self-described adventure junkie Susan Lacke wrote in her 2019 memoir Running Outside the Comfort Zone: An Explorer’s Guide to the Edges of Running<\/em> that, \u201cFinding the perfect training partner is a challenge,\u201d Lacke added, \u201cIt\u2019s not enough to have someone who matches your speed; you also have to find someone whose company you enjoy over lots of miles.\u201d For Raena Morrison, VP of Sales for North America, she echos those sentiments when it comes to the symbiotic relationship between libraries and vendors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all consumers. We all buy cars. I think about what I want with my long-term vendor relationships,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cLibraries that choose to work with us are getting into a long-term relationship with us. When I come to work, I bring transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement because those are the values I look for when I\u2019m looking for my own long-term vendors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morrison says bringing those three values every day to Innovative, part of Clarivate, helps her to keep perspective on what is important.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all in this business because we care about libraries,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cI am always trying to talk to librarians, whether they\u2019re my customer or not. I want to learn about their libraries and the problems that they face.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those conversations empower Morrison to serve as an internal advocate for libraries.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look at myself as the ultimate problem solver. If I can\u2019t solve it, I need to find someone who can,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cI may tell a colleague, \u2018I see this on the roadmap, but I\u2019m hearing this from libraries.\u2019 This cross collaboration helps us spot opportunities for improvement based on immediate customer feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n

Extending your impact<\/strong><\/p>\n

Often the fruits of those conversations result in direct impact on Innovative solutions; from minor tweaks that improve functionality to large scale product launches that bring truly innovative solutions to library challenges.<\/p>\n

Well before Innovative began development on the Vega Library Experience (LX), Morrison was already hearing from customers that there was a void in the marketplace for libraries-specific engagement solutions. The pandemic only worked to underscore the importance of that need.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past two years, the transformation libraries have gone through is exponential,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cLibraries needed something different. They needed solutions to be everywhere all at once.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenge since the start of the pandemic has been how do you pull in members of the community who might never set foot in your four walls?\u201d Morrison said. \u201cVega Program and Promote do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vega LX is an ultramodern, cloud-based platform that enables libraries to build better patron relationships. Vega LX offers libraries a unified solution for managing their full range of materials, programs, and services. All while developing ongoing relationships with library patrons and community members.<\/p>\n

In early 2021, Innovative launched the first module of the Vega LX suite of solutions\u2014Vega Discover.<\/p>\n

This March, Innovative unveiled the next two modules<\/a> of Vega LX: Vega Promote for digital marketing and Vega Program for event and room management.<\/p>\n

\u201cLibraries don\u2019t usually have a full marketing department, let alone one librarian who only oversees engagement efforts,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cThese solutions are designed to be scalable. They allow librarians to learn and grow with the tool. At first, it\u2019s entry level marketing automation, but as you become more comfortable you can do some incredibly powerful things.\u201d<\/p>\n

To set libraries up for success, basic templates were created for certain features within Vega Promote to allow libraries to slowly integrate the service into their marketing and engagement efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been very thoughtful about how we are providing training,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cWe\u2019ve created these platforms so there wouldn\u2019t be a heavy lift. It\u2019s a true plug-and-play SaaS (Software as a Solution). There\u2019s a layer that connects directly to your ILS, and an engine that automatically converts all your MARC records into BIBFRAME. It takes the power of the ILS foundation that you already have and uses all the technology of today to capitalize on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Sierra or Polaris manages your books, Vega LX handles your patron relationships.<\/p>\n

Morrison adds that keeping your data in one ecosystem helps libraries minimize security risks. Rather than needing to copy patron data from third party to third party solution, Vega Promote and Program aid libraries in marketing and engagement efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s an exciting time to be with Innovative because I think we have the most modern and comprehensive set of tools for public libraries out there. I would argue with anyone on that point,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cWhat\u2019s more, it\u2019s an exciting time for libraries in general as everyone continues to rethink their purpose in their own communities.\u201d
\nBut change won\u2019t come overnight because the road to improvement is not a race, but a marathon.<\/p>\n

One Morrison hopes libraries will choose to run with Innovative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Author and self-described adventure junkie Susan Lacke wrote in her 2019 memoir Running Outside the Comfort Zone: An Explorer’s Guide to the Edges of Running that, \u201cFinding the perfect training … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12854,"template":"","categories":[472,415],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12772","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-announcements","category-vega"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe race to improve library engagement: An interview with Raena Morrison - Innovative Interfaces Inc.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Raena Morrison, Innovative North American VP of Sales, reflects on the symbiotic relationship between libraries and vendors.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.com\/whats-new\/the-race-to-improve-library-engagement-an-interview-with-raena-morrison\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The race to improve library engagement: An interview with Raena Morrison - 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